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.”

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

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty

turned around and

a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of

Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can

walked back to the Johnson

she stepped into the house,

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

Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you

had only a meal with them? That’s still no

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

confessed, “I met

stairs. “And here I thought

ease. “Charles, relax. I talked 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 are you. The two of you are brothers henceforth. Please do get

his brother.

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

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her

be his family?” Charles found the

him. “That’s right.

that it can be true. But if

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,

what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he

Charles pursed his lips.

of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the

She was not a fool. “You

taken aback

marched

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

brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this

surprised. The

open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to

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

he inviting you over?” Charles

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 situation. They’re making a commotion out of nothing.” There was no readable expression on Kathleen’s clean face as

a heartbeat. “So

wants to speak with me

do you plan on telling them?” Charles

Kathleen had no desire to lie to