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

had difficulty winning an argument

then turned around and

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

picked up his fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of his thin lips arched up ever so slightly. She can never

back to

stepped into the house, she heard

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

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

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

angry, thinking that Kathleen was trying

“I met with Samuel as

fell down the stairs. “And here I thought

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 you. The two of

laughed sarcastically, “Haha! I will never be his brother. It’ll be

to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that happens, I won’t let you off so

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made

you really promise to be his family?” Charles

him. “That’s right. You don’t believe

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

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

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,

Charles pursed his lips.

not afraid of Samuel, Charles feared that Kathleen would be

fool. “You

taken aback by her

Kathleen marched up the

out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever

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

surprised. The

then flipped it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to

Morris,” Maria answered.

is he inviting you

between Christopher and me, but in the end, the Morris family misread the situation. They’re making a commotion out of nothing.” There

a heartbeat. “So

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

do you plan on telling them?” Charles was

had no desire