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.”

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

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

then turned around

on it. The egg was round and reminded him of Kathleen’s

up his fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can

back to the Johnson

stepped into the house,

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

and Benjamin,” Kathleen

of Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them?

angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying

grinned. She then confessed, “I

here I thought it

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

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

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

Charles was rendered speechless.

made

his family?” Charles found the

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

be true. But if it’s Samuel, I don’t believe it at all.” Charles

is way too cunning. His proposal to merely be Kathleen’s family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I

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.

that Kathleen would be the one to pay

“You should learn

aback by her

Kathleen marched up the

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

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

surprised. The Morris

then flipped it open. As she scanned through it,

from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen

is he inviting you over?”

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

a heartbeat. “So should we give

obvious that he wants to

do you plan on telling them?” Charles

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to lie