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

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument

then turned

egg on it. The egg was

it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly.

walked back to

she stepped into the

face. “Where did you

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even

had only a meal with them? That’s

was trying

confessed, “I

I thought it

From today onward, the two of us are only family members. He is something like a brother to

his brother. It’ll be asking me to stoop to his

care 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 way

promise to be his family?” Charles found the

peered at him. “That’s right.

be true. But if it’s

more time. I bet it’s so that he could get closer to her. Why is she so foolish, though?

at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene

Charles pursed his lips.

that Kathleen would be the

a fool. “You should learn

taken aback by

marched up the

deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she

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

surprised.

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

Felix Morris,” Maria answered.

he inviting you over?”

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

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

is asking me to go over on my own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone. So what’s

do you plan on telling them?”

no desire to