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

always had difficulty winning an argument

then turned around and

had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of

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

to the

she stepped into the house,

a gloomy expression on his face. “Where did

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

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

that Kathleen was trying to mislead

grinned. She then confessed, “I met

“And here I thought

felt at ease. “Charles, relax. I 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 so are

I will never be his brother. It’ll be asking me

as you please then. 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

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her way

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

peered at him. “That’s right.

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

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, though?

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

Charles pursed his lips.

Kathleen would be the one

was not a fool. “You should learn

was taken aback by her

marched up

out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show

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

surprised. The Morris

through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to ear. “This is

answered. Kathleen immediately placed the

he inviting you over?”

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

turned awkward in a heartbeat. “So should we give Christopher a

own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone. So

what do you plan on telling them?” Charles

Kathleen had no desire