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.”

spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be family with me?

I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument

turned around and

it. The egg was

a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of

to

she stepped into the house, she

his face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t

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

meal with them? That’s still no excuse

was trying to mislead him with

grinned. She then confessed, “I met with Samuel

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

two of us are only family members. He is

“Haha! I will never be his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop to his

please then. I can’t be bothered 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 happens, I won’t let you off so easily,” Kathleen

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her way

be his family?” Charles found the entire

right. You don’t believe it’s

true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t believe it at all.” Charles

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

But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide to leave one day.

Charles pursed his lips.

be the one to pay for it if Samuel did end up

not a fool. “You should learn to trust

was taken aback by

marched up the

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

over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an invitation

surprised. The

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

answered. Kathleen immediately placed the invitation

inviting you over?” Charles

ask about what’s going on between Christopher and me. Now, do you understand what I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end,

awkward in a heartbeat. “So should

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

plan on telling them?” Charles was

had no