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.”

spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is it that

right, I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument

then turned around and

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

fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can never escape

back to

the house, she heard Charles

face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t

Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even

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

was trying to mislead

grinned. She then confessed, “I met with Samuel

“And here I thought it was him who

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. It’ll be

about all 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 won’t

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

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

“That’s right.

believe that it can be true. But

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

even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this,

Charles pursed his lips.

of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it if Samuel did end up

a fool. “You should learn to trust

was taken aback

Kathleen marched

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

over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an invitation

surprised. The

through it, Kathleen began to grin from

Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately

he inviting you over?”

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

“So should we give Christopher a

wants to

you plan on telling them?”

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to lie