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.”

and your brother, too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be family

had

turned

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

Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so

back to the

stepped into the house, she

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

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even

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

that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with

“I met with Samuel as

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

today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to

brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop

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

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

promise to be his family?”

peered at him. “That’s right.

do believe that it can be true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t believe it at all.”

more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer

a deal like this, he

Charles pursed his lips.

Kathleen would be the one to

sighed. She was not a fool. “You should learn to trust in

was taken aback

marched

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

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

surprised.

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

Ms. Johnson. It’s from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen

he inviting you over?”

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

awkward in a heartbeat. “So

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

plan on telling them?” Charles

truth.” Kathleen had no desire