Leo found himself back 726Please respect copyright.PENANAV4Ocy3Wmjw
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 726Please respect copyright.PENANAtp25fhvJgO
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after726Please respect copyright.PENANAmVYKMXBwZM
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in726Please respect copyright.PENANAa1mbuxxDbk
the room.726Please respect copyright.PENANAPZHPMFcy5a
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"726Please respect copyright.PENANASRU5NIPkjp
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAdx5Gtg8H95
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.726Please respect copyright.PENANA61sowDICkp
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAUmBkrM37QN
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."726Please respect copyright.PENANAnpe223GZjJ
Eric raised an eyebrow 726Please respect copyright.PENANA9ssItUzTJK
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 726Please respect copyright.PENANAWbkntxZ2KB
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 726Please respect copyright.PENANAu1FcgMEFJC
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.726Please respect copyright.PENANADvPb0IIDcs
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAbh8HUBAZlW
"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."726Please respect copyright.PENANAsNUrkifW8P
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.726Please respect copyright.PENANAxen9tQh39i
"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?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAAUnvuzvFnV
"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."726Please respect copyright.PENANA7dEkNXhCzO
Leo soon turned around, 726Please respect copyright.PENANAGBXOe4UBue
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt726Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8KNiZynBg
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue726Please respect copyright.PENANAaANJyMSIJb
on top of it.726Please respect copyright.PENANAYnu9ZyFIrq
Kim had been crying. She726Please respect copyright.PENANAOi2WL8yvw3
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the726Please respect copyright.PENANAcq0gJXzdLq
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 726Please respect copyright.PENANAD8E8rl8CzX
her tears with another tissue.726Please respect copyright.PENANAgRBLfNrA2q
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."726Please respect copyright.PENANADGqvJznIZo
"I'm not going to say 726Please respect copyright.PENANAVfgTPtf4QY
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 726Please respect copyright.PENANAewM6uzJfac
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."726Please respect copyright.PENANAAJcKF9roIb
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.726Please respect copyright.PENANAP83Jys5IpA
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."726Please respect copyright.PENANABF0x56ORt6
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAVjLz6azYXc
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."726Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8nj4X2Pcy
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"726Please respect copyright.PENANASLutCs0PTC
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.726Please respect copyright.PENANAMWIRXmwSjq
"Yes, we are."726Please respect copyright.PENANAKKbMYP6MNI
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."726Please respect copyright.PENANAFWx2uiN0Zv
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."726Please respect copyright.PENANAkFlYebUaWK
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."726Please respect copyright.PENANAWu93jYWH3j
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAUOeNZEPidb
The two ladies agreed 726Please respect copyright.PENANA731gBsRAk1
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 726Please respect copyright.PENANAdf1tAzY5m8
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 726Please respect copyright.PENANA12wP1OvuED
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.726Please respect copyright.PENANA0WAyOV9oZy
"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."726Please respect copyright.PENANArLmXLPE3xA
Most people in the 726Please respect copyright.PENANAGUMwmcKgd7
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 726Please respect copyright.PENANAFoRcsqwej8
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 726Please respect copyright.PENANAvpcZtNmMwy
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 726Please respect copyright.PENANA10IFnM8cNC
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 726Please respect copyright.PENANAEr5rpzHUns
struggle to put out the first fire.726Please respect copyright.PENANA5SuLac2zmn
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.726Please respect copyright.PENANAxnWsAN15FF
"I would rather suggest 726Please respect copyright.PENANAymDAH8iYKX
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his726Please respect copyright.PENANA5tp9HchgnN
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 726Please respect copyright.PENANArWMmNKo3t4
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAg6VcZzklkZ
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.726Please respect copyright.PENANANFSHaGaaCl
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANAuTgmpldcbP
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."726Please respect copyright.PENANAfP2KmnTeQj
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."726Please respect copyright.PENANAhWl9bcvlyJ
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.726Please respect copyright.PENANA989W1XOOyb
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.726Please respect copyright.PENANAAXU2qEt1WE
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.726Please respect copyright.PENANAQUW7Uacgph
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.726Please respect copyright.PENANAyd0iD4QN7j
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.726Please respect copyright.PENANASlwMntIbr3
Everyone slowly left the726Please respect copyright.PENANAZseLKzF6zp
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 726Please respect copyright.PENANAgXtJCW87z8
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right726Please respect copyright.PENANApgmuFDwzIl
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 726Please respect copyright.PENANAM8D0MbDWnu
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.726Please respect copyright.PENANAlxtbFbpcii
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANAo5HnfsrdJc
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."726Please respect copyright.PENANAiHU3AmQO0F
After the loving prayer,726Please respect copyright.PENANACKpmHTQp6X
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed726Please respect copyright.PENANAFFpnJYV9sD
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.726Please respect copyright.PENANASti3hKRaRy
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANAzhUfDZh6BO
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."726Please respect copyright.PENANAOLpmclFcix
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."726Please respect copyright.PENANA64u5Cu1d3u
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."726Please respect copyright.PENANABPcagen9EP
"He really can't get 726Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3j9BNZTDh
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the726Please respect copyright.PENANA49DrTfeRUk
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 726Please respect copyright.PENANAiFmgboBhum
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 726Please respect copyright.PENANA8UDx8h5X49
eyes in irritation.726Please respect copyright.PENANANSGezYnBHD
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."726Please respect copyright.PENANAYc0dSfwxzn
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.726Please respect copyright.PENANAz7R8cuB7Rx
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."726Please respect copyright.PENANAPAMgmi0Bk8
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.726Please respect copyright.PENANA34wpZ0wxen
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.726Please respect copyright.PENANAsfIsa5hFPS
"Why me?" Angel asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANAZq9kLvUf1Q
"I know you will explain726Please respect copyright.PENANAYbJClZOpJd
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 726Please respect copyright.PENANAophKF1IMtu
of things from now on if mum is busy."726Please respect copyright.PENANAuEooFtCwNi
"Like what?" Diana asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANALKbQenApcl
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."726Please respect copyright.PENANAxZBqKoLaKg
"That's so nice of you, 726Please respect copyright.PENANAdjRIZl9QaC
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,726Please respect copyright.PENANAmJMTNblobl
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 726Please respect copyright.PENANA4Wafte3Fvz
want to."726Please respect copyright.PENANAdcSI6xvg4f
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."726Please respect copyright.PENANAch7hbbfZwd
Angel looked at him and 726Please respect copyright.PENANAmtuzdNQxpG
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 726Please respect copyright.PENANAErih0JQo1n
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 726Please respect copyright.PENANAdCZhbN10QZ
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.726Please respect copyright.PENANAHoARezuVh7
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."726Please respect copyright.PENANAix76LfMGNC
Leo felt like he was 726Please respect copyright.PENANAqebN0QDxvc
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 726Please respect copyright.PENANAke61SSPuey
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.726Please respect copyright.PENANAVDsJ1NMbVS
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.726Please respect copyright.PENANAeDPTsy4UZO
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.726Please respect copyright.PENANAiSNGIg5dj4
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."726Please respect copyright.PENANAVrDWO0c2aR
"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."726Please respect copyright.PENANAhbUUNH3f9z
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."726Please respect copyright.PENANALD3QD5uuUa
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.726Please respect copyright.PENANAcb0Sp4aYDN
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"726Please respect copyright.PENANA9vxRNyYrsN
"It was fine, mum," said726Please respect copyright.PENANAjyhYAdYZA5
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 726Please respect copyright.PENANAqf7vy7Z38b
conversation was going to turn out.726Please respect copyright.PENANAYeyNx8OJDv
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAEB1qYCpK2n
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."726Please respect copyright.PENANAZXjnAG7Y4p
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."726Please respect copyright.PENANAoi9P837v84
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.726Please respect copyright.PENANA6gOSKetJ2e
"Alright," said Mrs 726Please respect copyright.PENANAoem0qmHh4r
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 726Please respect copyright.PENANAQcv8s1PdMe
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 726Please respect copyright.PENANAOiUhTSGexL
for you lately?"726Please respect copyright.PENANADLmqL35hfL
Angel and Carly both 726Please respect copyright.PENANAIXi4pnUGUQ
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 726Please respect copyright.PENANAY40dT6DmCG
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 726Please respect copyright.PENANA7CrTpQ7xst
already was one herself.726Please respect copyright.PENANALBCEJP4RrJ
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.726Please respect copyright.PENANAQQDzOK485X
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANAAxRISnfeIU
"Running well as usual."726Please respect copyright.PENANA0ETa41CKbk
"I should really pay him726Please respect copyright.PENANA2N3pMNtA0k
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 726Please respect copyright.PENANAH63Lp9WsxW
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."726Please respect copyright.PENANAu52cZw145s
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.726Please respect copyright.PENANA9OQTYncYHJ
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.726Please respect copyright.PENANA21PqSABEmF
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.726Please respect copyright.PENANAbCLsFsQWne
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.726Please respect copyright.PENANAWbZyP7iOES
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."726Please respect copyright.PENANAMdVhQLxmw3
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."726Please respect copyright.PENANAHR8bQ6h1Rh
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."726Please respect copyright.PENANAqX8xf0DNAo
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.726Please respect copyright.PENANAV3wr5NJnkW
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.726Please respect copyright.PENANAnLcGuOyqiL
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANAqM7Tbr4Ann
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."726Please respect copyright.PENANAuTXLmssOpI
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAgT6jCseIAA
"I would really like to,726Please respect copyright.PENANAwwprxCibSx
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 726Please respect copyright.PENANAHDLvozcVDt
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."726Please respect copyright.PENANAXVlJpzvkOT
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."726Please respect copyright.PENANATMJCLPrJuC
"Mum, most of us here 726Please respect copyright.PENANAAVIb4ROlmn
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 726Please respect copyright.PENANAg1HSGui8XE
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 726Please respect copyright.PENANAKmhXhPH7gT
mine."726Please respect copyright.PENANAQZBmoswBf8
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 726Please respect copyright.PENANAhDWokc3blL
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others726Please respect copyright.PENANAkHMENpC2v2
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 726Please respect copyright.PENANAFqmWZUAqan
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 726Please respect copyright.PENANA7qFB6oRwdv
moment.726Please respect copyright.PENANA3kQpq8VWk4
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."726Please respect copyright.PENANAfIB0Qts4GR
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.726Please respect copyright.PENANAJnuHpNDrIt
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.726Please respect copyright.PENANAj8R5opMEl1
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:726Please respect copyright.PENANAAOpgAEewV3
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."726Please respect copyright.PENANAXLhbiY5Nd9
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."726Please respect copyright.PENANAr32rQatG3j
"For now or never?" Leo asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANA5IjzA1WjTU
"Don't start, son."726Please respect copyright.PENANArQh7zWtaci
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"726Please respect copyright.PENANAE8fuGNV4uY
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.726Please respect copyright.PENANArR2vnbObwy
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.726Please respect copyright.PENANAZLL5Id0YEg
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.726Please respect copyright.PENANApBAsjb915x
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.726Please respect copyright.PENANAxfXzaD94cn
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.726Please respect copyright.PENANA4eb07ubnDl
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."726Please respect copyright.PENANA9ifyucXbjM
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.726Please respect copyright.PENANA26KVs8X3Fy
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.726Please respect copyright.PENANAOnkOpLyHSz
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.726Please respect copyright.PENANA6j5rzYnN5Z
"I'll come and help," said Eric.726Please respect copyright.PENANAmpb7Ia8JuV
"Me too," said Carly.726Please respect copyright.PENANA8pR7P8k9mO
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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