Leo found himself back 796Please respect copyright.PENANAPD6wSCKQWJ
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 796Please respect copyright.PENANAMCtb8y49vs
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after796Please respect copyright.PENANARAKMFhTZPY
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in796Please respect copyright.PENANAWtGGtpuHaq
the room.796Please respect copyright.PENANAqBaa6qD1GM
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"796Please respect copyright.PENANA6Odps3M1va
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"796Please respect copyright.PENANA4yvRELuKgp
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.796Please respect copyright.PENANAMPddr4i0X8
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAzbhkEyCFbQ
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."796Please respect copyright.PENANAlzbIoxWUTO
Eric raised an eyebrow 796Please respect copyright.PENANAlFbE8VIMJO
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 796Please respect copyright.PENANAaZ4J17gs1C
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 796Please respect copyright.PENANAneowggMTXQ
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.796Please respect copyright.PENANANrbXiyUkT1
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"796Please respect copyright.PENANA6kZ1yIeN72
"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."796Please respect copyright.PENANABYuxQiHmpE
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.796Please respect copyright.PENANAngaypbxlJX
"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?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAP85WjVoQFO
"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."796Please respect copyright.PENANAtBLBJDiaDI
Leo soon turned around, 796Please respect copyright.PENANAZsg3SqEsJX
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt796Please respect copyright.PENANAlvzxkXFZcw
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue796Please respect copyright.PENANA0hfLaVWxbA
on top of it.796Please respect copyright.PENANAbQNHFtvvtG
Kim had been crying. She796Please respect copyright.PENANApLtbVmzHOa
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the796Please respect copyright.PENANA1f1nAIylzx
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 796Please respect copyright.PENANA2bHRNczpb5
her tears with another tissue.796Please respect copyright.PENANAJW2z59ilEe
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."796Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4tzGxdJev
"I'm not going to say 796Please respect copyright.PENANAfLkDbNogSN
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 796Please respect copyright.PENANADPXCIaepX8
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."796Please respect copyright.PENANAa8PEdDJ7mA
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.796Please respect copyright.PENANAhdlWYRKJQU
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."796Please respect copyright.PENANAfhr1H9QiFI
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAF1zMNOQPw4
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."796Please respect copyright.PENANAG3kBnEwD8n
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAmD2NGD6Iwb
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.796Please respect copyright.PENANAMqXNgaBwA5
"Yes, we are."796Please respect copyright.PENANAMhSicB7R1N
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."796Please respect copyright.PENANAWBkFtD5xEd
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."796Please respect copyright.PENANAylxBchzmPW
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."796Please respect copyright.PENANAyewokjTkYv
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAFxjbuVIDrA
The two ladies agreed 796Please respect copyright.PENANAYQM94vQbhb
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 796Please respect copyright.PENANATPFNVv2yQl
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 796Please respect copyright.PENANAR4XDIWFIU2
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.796Please respect copyright.PENANAWOvUCSNurg
"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."796Please respect copyright.PENANAKdmutQwSlX
Most people in the 796Please respect copyright.PENANAXPEcTT30U5
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 796Please respect copyright.PENANAeRQmtlJb4i
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 796Please respect copyright.PENANAXt5e3HWROf
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 796Please respect copyright.PENANAaJefFqGg0B
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 796Please respect copyright.PENANAAtLfCsmpF1
struggle to put out the first fire.796Please respect copyright.PENANAs6cem2czOk
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.796Please respect copyright.PENANAGyLSAg6AzR
"I would rather suggest 796Please respect copyright.PENANAIy4iSJetEc
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his796Please respect copyright.PENANAfIPzZqnPYj
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 796Please respect copyright.PENANALmvMhtQ1yf
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAjv7U99jB9B
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.796Please respect copyright.PENANAv537dRwohW
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANA2PbTSTO78z
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."796Please respect copyright.PENANAiGitXygENT
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."796Please respect copyright.PENANAxRFl1bILKP
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.796Please respect copyright.PENANA39rljvHVqg
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.796Please respect copyright.PENANAM0qmK4FsE0
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.796Please respect copyright.PENANAZt2mLcAiOw
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.796Please respect copyright.PENANAS78AzFZuMN
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.796Please respect copyright.PENANASGq5seLLbd
Everyone slowly left the796Please respect copyright.PENANAjShkKKKUZp
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 796Please respect copyright.PENANA3grQHsI3FL
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right796Please respect copyright.PENANASBjSdlBvfB
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 796Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2AXzCHvsi
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.796Please respect copyright.PENANAyvBpYxTfq9
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANA7lwansNfMP
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."796Please respect copyright.PENANAd8dcANGg4t
After the loving prayer,796Please respect copyright.PENANAon48RLPljy
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed796Please respect copyright.PENANAZaB5mRz38n
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.796Please respect copyright.PENANAg88QBwcGfU
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANAkD7xVJh73j
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."796Please respect copyright.PENANASlPDQJyzd4
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."796Please respect copyright.PENANA1pyvVd9Gcc
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."796Please respect copyright.PENANADuGJzhEoLd
"He really can't get 796Please respect copyright.PENANAzdAVzlg1sA
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the796Please respect copyright.PENANAK5zGVymBsq
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 796Please respect copyright.PENANAlbcGRw2wRl
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 796Please respect copyright.PENANAwXsaJqfKO3
eyes in irritation.796Please respect copyright.PENANAsJg2mGBL6j
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."796Please respect copyright.PENANAfyy48Ymxtf
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.796Please respect copyright.PENANArWqYrGqdbd
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."796Please respect copyright.PENANAWa4h5FdPHW
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.796Please respect copyright.PENANAKGnGp5thoK
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.796Please respect copyright.PENANAxGARPzMG9h
"Why me?" Angel asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANARcAcR5neyf
"I know you will explain796Please respect copyright.PENANAMZijzJ1gdn
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 796Please respect copyright.PENANAW5I7bzfdAi
of things from now on if mum is busy."796Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ657rXzaA
"Like what?" Diana asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANAMS9OgBaBbZ
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."796Please respect copyright.PENANARGKfIomQGi
"That's so nice of you, 796Please respect copyright.PENANADSBTO9pvkg
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,796Please respect copyright.PENANAZfXVHy74Gw
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 796Please respect copyright.PENANAND1A6U5U14
want to."796Please respect copyright.PENANA3aMxYL0sBf
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."796Please respect copyright.PENANAf2cx7YTzTS
Angel looked at him and 796Please respect copyright.PENANAZM6tF5jrcR
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 796Please respect copyright.PENANAped5094SsF
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 796Please respect copyright.PENANAJeRSTo73wi
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.796Please respect copyright.PENANAFI3WEXba7T
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."796Please respect copyright.PENANAXQnQ66PEDH
Leo felt like he was 796Please respect copyright.PENANAjrcN8j2dWJ
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 796Please respect copyright.PENANAhlR966v1x8
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.796Please respect copyright.PENANAvx56hRXd02
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.796Please respect copyright.PENANA8yfpefzO1x
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.796Please respect copyright.PENANAF2rC4BxLwd
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."796Please respect copyright.PENANAnAcbwev7N3
"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."796Please respect copyright.PENANAWyKlgppP1T
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."796Please respect copyright.PENANAyzkBBnQksJ
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.796Please respect copyright.PENANAxiknZscB7l
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAbt1XI00cqv
"It was fine, mum," said796Please respect copyright.PENANAbFVDyqBNHM
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 796Please respect copyright.PENANAGfMUIqSwIn
conversation was going to turn out.796Please respect copyright.PENANAUMvCcwBOdX
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAjQXpiDfZZv
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."796Please respect copyright.PENANAS7HsiuO48J
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."796Please respect copyright.PENANA1JHLYrtsOE
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.796Please respect copyright.PENANAwbjxr2eSZL
"Alright," said Mrs 796Please respect copyright.PENANAsECZXiXvPh
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 796Please respect copyright.PENANApAMn0qRMfL
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 796Please respect copyright.PENANAfLMloFT21f
for you lately?"796Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZC4LbN05g
Angel and Carly both 796Please respect copyright.PENANAgBTuRzODuZ
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 796Please respect copyright.PENANAiridDD5Ew3
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 796Please respect copyright.PENANAdnv2ubFArq
already was one herself.796Please respect copyright.PENANAzj20JSzIFF
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.796Please respect copyright.PENANAhy0fUaNqSt
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANAIE6rbv2JFd
"Running well as usual."796Please respect copyright.PENANATWg9YxeYXr
"I should really pay him796Please respect copyright.PENANAerBh3dVeCU
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 796Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8nNjm4sEM
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."796Please respect copyright.PENANAyMS28GyUiG
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.796Please respect copyright.PENANAQS2uvGEn6U
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.796Please respect copyright.PENANAtmGL623vp4
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.796Please respect copyright.PENANAeUtRAEh8t4
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.796Please respect copyright.PENANAUWBk3ntWB5
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."796Please respect copyright.PENANApLiCttVXhn
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."796Please respect copyright.PENANAHaxoUdqHrE
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."796Please respect copyright.PENANA3aE9QdxTmz
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.796Please respect copyright.PENANAtNcCbXouOF
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.796Please respect copyright.PENANA7CuwrOP0c9
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANAT7eB1eaM7E
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."796Please respect copyright.PENANA8f4n8V4WiA
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAAsG8whtGyT
"I would really like to,796Please respect copyright.PENANAzA4EJvIphm
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 796Please respect copyright.PENANAOVddg1ML02
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."796Please respect copyright.PENANA3B0dk5gDxX
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."796Please respect copyright.PENANAoo2bI3t7rZ
"Mum, most of us here 796Please respect copyright.PENANA8SfrAlrFcL
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 796Please respect copyright.PENANA5Vxl3Tv3wo
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 796Please respect copyright.PENANA1WxaEeUwG4
mine."796Please respect copyright.PENANAcuGJDYNs5K
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 796Please respect copyright.PENANAEOrY2GrzVx
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others796Please respect copyright.PENANAmbpj24ogwi
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 796Please respect copyright.PENANAIiQPEg0SCq
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 796Please respect copyright.PENANAGXMXZRdMKs
moment.796Please respect copyright.PENANAiJ5bGQBbef
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."796Please respect copyright.PENANAha7WvjpSNK
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.796Please respect copyright.PENANAOWUGBANkIo
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.796Please respect copyright.PENANApATWMnx0FT
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:796Please respect copyright.PENANAU4mKzwCcMv
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."796Please respect copyright.PENANAsaGvU4WYGF
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."796Please respect copyright.PENANADdHwwnapVn
"For now or never?" Leo asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANAghl9ILxb3S
"Don't start, son."796Please respect copyright.PENANA57Byakpi14
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"796Please respect copyright.PENANAfHy04OTEIM
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.796Please respect copyright.PENANAEFIe7GgYSt
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.796Please respect copyright.PENANALY0Y82fFfI
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.796Please respect copyright.PENANAybCyWDCJK3
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.796Please respect copyright.PENANAB85VsSyfDb
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.796Please respect copyright.PENANA1nNw8dSsyQ
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."796Please respect copyright.PENANAeZUFKQXkxx
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.796Please respect copyright.PENANAeIm3ME8v40
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.796Please respect copyright.PENANAjP2GtpcdFP
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.796Please respect copyright.PENANADcqa2xmBmN
"I'll come and help," said Eric.796Please respect copyright.PENANARp9kbLiOPc
"Me too," said Carly.796Please respect copyright.PENANAGzW8BPumTf
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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