Leo found himself back 692Please respect copyright.PENANA1RElGjVZdm
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 692Please respect copyright.PENANA268Cw6rhS9
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after692Please respect copyright.PENANADsfqtvJfiW
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in692Please respect copyright.PENANAY1kdspu793
the room.692Please respect copyright.PENANAma9ibiU1vT
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAW08CXx9ocO
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAvfGv8k5jgo
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.692Please respect copyright.PENANAd3XZI3cDct
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAKrCctdgAmf
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."692Please respect copyright.PENANAlLUUHgFf6K
Eric raised an eyebrow 692Please respect copyright.PENANAa0pjX8ASRy
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 692Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1MZv37IWK
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 692Please respect copyright.PENANACYp2pMKfmm
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.692Please respect copyright.PENANArViosvlxL5
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"692Please respect copyright.PENANARu5utnoXB1
"Let him do it," said Angel. "Mr McDonell must have told him that he went a little too overboard with the way he treated her."692Please respect copyright.PENANAZYMJtjjnUq
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.692Please respect copyright.PENANAFfOzrJ6rpq
"I think you're doing a good thing if you ask me," said Amanda. "You aren't supposed to treat a lady like that, you know?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAipfbbhfV90
"Yes, I know," said Leo. He was in no mood for a lecture, he had to talk to Kim. "I'm going to the patio."692Please respect copyright.PENANADii6xN4UVR
Leo soon turned around, 692Please respect copyright.PENANAfHBM6yCZxw
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt692Please respect copyright.PENANARURAODmuXf
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue692Please respect copyright.PENANAGIQqQsJLMd
on top of it.692Please respect copyright.PENANATdlqJtdhPL
Kim had been crying. She692Please respect copyright.PENANAd666ScwBuU
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the692Please respect copyright.PENANA8uBkMYxn8G
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 692Please respect copyright.PENANAYbts1vBrzY
her tears with another tissue.692Please respect copyright.PENANAUE1pERpQ7G
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."692Please respect copyright.PENANAq2S81BPUzK
"I'm not going to say 692Please respect copyright.PENANAJF9WKtjpSH
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 692Please respect copyright.PENANACrSHep0X3I
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."692Please respect copyright.PENANAZEEgajtLgI
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.692Please respect copyright.PENANApM7jiaNVTL
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."692Please respect copyright.PENANAHRX51JO6Mc
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAA3HRKS2VPg
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."692Please respect copyright.PENANAcnonnOEjAA
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAfhLLH15txn
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.692Please respect copyright.PENANA2uxgmz1y02
"Yes, we are."692Please respect copyright.PENANAPmCqaDTPQj
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."692Please respect copyright.PENANA6Eb9cFNUEk
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."692Please respect copyright.PENANAGorLJs4rak
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."692Please respect copyright.PENANAyhyG0ZFvSM
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"692Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jncr65ayq
The two ladies agreed 692Please respect copyright.PENANADDxs7MgV67
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 692Please respect copyright.PENANAkd9cdlFEfU
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 692Please respect copyright.PENANA8Kt85SKSyQ
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.692Please respect copyright.PENANAH9Iqi3Tj2s
"Oh, I'm so glad you decided to apologise to Kim, Leo," said Mrs McDonell. "Look at how your apology has made Kim so happy."692Please respect copyright.PENANAmpoMYwNGoZ
Most people in the 692Please respect copyright.PENANArSLk5NDmX4
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 692Please respect copyright.PENANADxCPOzplVW
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 692Please respect copyright.PENANAxM56HDyffI
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 692Please respect copyright.PENANAvI5NBiNuiE
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 692Please respect copyright.PENANAXSllogUdGz
struggle to put out the first fire.692Please respect copyright.PENANAVTdaKZ2t16
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.692Please respect copyright.PENANAU49ZLkMyge
"I would rather suggest 692Please respect copyright.PENANA6lOjRUDIUv
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his692Please respect copyright.PENANAsS2e7FrVpj
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 692Please respect copyright.PENANAqjFpEJozBL
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAbHkq3Ojy7q
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.692Please respect copyright.PENANAbTjfFSVP6M
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAqDSPdFfJDc
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."692Please respect copyright.PENANAXxH71s3vyL
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."692Please respect copyright.PENANA5QY8DcePfG
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.692Please respect copyright.PENANACqShwzhpDB
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.692Please respect copyright.PENANA6JnrMeFqdJ
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.692Please respect copyright.PENANAg7CNwSyuaG
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.692Please respect copyright.PENANAvzpyumqw58
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.692Please respect copyright.PENANAK5w4rQQU5K
Everyone slowly left the692Please respect copyright.PENANAKSRANuhtPH
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 692Please respect copyright.PENANAR61XmMSxiK
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right692Please respect copyright.PENANAfmzVif6pLx
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 692Please respect copyright.PENANAatkdB0yzLK
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.692Please respect copyright.PENANASu2ZIlxJEX
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAld5KrHuJFh
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."692Please respect copyright.PENANARWlfYHlJbE
After the loving prayer,692Please respect copyright.PENANA3e4LJp81ZZ
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed692Please respect copyright.PENANAowfT5JkFfz
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.692Please respect copyright.PENANAnWhct36ZKe
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANATMOiRWpBTq
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."692Please respect copyright.PENANAbOeeZJq7Ky
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."692Please respect copyright.PENANAXm5EYCoiCe
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."692Please respect copyright.PENANANKSSDag10a
"He really can't get 692Please respect copyright.PENANAoDGxnwEeWR
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the692Please respect copyright.PENANAbkaYeTaGcb
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 692Please respect copyright.PENANAGac7w3xLvD
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 692Please respect copyright.PENANAm97qwyLMmS
eyes in irritation.692Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4aUG2HyBa
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."692Please respect copyright.PENANARolU48Nq3q
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.692Please respect copyright.PENANAU85fNe4rgF
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."692Please respect copyright.PENANA2jeXmPRho5
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.692Please respect copyright.PENANADTmyYExhb9
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.692Please respect copyright.PENANAa71lOnoJei
"Why me?" Angel asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAD55mQBpxWq
"I know you will explain692Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZPiQ4Godb
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 692Please respect copyright.PENANANLbQxjdB8j
of things from now on if mum is busy."692Please respect copyright.PENANARq8zJC7J2L
"Like what?" Diana asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANApRqOBR64Fu
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."692Please respect copyright.PENANA3POsR89oTx
"That's so nice of you, 692Please respect copyright.PENANAJFtSWP7jBx
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,692Please respect copyright.PENANAzAVolk1sxw
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 692Please respect copyright.PENANA6hToCkDRXs
want to."692Please respect copyright.PENANAlc7WSPCKkZ
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."692Please respect copyright.PENANABpgX6eDIKK
Angel looked at him and 692Please respect copyright.PENANAtVzmMfzYez
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 692Please respect copyright.PENANAoJx7tPD41F
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 692Please respect copyright.PENANAb5KY1eNrb1
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.692Please respect copyright.PENANAvpPFxieuvI
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."692Please respect copyright.PENANA6Iso7VrEnU
Leo felt like he was 692Please respect copyright.PENANAHkpiSWyQ52
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 692Please respect copyright.PENANAW1b3TsUIku
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.692Please respect copyright.PENANA8R4Ba0Rza3
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.692Please respect copyright.PENANA0V7eRM8iaj
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.692Please respect copyright.PENANASUl23GfyLI
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."692Please respect copyright.PENANAP99UHknBdx
"He asked if he wanted to watch a movie with Carly and I," said Angel. "So, I told him we can when he does his homework."692Please respect copyright.PENANAKqWaWBvO3h
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."692Please respect copyright.PENANAYxJbEZq1dI
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.692Please respect copyright.PENANApexE1bjfHF
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"692Please respect copyright.PENANABjcTUpdHHO
"It was fine, mum," said692Please respect copyright.PENANADoP2Bn9M9t
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 692Please respect copyright.PENANAdMMK6QzL2Z
conversation was going to turn out.692Please respect copyright.PENANAn2DjKbI4bW
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAYQ0oOX3ZMP
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."692Please respect copyright.PENANALOAQQOYCtA
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."692Please respect copyright.PENANA6zp0WRg9Xv
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.692Please respect copyright.PENANAAutRfPe14H
"Alright," said Mrs 692Please respect copyright.PENANAgwkFGbH1oL
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 692Please respect copyright.PENANAEFoEKEw38Z
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 692Please respect copyright.PENANAD33gOTXCkU
for you lately?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAJBEJJlEcG3
Angel and Carly both 692Please respect copyright.PENANAzgYCE4mbKk
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 692Please respect copyright.PENANAcihJruaCPI
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 692Please respect copyright.PENANAg1BO0QWaY8
already was one herself.692Please respect copyright.PENANAnFhMeLoay1
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.692Please respect copyright.PENANAd0yjoPGxLC
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAaWmsRiKBkS
"Running well as usual."692Please respect copyright.PENANAvNCwPqKoAZ
"I should really pay him692Please respect copyright.PENANABgNwN12Bl7
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 692Please respect copyright.PENANAujrFpZYc0I
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."692Please respect copyright.PENANAunNWH1OpX0
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.692Please respect copyright.PENANAXJWTQGMyPo
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.692Please respect copyright.PENANAXFdlMvszVD
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.692Please respect copyright.PENANAIFE9julYYq
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.692Please respect copyright.PENANAdAW131bNEF
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."692Please respect copyright.PENANAjHxAoTAWCD
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."692Please respect copyright.PENANA4IlflVhZU5
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."692Please respect copyright.PENANApIVmz4sMyb
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.692Please respect copyright.PENANAMCw4s7pw71
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.692Please respect copyright.PENANAweSbpdivLf
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAxm9feqL4Kn
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."692Please respect copyright.PENANAg8w52RfYI5
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"692Please respect copyright.PENANAjBvgEnRKdY
"I would really like to,692Please respect copyright.PENANAOFbiGFjxyM
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 692Please respect copyright.PENANAdJl5iwu18a
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."692Please respect copyright.PENANA1Cv11FmzUr
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."692Please respect copyright.PENANA7FrHKAllIX
"Mum, most of us here 692Please respect copyright.PENANATUp8RBbfen
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 692Please respect copyright.PENANAlulIFZsQfh
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 692Please respect copyright.PENANA0AlZPIIRat
mine."692Please respect copyright.PENANAcrss4g84Pd
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 692Please respect copyright.PENANAxuw91mvMqc
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others692Please respect copyright.PENANAt5SBHZBMZy
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 692Please respect copyright.PENANAEtIfmNlamQ
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 692Please respect copyright.PENANASoYOX2E3Ev
moment.692Please respect copyright.PENANARtDnARNqIt
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."692Please respect copyright.PENANABn54rsadI7
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.692Please respect copyright.PENANAY14f2X7MID
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.692Please respect copyright.PENANAMsGx9pKcuu
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:692Please respect copyright.PENANAn9KP8pyPuJ
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."692Please respect copyright.PENANAQHqocbgh3d
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."692Please respect copyright.PENANAFZaHLPna9M
"For now or never?" Leo asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAKON0231iaP
"Don't start, son."692Please respect copyright.PENANA6tessdm2PF
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"692Please respect copyright.PENANA9UMahLyrTL
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.692Please respect copyright.PENANATIJ7o4rcll
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.692Please respect copyright.PENANAPmlSxU1YkQ
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.692Please respect copyright.PENANAxhnHByAQS9
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.692Please respect copyright.PENANAF968M4H7NO
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.692Please respect copyright.PENANAuwQA9jlvub
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."692Please respect copyright.PENANAGgOiUc7jXh
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.692Please respect copyright.PENANAfmLkeSPQIU
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.692Please respect copyright.PENANAnb0QEf4XIN
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.692Please respect copyright.PENANA35RYEkzz1b
"I'll come and help," said Eric.692Please respect copyright.PENANAPNoNmzjELX
"Me too," said Carly.692Please respect copyright.PENANA3R6EhDBqR2
Soon, Angel with the help of Eric, Oliver and Carly left the table, leaving Mrs McDonell, Diana and Kim at the table.
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