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 Samuel

the condominium,” said Kathleen after a

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

on

other hand, Samuel had used the same

the past, Kathleen had gotten them matching ones, but

fact, Samuel viewed most

were nothing but childish things that only young girls

Kathleen was a young

slippers, Samuel pressed her against the wall and kissed

intense than the kiss they had shared back in

she fiercely uttered,

“Why?” He grimaced.

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

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

exactly

give in to

right,” she affirmed with

me hold back for a whole month are,” warned Samuel. His calloused fingers

know.” Kathleen was being perfectly

that she was pregnant and couldn’t share a room with him, he

Hehe!

a shower,” he

Kathleen nodded. “Okay.”

go into the house while she let out a sigh of relief and clenched her

truly intended to stay with her, then she could

call. “Samuel

see Nicolette again? He’s using you

that’s not it,” Kathleen immediately

a towel, Kathleen?” Samuel piped

“Coming,” she answered.

exchange, she could tell that it

she said with a grin. “You both

she hung

down and went

take it from

he could even beat that of the models in fashion magazines. No matter what

something unique about

woman, Kathleen wasn’t really the type

she had was with Samuel

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

and innocence of hers were exactly

to be tainted

instantly turned around. Even the tips of

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

her

had left behind, she still

for wounds to heal, after

she needed was

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

was bawling

she would be able to head back in that

off his suit and covered her with it before pulling her into

Just stay indifferent. Quit trying to manipulate

you?”

willing to be one, we can live happily from now on. If not, we

his voice as he asked, “Can you give me a

That left Kathleen startled.

give me some time to straighten everything out,” he

speaking, he was quite reluctant to

with you, Samuel. There’s

month,” Samuel proposed

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

are they?” he questioned. There was a smile

each other after a month, I’ll sign the papers and leave,” insisted Kathleen. She wanted to have a backup plan for herself instead

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

going to give it to me or not?”

his hand against her

it by tomorrow,”

He nodded his

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

won’t trick you,” he promised

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

that, Samuel

never even done that before. Is she talking

“Got it,” he agreed.

did she

because she couldn’t tell what

am I going to do if he really is just