Leo found himself back 691Please respect copyright.PENANA253M2Mleaa
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 691Please respect copyright.PENANACn4SWYQkAy
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after691Please respect copyright.PENANA8WPRHN8xPh
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in691Please respect copyright.PENANAb8lKUXZ3h0
the room.691Please respect copyright.PENANA3P9JuKvnis
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAWdDvmy8DdZ
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"691Please respect copyright.PENANA5x2m4TKrpb
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.691Please respect copyright.PENANAlPyQEOkVa5
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAkCFw4JbXJq
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."691Please respect copyright.PENANActGfruboIp
Eric raised an eyebrow 691Please respect copyright.PENANAmnLpNnxPSf
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 691Please respect copyright.PENANAbPH2lAjLUk
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 691Please respect copyright.PENANAvzQLZtsWwE
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.691Please respect copyright.PENANAgKr7AxoAWw
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAFp2M5fOJsA
"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."691Please respect copyright.PENANAR99LJB0xWL
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.691Please respect copyright.PENANA4w9c9sctt5
"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?"691Please respect copyright.PENANABxI1u7Qk00
"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."691Please respect copyright.PENANATdtWGRQ5iw
Leo soon turned around, 691Please respect copyright.PENANAX9ZOSAC67v
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt691Please respect copyright.PENANACRrEx7lnKV
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue691Please respect copyright.PENANAwLkp6u9GSz
on top of it.691Please respect copyright.PENANAeG7jUf9dnY
Kim had been crying. She691Please respect copyright.PENANA7N2agVi3yy
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the691Please respect copyright.PENANA3qhDub8AY3
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 691Please respect copyright.PENANAFALe0HYlZi
her tears with another tissue.691Please respect copyright.PENANAFL9RJCFpBg
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."691Please respect copyright.PENANAmvquzenZVt
"I'm not going to say 691Please respect copyright.PENANASm1EFYtKvH
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 691Please respect copyright.PENANAeRfaAAioMi
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."691Please respect copyright.PENANANwJnJM2kOC
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.691Please respect copyright.PENANASVwIWI2HgD
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."691Please respect copyright.PENANAnTTLOO6NQC
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAnmmxT5SEwH
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."691Please respect copyright.PENANAswJv6FRDoE
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"691Please respect copyright.PENANASkdTCOW4F5
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.691Please respect copyright.PENANAiA1zQydLeU
"Yes, we are."691Please respect copyright.PENANAOchWATS8pM
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."691Please respect copyright.PENANAx3kSQV3Pe7
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."691Please respect copyright.PENANAD2elb0sW3a
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."691Please respect copyright.PENANAcWGuAE7b8y
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAJOUwLnB2mJ
The two ladies agreed 691Please respect copyright.PENANAHjWP9HCxnN
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 691Please respect copyright.PENANAQIaaqZcYCr
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 691Please respect copyright.PENANAFVgURsC08z
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.691Please respect copyright.PENANAORMS8Po24b
"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."691Please respect copyright.PENANAJDP8fqSn2H
Most people in the 691Please respect copyright.PENANA7FX8ofMRbC
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 691Please respect copyright.PENANAj5eJq9qSqe
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 691Please respect copyright.PENANAqpDdiSFswN
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 691Please respect copyright.PENANADs5FAvk2iH
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 691Please respect copyright.PENANABEGTfhv3Vf
struggle to put out the first fire.691Please respect copyright.PENANA5rahdL4PvK
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.691Please respect copyright.PENANAAuW3SjqIId
"I would rather suggest 691Please respect copyright.PENANAb7Gl1dsqgB
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his691Please respect copyright.PENANAxmlPVghmO5
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 691Please respect copyright.PENANA01uOdEQki1
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAFSNsyq9Q2O
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.691Please respect copyright.PENANAuCvFzQuKLK
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAm40NgwYv9Y
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."691Please respect copyright.PENANAjBaRIQPY83
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."691Please respect copyright.PENANAwvviQI4RoW
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.691Please respect copyright.PENANAZray1fYAFL
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.691Please respect copyright.PENANAAxxTEPuLOH
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.691Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6FY3Ez6wA
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.691Please respect copyright.PENANAZM7ohxfsER
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.691Please respect copyright.PENANAouc1RLCvl5
Everyone slowly left the691Please respect copyright.PENANA3YYWagKojQ
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 691Please respect copyright.PENANAzBM7OyLYyl
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right691Please respect copyright.PENANArwhW6hyqQO
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 691Please respect copyright.PENANAIiYXpLXKeF
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.691Please respect copyright.PENANA911dAelXIs
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANADAOh6BGztO
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."691Please respect copyright.PENANAnrcWwV9d5C
After the loving prayer,691Please respect copyright.PENANAsKqDiW1VMx
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed691Please respect copyright.PENANANOuilsePza
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.691Please respect copyright.PENANAeERipd0sF3
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANANkpxvo74cg
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."691Please respect copyright.PENANAkvBjpfgU0m
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."691Please respect copyright.PENANAJBrKQ2emfc
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."691Please respect copyright.PENANAm217d4mvKS
"He really can't get 691Please respect copyright.PENANAiBZOPUtKo2
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the691Please respect copyright.PENANA5gyuSDH8Hn
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 691Please respect copyright.PENANAlo8ODeGVxE
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 691Please respect copyright.PENANALliEAnM5DO
eyes in irritation.691Please respect copyright.PENANAoxXtKSh8aI
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."691Please respect copyright.PENANALYckoh9KnJ
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.691Please respect copyright.PENANA3IxmALe43P
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."691Please respect copyright.PENANAR2SiGBliwZ
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.691Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2GWjhg2nn
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.691Please respect copyright.PENANAfiQGl3nQHZ
"Why me?" Angel asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAtwdlTa5z6G
"I know you will explain691Please respect copyright.PENANAgGWJWUMSB0
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 691Please respect copyright.PENANAWKpGEQdWr4
of things from now on if mum is busy."691Please respect copyright.PENANAb413FbEBA2
"Like what?" Diana asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAcOMXWuUDLz
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."691Please respect copyright.PENANAhzY9R1m6Zl
"That's so nice of you, 691Please respect copyright.PENANASoWckJWYgK
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,691Please respect copyright.PENANAzGF6iHVGPB
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 691Please respect copyright.PENANAUXFUjrC9Do
want to."691Please respect copyright.PENANAsjUjzQWQwj
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."691Please respect copyright.PENANAnOKnbdObdz
Angel looked at him and 691Please respect copyright.PENANAn9W2CRe6mF
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 691Please respect copyright.PENANAHWX3lzDc2X
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 691Please respect copyright.PENANAlXydoBFRd9
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.691Please respect copyright.PENANAUIBYRd9PE5
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."691Please respect copyright.PENANAE711keBKeV
Leo felt like he was 691Please respect copyright.PENANA6VKMEGOvss
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 691Please respect copyright.PENANA2uKlXXrFgp
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.691Please respect copyright.PENANAEnQfDU5UdD
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.691Please respect copyright.PENANA8OLbsUu9Fc
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.691Please respect copyright.PENANA0WpTKdBBVz
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."691Please respect copyright.PENANAapAn9fsI3G
"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."691Please respect copyright.PENANAZmWsH3H47R
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."691Please respect copyright.PENANALYuPMDwL9N
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.691Please respect copyright.PENANAJWubVTxOcJ
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"691Please respect copyright.PENANA6zW9jmqfSM
"It was fine, mum," said691Please respect copyright.PENANA1N1mD0BnxY
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 691Please respect copyright.PENANA9C4VXXZebk
conversation was going to turn out.691Please respect copyright.PENANAltlq7F8wSb
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAzwVof3eyYc
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."691Please respect copyright.PENANAkt5o3Xpb4i
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."691Please respect copyright.PENANAO1Wh1Gjud8
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.691Please respect copyright.PENANA2gUFKUBpgj
"Alright," said Mrs 691Please respect copyright.PENANAfKoGuRHPmx
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 691Please respect copyright.PENANAulCcXJIJax
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 691Please respect copyright.PENANABdYbx4t7Tq
for you lately?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAanaSVZkMqH
Angel and Carly both 691Please respect copyright.PENANAO024oQGZTW
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 691Please respect copyright.PENANA1EeYGdE4gQ
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 691Please respect copyright.PENANAXrFil0ziqv
already was one herself.691Please respect copyright.PENANAW4CmsaVcs5
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.691Please respect copyright.PENANAC3rbHRmXIB
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAA3QngG38St
"Running well as usual."691Please respect copyright.PENANA1H81HxYHeb
"I should really pay him691Please respect copyright.PENANAzGlfxykk0g
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 691Please respect copyright.PENANAm1wZwIJJ9d
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."691Please respect copyright.PENANA8eHZdICOIO
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.691Please respect copyright.PENANALcdiEfZ6Tt
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.691Please respect copyright.PENANAfKcEcrjyMr
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.691Please respect copyright.PENANA9VjO4M6sNQ
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.691Please respect copyright.PENANAoSj1Ra0ExI
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."691Please respect copyright.PENANA6XJDCDWswo
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."691Please respect copyright.PENANA2tax8Iwc0r
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."691Please respect copyright.PENANA0gvna4w9kG
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.691Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ6NZmPykr
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.691Please respect copyright.PENANAQk889IRnBr
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAnqaTVIYWb2
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."691Please respect copyright.PENANAxwv5vwJPDy
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"691Please respect copyright.PENANAa4pty2v67a
"I would really like to,691Please respect copyright.PENANAEnzVyV6PMl
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 691Please respect copyright.PENANAEWhEKmBZMu
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."691Please respect copyright.PENANAvS7giMr91q
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."691Please respect copyright.PENANA12riOgWVS3
"Mum, most of us here 691Please respect copyright.PENANAp8u5c4t8eh
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 691Please respect copyright.PENANA5SBy6VUuyf
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 691Please respect copyright.PENANAOfirO954rK
mine."691Please respect copyright.PENANAUAInu5HnJP
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 691Please respect copyright.PENANANkw7I5uPgH
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others691Please respect copyright.PENANAarO7g6TYJC
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 691Please respect copyright.PENANAzsztLbIdxs
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 691Please respect copyright.PENANAoWGzAs0CaR
moment.691Please respect copyright.PENANAGcIy4ariK5
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."691Please respect copyright.PENANAfMiF9C6Aaw
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.691Please respect copyright.PENANAX5h9ZD3ZR6
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.691Please respect copyright.PENANARW6zFLVNMb
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:691Please respect copyright.PENANAkpX0Stqtls
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."691Please respect copyright.PENANAUoQVLiKVq6
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."691Please respect copyright.PENANAOdfWDbIgnr
"For now or never?" Leo asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAgqOWALA0pJ
"Don't start, son."691Please respect copyright.PENANAzaiCSpZOXL
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"691Please respect copyright.PENANA18cBPL84RR
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.691Please respect copyright.PENANAH6oiybyJME
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.691Please respect copyright.PENANAEY6uGLcpJX
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.691Please respect copyright.PENANAJOsLC8e4hD
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.691Please respect copyright.PENANADJRR3B3H9m
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.691Please respect copyright.PENANABDBCttfGpo
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."691Please respect copyright.PENANAJFCjM9Kcw7
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.691Please respect copyright.PENANAENk6qV5NnC
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.691Please respect copyright.PENANAepjK6OAWcR
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.691Please respect copyright.PENANA4zKEsVJrSi
"I'll come and help," said Eric.691Please respect copyright.PENANAbRGl2qAsdf
"Me too," said Carly.691Please respect copyright.PENANAsjwNpDyKG6
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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