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

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an

turned

his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The

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

back to the Johnson

the house, she

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

meal with Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen

Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them? That’s still no excuse to return

that Kathleen was trying to

then confessed, “I met with Samuel as

stairs. “And here I thought it

are only family members. He is something like a brother to me, and so are you. The

never be his brother. It’ll be asking me

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 happens, I

Charles was rendered speechless.

made

to be his family?” Charles found the entire

at him. “That’s right. You don’t believe

believe that it can be true.

cunning. His proposal to merely be Kathleen’s family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I bet

indifference. “Charles, not even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t

Charles pursed his lips.

be the one to pay for it if Samuel

a fool. “You

was taken aback by

Kathleen marched

a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things are better left unknown.

over an invitation. “Ms.

was surprised.

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

Johnson. It’s from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed the invitation down. “It’s

he inviting

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

in a heartbeat. “So should we

It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me

do you plan on

truth.” Kathleen had no