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

I understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning

then turned

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

it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever

back to the

the house,

had a gloomy expression on his face. “Where did you

Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you a

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

thinking that Kathleen was trying to mislead

grinned. She then confessed, “I

I thought it

“Charles, relax. I talked things through with Samuel. From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something

laughed sarcastically, “Haha! I will never be his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop to his

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 longer wants to be my family, he’ll

Charles was rendered speechless.

made

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

peered at him. “That’s right. You don’t believe

that it can be true. But if it’s Samuel, I

probably just a way for him to buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer

even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we decide to leave one day. Otherwise, once everything is settled, do you honestly believe that he will let us

Charles pursed his lips.

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

was not a fool. “You should

was taken aback

Kathleen marched

actually clever but

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

was surprised.

took the invitation, then flipped it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen

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

inviting

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

a heartbeat. “So should we give

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

plan on telling

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to lie to