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.

to go?” asked

go back to the condominium,” said Kathleen

walk out of the hotel with

on a pair of indoor slippers

the other hand, Samuel had used the same pair of simple

matching ones, but he

viewed most couple-themed

they were nothing but childish

a young girl herself, not to

pressed her against the wall and kissed

more intense than the kiss they had shared back in

with terror. Her dainty fist pounded on his chest as she fiercely

“Why?” He grimaced.

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

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

would simply look forward to how exactly he was going to

after one month, you’ll give in to me?” he questioned while scrutinizing

affirmed with

know what the consequences of making me hold back for a whole month are,” warned Samuel. His calloused fingers tenderly brushed against her delicate chin, and he

Kathleen was being

she told him that she was pregnant and couldn’t share a

Hehe!

to take a shower,” he told

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

the house while

she could just act like she knew nothing

“Samuel and

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

it,” Kathleen

Kathleen?” Samuel piped up

“Coming,” she answered.

she could tell that

said with a grin.

that, she

and went to pass Samuel

to take it from her, he was

was unbelievably well-built, and he could even beat that of the models in fashion magazines. No matter what he wore, he still looked slender; when

about him that

a rather conservative woman, Kathleen wasn’t really the

she had

her cheeks flush in embarrassment. Her face was so red that she looked like a tomato. She was

and innocence of hers were exactly what he

be

the tips of her ears felt

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

shiver ran through her body.

the fresh wound that he had

time for wounds to heal,

she needed was

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

that point, she was bawling her

no way she would be able to head back in

took off his suit and covered her with it before pulling her into his embrace. “Come

me. Just stay indifferent. Quit

to other than you?” He felt

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

his voice

That left Kathleen startled.

to straighten everything out,” he said

was quite reluctant to let her

dragging things out with you, Samuel. There’s no

Samuel proposed in a

she replied, “I can give you that much, but I have my

questioned. There was a

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

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

it

slapped his hand against

I want it by tomorrow,” she ordered, then bit her

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

trick you,” he

“You’re not allowed to get intimate with

hearing that,

done that before. Is she

“Got it,” he agreed.

then did she

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

am I going to do if he really