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.”

brother, too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it

always had difficulty winning an argument

turned

at his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him

it. Instantaneously, the corner of his

back to

the house, she

face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t heard from you

Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought

only a meal

angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with

confessed, “I met

I

of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to me, and so are you. The two of you are brothers henceforth. Please

never be his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop to

to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me

Charles was rendered speechless.

made

his family?” Charles found

at him. “That’s right. You don’t

I do believe that it can be true. But

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 to her. Why is

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

Charles pursed his lips.

Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to

“You should learn to trust

aback by

marched up the

Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things are better left unknown. Elsewise, it would

was having breakfast when Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms.

was surprised. The

open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to ear. “This

from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen

inviting you

me. Now, do 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

in a heartbeat. “So should we give Christopher

go over on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone. So what’s the use of

do you plan on telling

no