All Too Late

“Well then, when did your affair with Christopher begin?” Samuel asked coldly.

Kathleen leered at him sideways. “Do you truly want to know? Aren’t you afraid of getting triggered?”

“I am,” Samuel answered. His tone was bone-chilling.

“So don’t ask.” Kathleen paused, hesitating. She then continued, “I take a person’s privacy very seriously. Hence, I have no interest in sharing my private life with outsiders.”

Kathleen’s word echoed in Samuel’s mind. Outsiders?

A shadow gradually enshrouded his eyes. She called me family not long ago, but now I’m an outsider?

“It’s done. You can eat now.” Kathleen turned off the fire at the stove.

She then moved the plate of pasta out to the dining room.

Meanwhile, Samuel tried to stamp out the hostility in his eyes, attempting to regain his composure. “Thank you.”

“All right, enjoy your meal. I’m heading home now.” Kathleen removed her apron and got ready to leave.

Samuel paused for a moment, then asked, “Would you stay and talk for a bit?”

Kathleen gazed at him serenely. “I’m going to bed. The face of a female celebrity is of utmost importance. No botox injections can compare to the benefits of beauty sleep.”

Samuel stared at her in return.

Kathleen had spoken calmly without spite. She was merely stating a fact.

It appeared as if she was undeniably treating Samuel as an average family member.

“Okay, then. Goodnight,” Samuel uttered in disbelief.

Nevertheless, there was nothing he could do about it.

He had no other choice. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to grow closer to Kathleen in his entire lifetime.

When Kathleen approached the doorway, she swiveled around. “Samuel, please revoke my VIP status from the malls.”

Samuel looked at her coldly. “All you need to do is not spend your money there. I’ll stop the subscriptions then.”

“I’ll pay you back next time.” Kathleen desired a clean slate with him.

Samuel glared at her. “Will you be spending Charles’ money?”

“Of course.” Kathleen tipped her head up, then declared proudly, “He’s my brother after all.”

family and your brother, too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be family with me? I don’t

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty

then turned around and

had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and

the corner of his thin lips arched up

walked back to

she stepped into the

a gloomy expression on his face. “Where did you go? I

Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even

“You had only a meal with them?

secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying to mislead him

then confessed, “I

stairs. “And here I thought it was him who was

of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to me,

will never be his brother. It’ll

to care about all that. In the end, if you do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her

be his family?” Charles found the entire notion

him. “That’s right. You don’t

true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t

probably just a way for him to buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer to her. Why is she so foolish, though? She

Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide

Charles pursed his lips.

was not afraid of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it if

fool. “You should

aback by

marched up

long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some

an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is

was surprised. The

she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear

Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed the

is he inviting you over?”

you understand what I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris family misread the situation. They’re making a commotion out of nothing.” There was no readable expression on Kathleen’s clean face as she

awkward in a heartbeat. “So should

me to go over on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone.

what do you plan on telling them?” Charles was

had no desire to lie to