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.

where do you want to

condominium,” said

Come on.” He proceeded to walk out of the

on a pair of

used the same pair of simple

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

most couple-themed

saw it, they were nothing but childish things that only young

a young girl herself, not to mention a soft and gentle

their slippers, Samuel pressed her against the wall and kissed

than the kiss they had shared back in

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

“Why?” He grimaced.

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

he actually chose to be with her from then on, she would come clean about the

how exactly he was going to

after one month, you’ll give in

affirmed

are,” warned Samuel. His calloused fingers tenderly brushed against her

know.” Kathleen was being

pregnant and couldn’t share a room with him, he wouldn’t be able to do anything,

Hehe!

going to take a shower,” he told

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

into the house while she let out a

could just act

give Wynnie a call. “Samuel and I won’t be

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

not it,” Kathleen

a towel, Kathleen?” Samuel

“Coming,” she answered.

that exchange, she could tell that

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

that, she

down and went to pass Samuel a

the door to take it from her, he was

figure was unbelievably well-built, and he could even beat that of the models in fashion magazines. No matter what he wore, he

about him that

Kathleen wasn’t really the type to open up to

experience that she

in embarrassment. Her face was so red that she looked like

hers were exactly what he

be tainted

Even the tips of her ears

her from behind. He lowered his head and nibbled on her ear with his icy, thin lips. “It’s been three years.

ran through her body.

had left behind,

for wounds

needed was

need was Samuel coming back to reopen that wound of hers right as she was trying to close it slowly. He was making her

bawling her eyes out in Samuel’s

no way she would be able to head back in that

off his suit and covered her with it before

Just stay

than you?” He felt like he was at his

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

was slight hoarseness to his voice as he asked, “Can you

That left Kathleen startled.

some time to straighten everything out,”

he was quite

dragging things out with you,

Samuel proposed

can give

questioned. There was a smile

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

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

going to give it to me or

his hand against her outstretched

it by tomorrow,” she ordered, then

nodded

chance I give you, Samuel. I hope you’re not doing this

trick you,” he

she trailed off. “You’re not allowed to

that,

done that before. Is she talking about physical

“Got it,” he agreed.

did she feel

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

am I going to do if he really is just trying