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.”

peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be family with

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument

then turned around and

stared at his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of Kathleen’s adorable

and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever

back to the Johnson

into the house, she

on his face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you

Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal

was secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying to

confessed, “I met with

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

relax. I talked things through with Samuel. From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to me, and so are you.

never be his brother. It’ll be

the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that happens, I won’t

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

be his family?” Charles found

him. “That’s right. You

do believe that it can be true. But

is way too cunning. His proposal to merely be Kathleen’s family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer

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

Charles pursed his lips.

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

was not a fool. “You

aback by

marched

her slim figure, then let out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things

was having breakfast when Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an

surprised.

invitation, then flipped it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to

from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed

is he inviting you over?”

I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris family misread the situation. They’re making

in a heartbeat. “So should we

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

plan on

had no desire to