All Too Late

Kathleen was having a fitful sleep when she was awoken by a bitingly cold presence.

Her gaze landed on Samuel, who was standing by her bed.

She was overcome with nerves and disbelief that he had actually returned.

Samuel regarded the squeamish Kathleen in an icily condescending manner. “You’re pregnant?”

“No. Who told you that? Do you deny the lab test results?” Kathleen bit back as she worried her bottom lip.

“Then what is it that you’re looking at?” retorted Samuel as he pointed at the tablet.

Kathleen pursed her lips. “I had promised to help Gemma out tomorrow by volunteering at a charity home advocating for autistic children. Do you find fault in me doing some background research beforehand?”

That managed to convince Samuel.

“What time will you be leaving tomorrow?” asked Samuel dispassionately.

“I plan to reach by ten o’clock.”

Kathleen secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

That was a close call. Her pregnancy was almost revealed.

“Are you certain you’re not pregnant?” Samuel reiterated.

“Of course. When have I skipped my birth control pills?” deadpanned Kathleen.

“That trip to the hot springs two months prior.” Samuel could still recall it vividly.

Well, that was true indeed.

Kathleen had decided to head to the hot springs on a whim while Samuel had been there on a job inspection. Neither she nor Samuel had an inkling that either party would be present, yet both had met out of sheer coincidence.

It had only taken Samuel one look at Kathleen, enticingly flushed and bundled up in a bathrobe, for him to ravish her completely in his room.

In the heat of the moment, Samuel had forgotten to bring along his condoms.

He rarely used them, as a matter of fact, and relied on Kathleen’s regular intake of morning-after pills.

After their night together, he had urged Kathleen to take her pills on time and hastily left for work.

Kathleen was so wrung out after the night’s exertions that she failed to act on it immediately.

She had brushed off the reminder since she wasn’t ovulating and promptly forgotten all about it.

slept together. Hence, she did not

had been planted in her womb, and a new life took

time,” explained Kathleen coolly. “I’ll ingest

to retrieve a box of

hand, disrupting her. “Fine, I trust you.

future men I meet won’t let me suffer through this, unlike you! All you care about is your own pleasure

Samuel was incensed.

it is true that Kathleen often has to be on Plan B

would you prefer to be

love me, he would certainly

No man would commit

yourself that your opinions are skewed. I swear I’ll prove it to you by finding a good man for

are a mere figment

compare me with her imagined good man. What is so bad about me anyway? Kathleen is given ample money to spend. Besides, her needs and wants, both in bed and in day-to-day life are well taken care of. What more is there to

are a dime a dozen. I can’t believe my poor luck

means that we’re fated then,” replied Samuel

rotten luck. I must have been utterly

mind must have been lust-addled to have pined

Samuel huffed in displeasure.

sensed that something

had inexplicably become more

it could be that her mood

the space between her eyebrows, deflated.

then proceeded to flop onto the bed, pull up

Samuel grimaced.

her to instigate my anger then promptly snooze off like nobody’s business. She would not have dared to do so in the past.

thanked the heavens for her quick wit in switching the birth control

have proposed to take them right before

drifted off and succumbed to

was pinned on the bottle of

get rid of it. How am I not a

a good man was defined by his actions in not allowing her to consume birth-control pills, then so be

a condom from

and turned to his side, taking in the view

soft and luscious as fresh peach and

drawn to her. Especially Christopher. The way he looks at Kathleen does not belong to that of an ordinary

and he

scum!” Kathleen shrieked as she struggled

dismay at the commotion, but

alone. I no longer love you. I’m going to find someone else whom I deserve,” Kathleen whimpered in her