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.”

family 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 to be family with me? I don’t mind either

had difficulty winning an argument against

turned

which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The

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

to the Johnson

she stepped into the house, she heard

expression on his face. “Where did

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained.

corner of Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them? That’s still

was secretly angry, thinking that Kathleen was

confessed, “I met with Samuel

“And here I thought

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

his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop

the point where he no longer wants

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her way

promise to be his family?” Charles found the entire

him. “That’s right. You don’t believe it’s

it’s someone else, then I do believe that it can be true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t believe it

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 so foolish,

indifference. “Charles, not even I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we

Charles pursed his lips.

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

fool. “You should learn to trust

aback by

marched up

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

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

was surprised. The

she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to ear.

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

inviting

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

“So should we give

obvious that he wants to speak with me alone.

on telling

had no