Leo found himself back 797Please respect copyright.PENANApc4oQoK3kP
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 797Please respect copyright.PENANA8cDlNG99I0
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after797Please respect copyright.PENANACyqyRRIWcS
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in797Please respect copyright.PENANAO3Slouwefg
the room.797Please respect copyright.PENANAhZPyeYbWk1
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAvzv279gNwU
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"797Please respect copyright.PENANA9quMh1Fbrc
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.797Please respect copyright.PENANAXnef2D22QX
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAVi4kziqEkw
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."797Please respect copyright.PENANA7mAsQXB3Qm
Eric raised an eyebrow 797Please respect copyright.PENANAl3HP1fFMNb
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 797Please respect copyright.PENANAcgPuktW7yq
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 797Please respect copyright.PENANALQaHYcUpPh
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.797Please respect copyright.PENANAcabekeXOlT
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAhcKDXVNsZH
"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."797Please respect copyright.PENANA5aEFRbUneY
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.797Please respect copyright.PENANAHSohZmUBPC
"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?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAzFd9wPIeFo
"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."797Please respect copyright.PENANAHYmUqSPeXd
Leo soon turned around, 797Please respect copyright.PENANAj123fhsfno
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt797Please respect copyright.PENANAPRj8ZkwlZm
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue797Please respect copyright.PENANACal1ZNVcLY
on top of it.797Please respect copyright.PENANAhVyR32N9Ao
Kim had been crying. She797Please respect copyright.PENANAwxrSAKbRAm
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the797Please respect copyright.PENANAz2Naqpoh2n
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 797Please respect copyright.PENANAmJCTCbASrM
her tears with another tissue.797Please respect copyright.PENANAFhXkUetHct
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."797Please respect copyright.PENANAYlncZ11PMO
"I'm not going to say 797Please respect copyright.PENANAEGYaD74sPx
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 797Please respect copyright.PENANAXAehrgqzf0
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."797Please respect copyright.PENANAgxjTEXTtkB
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.797Please respect copyright.PENANA5DUPZM1u1U
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."797Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1xo6v1Me9
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"797Please respect copyright.PENANANbBVOvqbe1
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."797Please respect copyright.PENANAGFfBkcINaA
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"797Please respect copyright.PENANA48VmGIRO1a
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.797Please respect copyright.PENANA7dxMYKlJa6
"Yes, we are."797Please respect copyright.PENANAmFXlqiZBaQ
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."797Please respect copyright.PENANAQC6a1QBpRX
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."797Please respect copyright.PENANAF8DTnacQPB
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."797Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9AmQWQ7Wl
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"797Please respect copyright.PENANADiyu7DrLAx
The two ladies agreed 797Please respect copyright.PENANADNZ0sHE23S
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 797Please respect copyright.PENANAptqEItaIN5
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 797Please respect copyright.PENANASCw38P5vPR
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.797Please respect copyright.PENANAOvbizegZ8p
"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."797Please respect copyright.PENANApiNfQ0M4Xm
Most people in the 797Please respect copyright.PENANAcEeVwEjXPG
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 797Please respect copyright.PENANAbr1nv6jHaN
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 797Please respect copyright.PENANAM4TkRdWcVh
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 797Please respect copyright.PENANAh7dGFLHxVg
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 797Please respect copyright.PENANATIrM0iCt9k
struggle to put out the first fire.797Please respect copyright.PENANA2dtcrssgp0
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.797Please respect copyright.PENANAbKRdMhoR8p
"I would rather suggest 797Please respect copyright.PENANApls5yZJ6xq
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his797Please respect copyright.PENANApiKZwp2AaR
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 797Please respect copyright.PENANAzJrXYQisPw
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"797Please respect copyright.PENANABqGjptXyiR
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.797Please respect copyright.PENANAlTJU38CFba
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAPcSP1mGv9A
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."797Please respect copyright.PENANAQVgpvDAaJP
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."797Please respect copyright.PENANATs9dDce3qf
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.797Please respect copyright.PENANAI6gz0yIpBu
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.797Please respect copyright.PENANAqnkacvgtBj
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.797Please respect copyright.PENANA7qRwM0Eb0p
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.797Please respect copyright.PENANAjTMEn9HZJj
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.797Please respect copyright.PENANAF7Dy9p4sai
Everyone slowly left the797Please respect copyright.PENANA0FmQKrtlQy
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 797Please respect copyright.PENANA7mRF864trp
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right797Please respect copyright.PENANAFMTiRYNo7O
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 797Please respect copyright.PENANAckokBkldZ8
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.797Please respect copyright.PENANAHH8oGb1ZZR
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANApP09yf4zbU
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."797Please respect copyright.PENANAoYvJ1eHm0j
After the loving prayer,797Please respect copyright.PENANAdk0ous8gOb
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed797Please respect copyright.PENANAAqSObWmBDB
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.797Please respect copyright.PENANAuB0IQQDnMx
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAz7Hu5QreIJ
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."797Please respect copyright.PENANAt3Kctz39ZT
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."797Please respect copyright.PENANAvhDXi8D9rS
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."797Please respect copyright.PENANAv3MWtGiCYW
"He really can't get 797Please respect copyright.PENANAPP21x7UvZW
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the797Please respect copyright.PENANAUlAdqbLzCD
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 797Please respect copyright.PENANAaSHhYlymJn
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 797Please respect copyright.PENANAwTCBGgtuR2
eyes in irritation.797Please respect copyright.PENANAHYqgun7aA5
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."797Please respect copyright.PENANAPhom1eQRbM
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.797Please respect copyright.PENANAfcGObseoTi
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."797Please respect copyright.PENANAW8XGRVPDXT
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.797Please respect copyright.PENANAgcwSg69atO
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.797Please respect copyright.PENANAQHPBxN34MP
"Why me?" Angel asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAHmuytdijml
"I know you will explain797Please respect copyright.PENANA5aZkZVxDXO
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 797Please respect copyright.PENANAnJFTh7eFfO
of things from now on if mum is busy."797Please respect copyright.PENANAxmLloesOrB
"Like what?" Diana asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAiJTyKsJSHU
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."797Please respect copyright.PENANAAtrb748lSi
"That's so nice of you, 797Please respect copyright.PENANAO7AAscyA7v
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,797Please respect copyright.PENANAObz09NUiUH
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 797Please respect copyright.PENANAh3Xm4kf7iY
want to."797Please respect copyright.PENANAJNqyWZ6pON
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."797Please respect copyright.PENANAO4aYgkrfIr
Angel looked at him and 797Please respect copyright.PENANAT8j7KcVfIg
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 797Please respect copyright.PENANAhK0auwHibC
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 797Please respect copyright.PENANAp55xZLXcGw
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.797Please respect copyright.PENANAcqQrMuYzQl
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."797Please respect copyright.PENANAH9MpvZz4w0
Leo felt like he was 797Please respect copyright.PENANAtnsALlbACj
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 797Please respect copyright.PENANAxAFsE6chkJ
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.797Please respect copyright.PENANAhvf6Q9x2hq
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.797Please respect copyright.PENANApOaIH27f9T
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.797Please respect copyright.PENANAbuznAeuUKd
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."797Please respect copyright.PENANALB5Ykp1p1s
"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."797Please respect copyright.PENANA8HOkEV3Ov4
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."797Please respect copyright.PENANAhcgYwljPUe
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.797Please respect copyright.PENANAMhTGdhosNA
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"797Please respect copyright.PENANA1T8bZTj182
"It was fine, mum," said797Please respect copyright.PENANAg4NcE8Vii2
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 797Please respect copyright.PENANAab892cwJNx
conversation was going to turn out.797Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZCMda7PdV
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"797Please respect copyright.PENANA45SbeH3RRb
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."797Please respect copyright.PENANAaX5rtStvv9
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."797Please respect copyright.PENANA4eDbfy6APR
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.797Please respect copyright.PENANAiY7hkK27LQ
"Alright," said Mrs 797Please respect copyright.PENANA9ioyuO50p7
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 797Please respect copyright.PENANAQ29xsHz0Nz
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 797Please respect copyright.PENANAQE4u6ukysj
for you lately?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAF9vsJSwQFw
Angel and Carly both 797Please respect copyright.PENANAgG0oigVWe7
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 797Please respect copyright.PENANA681kuYl662
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 797Please respect copyright.PENANAqTUAUtTL2Z
already was one herself.797Please respect copyright.PENANA2pk8OD9HWX
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.797Please respect copyright.PENANASesJwThSDc
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAeoGTayGMaY
"Running well as usual."797Please respect copyright.PENANAzkiRZMWvjM
"I should really pay him797Please respect copyright.PENANAtDD2UZ7WOU
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 797Please respect copyright.PENANALiZmspBBo9
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."797Please respect copyright.PENANAY4sZguTCaX
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.797Please respect copyright.PENANAiW0KXZJ4Er
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.797Please respect copyright.PENANAKDo0nrgJBD
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.797Please respect copyright.PENANAruAcOTqN3a
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.797Please respect copyright.PENANAY2YZjiJswb
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."797Please respect copyright.PENANAEYwhEAtn3M
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."797Please respect copyright.PENANAGucl8RYlGv
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."797Please respect copyright.PENANA6yQhoEuQyd
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.797Please respect copyright.PENANAAc06bU4yXU
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.797Please respect copyright.PENANAWsTIiGl4SS
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAKQUeCnziXV
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."797Please respect copyright.PENANAVABTXyxnPo
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAmXP53LewdM
"I would really like to,797Please respect copyright.PENANADEfHQxLuMe
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 797Please respect copyright.PENANAB7W8nrtoaK
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."797Please respect copyright.PENANAmsgRqbGGkg
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."797Please respect copyright.PENANA7jr27koQIl
"Mum, most of us here 797Please respect copyright.PENANArtzKvq0bgD
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 797Please respect copyright.PENANAwNTpsg1JFp
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 797Please respect copyright.PENANApiSOA00J3F
mine."797Please respect copyright.PENANAgurimlMhQG
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 797Please respect copyright.PENANAGQhLQvDSnw
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others797Please respect copyright.PENANA3HCLTJB7vh
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 797Please respect copyright.PENANAl61Njhktvk
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 797Please respect copyright.PENANADcV1jyYNfR
moment.797Please respect copyright.PENANA8CujhZY05Q
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."797Please respect copyright.PENANA3VtpiVTPta
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.797Please respect copyright.PENANA2FTxsiWy7e
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.797Please respect copyright.PENANAsMazsPgoM7
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:797Please respect copyright.PENANAUo1ws5WGkD
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."797Please respect copyright.PENANA1AwxmotJQs
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."797Please respect copyright.PENANAImL73siXts
"For now or never?" Leo asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANAvomcuFmZsy
"Don't start, son."797Please respect copyright.PENANAHg5l71f7Km
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"797Please respect copyright.PENANAu82KWAK6rf
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.797Please respect copyright.PENANApNda0IS73I
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.797Please respect copyright.PENANAHZGcqWKWG1
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.797Please respect copyright.PENANA707HszVRUH
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.797Please respect copyright.PENANAVx1ioQWw0L
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.797Please respect copyright.PENANAGJ4UI2VHKw
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."797Please respect copyright.PENANARfm6qhgQed
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.797Please respect copyright.PENANAw8eid4X5vk
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.797Please respect copyright.PENANAqeXhQIJfqH
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.797Please respect copyright.PENANAj3IiEcIzjT
"I'll come and help," said Eric.797Please respect copyright.PENANAKpurGTvdg2
"Me too," said Carly.797Please respect copyright.PENANARZuJfDFHYQ
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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