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.”

money instead?” Samuel was slightly peeved by then. “Or is

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning

then turned

at his plate, which had a sunny-side-up egg on it. The egg was round and reminded him of Kathleen’s adorable

up his fork and took a bite of it. Instantaneously, the corner of

back to the Johnson

the house, she heard Charles

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

and Benjamin,” Kathleen explained. “I even

meal with them? That’s still

was trying to

“I

stairs. “And here I thought it was him who

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

brother. It’ll be asking me to

bothered to 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,

Charles was rendered speechless.

promptly made

to be his family?” Charles

right.

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

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

I know what Samuel is planning. But, at least, with a deal like this, he won’t intervene if we

Charles pursed his lips.

feared that Kathleen would be the one to pay for it

was not a fool. “You should learn

was taken aback by her

Kathleen marched up

let out a deep, long sigh. Perhaps she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it.

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

surprised.

open. As she scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from ear to ear. “This

answered. Kathleen immediately placed the

is he inviting you over?”

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 Christopher a

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

on telling them?” Charles

truth.” Kathleen had no desire to