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.”

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

always had difficulty

then turned around and

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

the corner of his thin lips arched up

to the

she stepped into the

face. “Where did you go? I hadn’t heard from you the entire

had a meal with Gemma and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you a

Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal

angry, thinking that Kathleen was

grinned. She then confessed, “I met

“And here I thought it was him

From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to me, and so are you. The two of you are brothers henceforth.

be his brother. It’ll

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 let

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her way

to be his

at him. “That’s right. You don’t

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

probably just a way for him to buy more

then spoke with indifference. “Charles, not 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

Charles pursed his lips.

be the one to pay for it if Samuel did

“You

was taken aback by her

marched

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

brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this

was surprised. The Morris

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

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

he inviting

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

in a heartbeat. “So should we give

obvious that he wants to speak with

plan on telling them?” Charles

no desire to lie to