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.”

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

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

then turned

plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and

of his thin lips arched up ever

walked back to the

stepped into the house, she

did you

with Gemma and Benjamin,”

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

angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying

grinned. She then confessed, “I met with

I thought it was him who was pestering

“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

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

all that. In the end, if you do somehow enrage him to the point where he

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made her way

be his family?” Charles

“That’s right.

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

cunning. His 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

But, at least, with a deal like this, he

Charles pursed his lips.

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

was not a fool. “You should learn to trust in me

aback

Kathleen marched up the

let out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things are better left

next morning, Kathleen was having breakfast when Maria brought over an invitation. “Ms. Johnson, this is an

was surprised. The

it, Kathleen began to grin from ear

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

inviting

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 was no readable expression on Kathleen’s clean face as she

a heartbeat. “So should we give

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

on telling them?” Charles was

Kathleen had no