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.

want to

the condominium,” said Kathleen

on.” He proceeded to walk out of the hotel with her hand

they returned to the condominium, Kathleen put on a

had used the same pair of simple black slippers since the

gotten them matching ones, but he had only complained

Samuel viewed most couple-themed products with

nothing but childish things that only young girls would be

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

changing into their slippers, Samuel pressed her against the wall

the kiss they had

overcome with terror. Her dainty fist pounded on his chest as she fiercely uttered, “You’re not allowed to get intimate with me until the month is

“Why?” He grimaced.

muttered. “If you manage to pass the test after the month is up, I’ll give

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

look forward to how exactly he was going to deal with

give in to me?” he questioned

right,” she affirmed

His calloused fingers tenderly brushed against her delicate chin,

Kathleen was

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

Hehe!

take a

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

into the house while she

could just act like she

give Wynnie a call. “Samuel and I

Nicolette again? He’s using

that’s not it,” Kathleen

towel, Kathleen?”

“Coming,” she answered.

heard that exchange, she could tell that it

it,” she said with a grin. “You both should

she

down and

take

the models in fashion magazines. No matter what he wore, he still looked

something unique about him

wasn’t really the type to open up

she had was with

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

purity and innocence of hers were exactly what

had yet to be tainted by the

instantly turned around. Even the tips

towel around himself and approached her from behind. He lowered his head and nibbled on her ear with his

shiver ran through her body.

that he had left behind,

time for wounds to heal, after

she needed

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

point, she was bawling her eyes

be able to head back

covered her with it before pulling

being so nice to me. Just stay indifferent. Quit trying

nice to other than you?” He felt

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

looked. There was slight hoarseness to his

That left Kathleen startled.

to straighten everything out,” he said while

he was quite reluctant

keep dragging things out with you, Samuel. There’s no way I can wait

proposed in

she replied, “I can give you

they?” he questioned. There was

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

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

give it

slapped his hand against her outstretched

tomorrow,” she ordered,

He nodded his

“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

won’t trick you,” he promised while staring

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

that, Samuel

I’ve never even done that before. Is she talking

“Got it,” he agreed.

then did

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

if he really is just