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.”

I’m your 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

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning

then turned around

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

corner of his thin lips arched up ever so

to the

she stepped into the house,

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

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

meal with them? That’s still no excuse to return

angry, thinking that Kathleen was

confessed, “I met with Samuel as

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

at ease. “Charles, relax. I talked things through with Samuel. From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something

his brother. It’ll

all that. In the end, if you do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

to be his family?” Charles found

right. You

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

more time. I bet

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 day. Otherwise, once everything is settled, do you honestly believe that he will let us

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 did end up

a fool. “You

aback

marched up the

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

brought over an invitation. “Ms.

surprised.

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

from Felix Morris,” Maria answered. Kathleen immediately placed the

is he inviting you

understand what I meant? Nothing was happening between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris

turned awkward in a heartbeat. “So should

me to go over on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone. So what’s the use of calling Christopher?”

what do you plan on

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to