Kathleen said dryly, “No rush. I'm putting on makeup at nine because I don't have any parts in the morning.”
Samuel pursed his lips and said, “All right. You may continue sleeping then. I'm going to accompany you.”
Kathleen sat up from the bed and said, “Samuel, could you ask me before you kiss me next time?”
Samuel was rendered speechless.
She wiped her lips and said, “I have multiple ways to push you away.” She could have used medicine to render him unconscious, but she did not wish to do that.
“You surely will not agree to it if I ask. So, I'm going to rule this out.”
“Aren't you afraid that I’m going to hate you?” Kathleen asked angrily.
“You already loathe me. Who knows when I'm going to die? Better get some more kisses before I kick the bucket,” Samuel said with a half-smile.
It was Kathleen's turn to be rendered speechless.
“We'll talk after you eat.” Kathleen sighed to herself. She could not keep this up with Samuel any longer.
Noticing that her expression was grim, he asked, “What do you want to talk about?”
“You can't continue pestering me like this,” she said sternly.
Samuel sat up as well as he leaned against the headboard. “I don't want to talk about that.”
“Then why did you ask me about it?” Kathleen was enraged.
That man was getting on her nerves.
Samuel flashed a half-smile at her.
Kathleen pinched her glabella and muttered, “Samuel, I hope you could be more serious.”
She thought she was being really patient with him.
Samuel trained his eyes on her and uttered, “I am being very serious right now, Kate.”
She put her hand down and said, “Samuel, let me be honest with you. The previous three-year marriage has scarred me for life. I can't just move on just because you tell me you love me. You will never understand how terrified I am every time I sit in your car late at night. I am always plagued by this fear of not knowing just when you're going to throw me out of the car.”
Samuel was stumped.
“I am haunted by countless worries. There may no longer be Nicolette standing between us, but there is no guarantee that there won't be another Nicolette in the future. I do not wish to relive that past. Do you understand?” she explained with furrowed brows.
Samuel was at a loss for words when he saw how tormented Kathleen was.
The things that he used to do out of his whim had left an indelible mark on Kathleen.
He felt a numbing pain in his chest right then.
Kathleen leaned against the headboard and said, “Samuel, I'm not trying to play hard to get when I reject Caleb and the others. I really can't.”
Samuel looked intently at her.
“Let me be frank with you. I've tried to accept Caleb or Chris. I thought if I were to cure myself, I need to move on and open up. But I just can't move on. I'm terrified that all men will end up like you. I'm afraid of going through another failed marriage.”
Samuel looked wistfully at her. “Katie, I am so sorry.”
Why was I such an *sshole back then?
Kathleen did not appear too startled by his apology. “Samuel, do you understand what I'm trying to tell you? I will not be together with another man because I can't. I can't even make myself happy. So, I do not wish to make another man unhappy by dragging him down along with me.
Samuel kept his silence for some time before he said, “Kate, how can I make it better?”
Kathleen looked lost. “I don't know.”
Samuel felt a searing pain inside of him.
He approached Kathleen and circled her into his embrace.
She did not struggle or push him away, for she knew that Samuel was upset too.
Samuel then realized that she felt so fragile and delicate in his arms.
He had never felt such pain.
“Kate, what should I do?” His voice was hoarse. “Tell me.”
He could not lose her.
The thought of losing her was enough to suffocate him.
Kathleen muttered under her breath, “Samuel, just give me some time.”
Samuel was stunned.
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