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.

do you want to

to the condominium,” said Kathleen after a

proceeded to walk out of the hotel with

condominium, Kathleen put on a pair

same pair of

matching ones, but he

viewed most

they were nothing but childish things that only young girls would be

however, was the fact that Kathleen was a young girl herself, not to

pressed her against

kiss they had shared

pounded on his chest as she fiercely uttered, “You’re not allowed to

“Why?” He grimaced.

the test after the month is up, I’ll give you a

be with her from then on, she would

to how exactly he

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

right,” she affirmed with a

know 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

was being perfectly

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

Hehe!

a shower,” he

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

go into the house while she let

with her, then she could just act like she

“Samuel and I won’t be going back

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

not it,” Kathleen immediately

Kathleen?” Samuel piped

“Coming,” she answered.

heard that exchange, she could

said with a grin.

that, she hung

and went

to take it from her, he was

fashion magazines. No matter what he wore, he still looked slender;

about

really the type to

she had was with

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

innocence of hers were exactly what

to be tainted by the

around. Even the tips of

her from behind. He lowered his head and nibbled on her

through her

he had left behind, she

took time for wounds to heal,

she needed

of hers right as she was trying to close it slowly. He

she was bawling her eyes

no way she would be able to head back in that

it before

me. Just stay indifferent. Quit trying to manipulate me,” Kathleen

than you?”

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

how pitiful she looked. There was slight hoarseness to his

That left Kathleen startled.

straighten everything

speaking, he was quite reluctant to let

with you, Samuel. There’s no way I can wait

Samuel proposed in a

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

questioned. There was a smile on his

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

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

you going to give it to me

hand against her

it by tomorrow,” she ordered,

He nodded

“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

you,” he promised

trailed off. “You’re not allowed to get intimate

hearing that,

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

“Got it,” he agreed.

then did

because she couldn’t tell

if he really is just trying to trick