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.”

slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want

I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument

then turned around and

had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg

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

back to the Johnson

moment she stepped into the house, she heard

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

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

had only a meal with them? That’s still

secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying

“I

I thought it was him who

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

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

him to the point where he no longer

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made

really promise to be his family?” Charles found the entire notion

him. “That’s right. You

it can be true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t believe it

man 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 to her. Why is she so foolish, though? She

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 if we decide to leave

Charles pursed his lips.

Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it if Samuel did

a fool. “You should learn to trust

taken aback

marched up

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

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

surprised. The

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

answered. Kathleen immediately placed the invitation down. “It’s Christopher’s

is he inviting you over?” Charles

on between Christopher and 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.

“So should

that he wants

do you plan on telling

no desire