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.”

instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that you don’t want to be

I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument against

turned around

sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round

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

back to the Johnson

the house, she heard Charles

did you go? I hadn’t

with Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I

meal with

was secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying to mislead him with a

then confessed, “I met with

here I

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

be his brother.

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

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

be his family?” Charles

right. You

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

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

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

Charles pursed his lips.

he was not afraid of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it

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

was taken aback by her

marched up the

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

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

was surprised. The

scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to

Maria answered.

is he inviting you

wants to 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, the Morris family misread the

awkward in a heartbeat. “So should

that he wants

you plan on telling

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to