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.

you want to

go back to the condominium,”

on.” He proceeded to walk out of the hotel

Kathleen put on a pair of indoor slippers with

had used the same

past, Kathleen had gotten them matching ones, but he had only

Samuel viewed most couple-themed products

were nothing but childish things that only young girls

was a

slippers, Samuel pressed her against the

kiss they had

overcome with terror. Her dainty fist pounded on his chest as she fiercely uttered, “You’re not allowed to

“Why?” He grimaced.

you manage to pass the test after

to be with her from then on, she would come clean about the

forward to how exactly he

month, you’ll give in to me?” he questioned while scrutinizing

affirmed

what the consequences of making 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

was being perfectly

she was pregnant and couldn’t share a room with him,

Hehe!

to take a shower,”

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

turn around and go into the house while she let out a sigh of relief

truly intended to stay with her, then she could

decided to give Wynnie a call. “Samuel and

he gone to see Nicolette again? He’s using you as his cover,

it,” Kathleen immediately

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

“Coming,” she answered.

that exchange, she could tell

it,” she said with a grin. “You

that, she

placed her phone down and went to

he opened the door to take

beat that of the models in fashion magazines. No matter what he wore, he still looked slender; when undressed, though, his muscles

something unique about him that most

wasn’t really the

she had was with

was so red that she looked like a tomato. She

purity and innocence of hers were exactly what he liked about

to be

instantly turned around. Even the tips of her ears

his head and nibbled on her ear with

ran through her

had

time for wounds to heal,

she needed was

back to reopen that wound of hers right as she was trying to close it slowly. He was making her experience heart-wrenching

point, she was bawling

was no way she would be able to head back in

covered her with it before

me. Just stay indifferent. Quit trying

to other than you?” He felt like

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

to his voice as he asked, “Can

That left Kathleen startled.

everything out,” he said while

he was quite reluctant to

lips were pursed together. “I can’t keep dragging things out with

month,” Samuel proposed in a deep

moment of contemplation, she replied, “I can give you that

questioned. There was a

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

you’re as innocent as a baby. Other times, I find you rather

to give it to me or not?” she

slapped his hand against her

it by tomorrow,” she

nodded

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

won’t trick you,” he promised while staring

trailed off. “You’re

that,

even done that before. Is she

“Got it,” he agreed.

did she

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

going to do if he