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.”

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

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

turned

stared at his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The

and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his

walked back to the Johnson

stepped into the house, she

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

Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you

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

was secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was

She then confessed, “I met with Samuel

stairs. “And here I thought

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

brother.

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

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made

promise to be his

“That’s right.

that it can be true. But if

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

know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide to

Charles pursed his lips.

was not afraid of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the

fool. “You should learn

taken aback by her

Kathleen marched up the

gazed after her slim figure, then let out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some

Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an invitation from the

surprised. The

open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to

It’s from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed the invitation down.

inviting you over?” Charles

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

in a heartbeat. “So should we

on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone.

plan on telling them?” Charles was

Kathleen had no desire to lie