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

understand.” Kathleen always had difficulty winning an argument against

turned around and

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

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

back to

she stepped into the house, she heard

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

and Benjamin,” Kathleen

lips twitched. “You had only a meal with them?

was

then confessed, “I

stairs. “And here I thought it was him who was

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 you are brothers henceforth.

never be his brother. It’ll

if you do somehow enrage him to the point where he no longer wants to be my family, he’ll come pestering me once again. When that happens, I

Charles was rendered speechless.

made her way

promise to be his family?” Charles found the entire notion

peered at him. “That’s right. You

it can be true. But if it’s

too cunning. His proposal 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 get

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 you

Charles pursed his lips.

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

She was not a fool. “You should learn

taken aback by

marched up the

she’s actually clever but she doesn’t show it. Some things are better left unknown. Elsewise, it

next morning, Kathleen was having breakfast when Maria brought over an invitation.

was surprised. The

scanned through it, Kathleen began to grin from

answered. Kathleen immediately placed the invitation down.

inviting you over?”

guessing he wants to ask 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

“So should we give Christopher a call

own. It’s obvious that he wants to speak with me alone.

plan on telling them?” Charles was

had no desire to