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 family and your brother, too. So why can’t you spend my money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by

had difficulty winning

then turned around

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

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

to the Johnson

stepped into the house, she

did you

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

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

was trying to mislead him with

then confessed, “I met

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

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 you are brothers henceforth. Please do

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

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.

made her

to be his family?” Charles found

“That’s right. You don’t believe

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

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

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.

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

“You should

was taken aback

Kathleen marched up

actually clever but she doesn’t show it.

an invitation. “Ms.

was surprised. The Morris

it open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen

Johnson. It’s 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 family misread the situation. They’re making a commotion out of nothing.” There was no readable expression on Kathleen’s clean face as she

“So should

obvious that he wants to speak with me alone. So what’s

you plan on telling

no desire