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.”

peeved by then. “Or is it that

Kathleen always had

then turned around

egg on it. The egg was round

his fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly.

walked back to the

into the house,

did you go? I

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even bought you

of Charles’ lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them? That’s still no

Kathleen was trying

grinned. She then confessed, “I met

nearly fell down the stairs. “And here I

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

brother. It’ll be

about 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 pestering me once

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her

to be his family?” Charles found

right. You don’t

do believe that it can be true. But if

way too cunning. His proposal to merely be Kathleen’s family is probably just a way for him to buy more time. I

Charles flatly. She 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 day. Otherwise, once everything is settled, do

Charles pursed his lips.

that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it if Samuel did end

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

was taken aback by her

Kathleen marched up the

actually clever but

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

surprised.

through it, Kathleen

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

inviting you over?”

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

awkward in a heartbeat. “So should we give

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

you plan on telling them?” Charles was

had no desire to lie