All Too Late

“I just want to have a proper husband, Samuel. If you can’t give me that, then stop trying to get yourself involved with me,” Kathleen pleaded in great distress. “Every time you kiss me, it makes me hesitate. I begin to wonder if you might like me just a little bit, but the things you do afterward shatter me completely. Please stop torturing me. I’m begging you.”

Tears were streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.

The sorrow and pain she was experiencing were unbearable.

Kathleen was well aware of how much she loved Samuel.

It wasn’t just a matter of time. Rather, he had become a permanent part of her life.

Only she knew how agonizing it was to have to rip him out of her life just like that.

Despite the fresh wound that he had left behind, she still loved him.

It took time for wounds to heal, after all.

What she needed was time.

What she didn’t need was Samuel coming back to reopen that wound of hers right as she was trying to close it slowly. He was making her experience heart-wrenching torment once again.

At that point, she was bawling her eyes out in Samuel’s arms.

There was no way she would be able to head back in that state.

Samuel took off his suit and covered her with it before pulling her into his embrace. “Come on. Don’t cry.”

“Stop being so nice to me. Just stay indifferent. Quit trying to manipulate me,” Kathleen sobbed.

“Who else am I nice to other than you?” He felt like he was at his wit’s end.

“Nicolette,” she mumbled. Her eyes were red-rimmed. “I told you I wanted a proper husband, Samuel. If you’re willing to be one, we can live happily from now on. If not, we should make things clear right now. Then, we can go our separate ways in the future.”

He stared at how pitiful she looked. There was slight hoarseness to his voice as he asked, “Can you give me a bit of time?”

That left Kathleen startled.

“Just give me some time to straighten everything out,” he said while caressing her face.

Truthfully speaking, he was quite reluctant to let her go.

“How long?” Her lips were pursed together. “I can’t keep dragging things out with you, Samuel. There’s no way I can wait as long as a year, either.”

“One month,” Samuel proposed in a deep voice.

After a moment of contemplation, she replied, “I can give you that much, but I have my own demands.”

“What are they?” he questioned. There was a smile on his face.

“Give me a copy of the divorce agreement with your signature on it. If you and Nicolette are still hung up on each other after a month, I’ll sign the papers and leave,” insisted Kathleen. She wanted to have a backup plan for herself instead of waiting around like an idiot.

He chuckled in response. “Sometimes, I feel like you’re as innocent as a baby. Other times, I find you rather cunning.”

“Are you going to give it to me or not?” she complained.

Samuel slapped his hand against her outstretched one. “I will.”

“Good. I want it by tomorrow,” she ordered, then bit her lip.

“Sure.” He nodded his head.

Kathleen hesitated for a while, then stated, “This is really going to be the last chance I give you, Samuel. I hope you’re not doing this to lead me on or trick me. I know I’m soft-hearted, but I would never let anyone take advantage of me.”

“I won’t trick you,” he promised while staring at her.

“Also…” Her gaze turned cold as she trailed off. “You’re not allowed to get intimate with Nicolette ever again.”

Upon hearing that, Samuel frowned.

Get intimate with her? I’ve never even done that before. Is she talking about physical contact?

“Got it,” he agreed.

Only then did she feel better.

Nonetheless, she was still incredibly on edge because she couldn’t tell what Samuel’s true intentions were.

What am I going to do if he really is just trying to trick me?

“Let’s go back,” Samuel suggested. He grabbed her hand before heading outside.

“Shouldn’t we tell Dad?” Kathleen protested softly.

Even though she had just cried herself silly, she still hadn’t completely regained her composure.

On top of that, she hadn’t forgotten her manners either.

“Don’t worry about it.” He simply brushed the matter off.

“Where are we going, then?” she inquired.

where do you want to go?” asked Samuel in

back to the condominium,” said

Come on.” He proceeded to walk out

to the condominium, Kathleen put on a pair

used the same pair of simple black

had gotten them matching ones, but he had

most couple-themed products with

they were nothing but childish things that only young girls

had forgotten, however, was the fact that Kathleen was a young

changing into their slippers, Samuel pressed her against the

more intense than the kiss they had shared

she fiercely

“Why?” He grimaced.

she muttered. “If you manage to pass the test after

event that he actually chose to be with her from then on, she would

would simply look forward to how exactly he was going to deal

month, you’ll give in

affirmed with

me hold back for a whole month are,” warned Samuel. His calloused fingers tenderly brushed against her delicate chin, and he stared into her eyes with a devilish

know.” Kathleen was being perfectly

figured that once she told him that she was pregnant and couldn’t share a room with him, he wouldn’t be able

Hehe!

to take a shower,”

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

while she

stay with her, then she could just act like she knew nothing about him

call. “Samuel and

Nicolette

that’s not it,” Kathleen immediately

get me a towel, Kathleen?” Samuel piped up with his

“Coming,” she answered.

she

a grin. “You

that, she hung

her phone down and went to pass

to take it from her, he was

unbelievably well-built, and he could even beat that of the models in fashion magazines. No matter what he

had something unique about him that most

woman, Kathleen wasn’t really the type

only experience that she

red that she looked like a tomato. She was so naive that it was out of this

of hers were exactly what he liked

yet to be

around. Even the

head and nibbled on her ear with his

her body.

that he had left behind,

wounds

needed was

need was Samuel coming back to reopen that wound of hers right as she was trying

was bawling her eyes out

she would be able to head back

off his suit and covered her with it before pulling her into his

to me. Just stay

else am I nice to other than you?” He felt

were red-rimmed. “I told you I wanted a proper husband, Samuel. If you’re willing to be one, we can live happily from now on. If not, we should make things clear right now. Then, we can go our separate

hoarseness to his voice

That left Kathleen startled.

time to straighten everything out,” he said while caressing her

he was quite reluctant to let

keep dragging things out with you, Samuel.

month,” Samuel proposed

contemplation, she replied, “I can give you that much, but I have my own

questioned. There

hung up on each other after a month, I’ll sign the papers and leave,” insisted Kathleen. She wanted to have a backup plan for herself instead of

“Sometimes, I feel like you’re as innocent as a baby. Other times, I

to give it to

his hand against her outstretched one.

I want it by tomorrow,”

He nodded

going to be the last chance I give you, Samuel. I hope you’re not doing this

you,” he promised while staring at

turned cold as she trailed off. “You’re not

that,

intimate with her? I’ve never even done that before. Is she

“Got it,” he agreed.

then did

on edge because she couldn’t tell what Samuel’s true

to do if he