All Too Late

Even so, Kathleen had never pulled any tricks.

She watched, quietly and sadly, as Samuel loved and pampered another woman.

She kept her emotions suppressed. When she felt sad, she merely hid herself away and cried.

She had never done anything hateful.

Until one day, Diana found out about her feelings for Samuel and saw through her.

“You silly child, why didn’t you tell me?” Diana was over the moon.

She had not asked for Kathleen’s opinion when she arranged for Nicolette to be sent away.

Using Nicolette’s life as a threat, she forced Samuel to get together with Kathleen.

Samuel compromised on the condition that Kathleen’s identity remained undisclosed.

Diana knew what Samuel was planning, but she said nothing and agreed.

Kathleen, who married Samuel amid the confusion, naturally did not mind.

She assumed she would eventually warm Samuel’s heart.

She believed that, one day, Samuel would return her feelings.

However, that day would never arrive.

No matter how much Samuel liked her, he loved Nicolette more.

Kathleen had her pride.

She refused to be the hated one.

She would leave so that the lovers could be together.

“You don’t know how much Nicolette means to me,” Samuel said solemnly. “Kathleen, even if I don’t marry her, I can’t ignore her for the rest of my life.”

Kathleen felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She knew that.

“I fell into a river when I was thirteen years old. Nicolette was the one who saved me.” Samuel looked at her with a bone-chilling coldness in his gaze. “I owe her my life.”

Kathleen froze.

This came as a surprise.

In other words, ten-year-old Nicolette had saved thirteen-year-old Samuel.

So that’s how their relationship started.

“So, it’s even less likely for you two to break up.” Kathleen’s heart ached. Her delicate face paled considerably.

Samuel did not say a word. He just looked at her silently.

After a long while, he spoke. “Kathleen, the one I like now is you.”

you can’t bear to let go of Nicolette. What should I do,

Samuel furrowed his brows.

worthy?”

you need to give

no matter how much time I give you, the final result will never change.” Kathleen looked at his darkened, handsome face. “Samuel, let’s stop struggling. Let’s

stood up and glared at her coldly. “Don’t even

that, he grabbed his suit jacket

hands lowered.

hand, Samuel went out for a drive

rolled down the windows to let the cold wind in and calm

some of what he said had come out

he didn’t

the contrary, he liked Kathleen

for Kathleen were

for Kathleen could not be compared to what

Samuel realized who he

for Nicolette was

to repay her

could not

indeed difficult

he needed a month’s time to

that Kathleen had not given him

she was determined

for the rest

whenever she was alone at

why she felt

she had always believed that

similar hunch that time

saw her. Her pulse was fine. There did not seem to be anything wrong with

rest of the family were

perhaps

Kathleen thought of

told her that Benjamin

not assured, as Benjamin

coat, left the house,

quiet at such a late

Benjamin’s ward with

happened to see a figure come out

Kathleen was startled.

The man panicked.

Who are you?” she

did not expect to get caught by Kathleen. He turned and ran

there!” she

ran without

up the trash can next to her and threw it at

him

pain before

needle at the

expect Kathleen to have such a terrifying object with her. He did not

teeth and stared at the

have something like

was a ruthless expression on Kathleen’s