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

I understand.” Kathleen always had

then turned

his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of Kathleen’s adorable

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

to the Johnson

into the house, she

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

had a meal with Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen

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

was trying to mislead him with

grinned. She then confessed, “I met

fell down the stairs. “And here I thought it was him who was pestering

with Samuel. From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is

never be his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop to

point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her

his family?”

“That’s right. You don’t believe it’s

else, then I do believe that it can be true. But if it’s Samuel,

to buy more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer

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

Charles pursed his lips.

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

sighed. She was not a fool. “You should learn to trust

aback

marched up the

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

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

surprised.

it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin

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

is he inviting you over?”

he wants to ask 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 situation. They’re making a commotion out of nothing.” There

awkward in a heartbeat. “So should we

go over on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to

on telling them?” Charles was

Kathleen had no