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?” asked

condominium,”

out

Kathleen put on

used the same pair of simple black

past, Kathleen had gotten them matching ones, but he had only complained about it with

Samuel viewed most couple-themed products with

were nothing but

forgotten, however, was the fact that Kathleen was a young

into their slippers, Samuel pressed her

was even more intense than the kiss they

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

“Why?” He grimaced.

to pass the test after the month is up, I’ll

the event that he actually chose to be with her from

look forward to how exactly he was going to deal with

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

she affirmed

a whole month are,” warned Samuel. His calloused fingers tenderly brushed against her delicate chin, and he stared into her eyes

Kathleen was being perfectly

was pregnant and couldn’t share

Hehe!

take a

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

the house while she let

she could just act like she knew nothing about him and

a call. “Samuel and I won’t be going back

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

it,”

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

“Coming,” she answered.

moment Wynnie heard that exchange, she could tell

said with a

she

phone down and went

door to take it

beat that of the models in fashion magazines. No matter

unique about him

wasn’t really the type to open

that she

of that, seeing him so exposed made her cheeks flush in embarrassment. Her face was so red that she looked like a tomato. She was so naive that it was out of

of hers were exactly what he

be tainted by the

around. Even the

wrapped the towel around himself and approached her from behind. He lowered his head and nibbled on her ear with his icy, thin lips. “It’s been three years. Why are

ran through her body. “You promised

that he had left behind, she still

wounds to heal, after

needed

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

that point, she was bawling her eyes

be able to head

her with it

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

you?” He felt

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

how pitiful she looked. There was slight hoarseness to his voice as he asked, “Can you give

That left Kathleen startled.

everything

was quite reluctant to let her

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

month,” Samuel proposed in a deep

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

There was

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

innocent as a baby. Other times, I

you going to give it to me or not?”

slapped his hand against her outstretched one. “I

tomorrow,” she

He nodded

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

trick you,” he promised

trailed off. “You’re not allowed to

that, Samuel

never even done that

“Got it,” he agreed.

then did she

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

going to do if he really