Leo found himself back 579Please respect copyright.PENANAyXDXUm26m5
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 579Please respect copyright.PENANAVGiyVyOhuw
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after579Please respect copyright.PENANAtl3Hu9atc8
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in579Please respect copyright.PENANAnZqpmXPyRB
the room.579Please respect copyright.PENANA6ydMvV0nNY
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"579Please respect copyright.PENANA033sh1HsjN
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"579Please respect copyright.PENANANQvMQsjHo3
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.579Please respect copyright.PENANAxDem8Yrly3
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"579Please respect copyright.PENANA3hp13mGAZ6
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."579Please respect copyright.PENANAIALGf8jSQ0
Eric raised an eyebrow 579Please respect copyright.PENANAOG7IvlnpAE
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 579Please respect copyright.PENANAngrewwpBNG
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 579Please respect copyright.PENANAZM6hw9Y52U
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.579Please respect copyright.PENANAnlkxFtQq3P
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"579Please respect copyright.PENANAdFSrnlvrCu
"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."579Please respect copyright.PENANAqOV5nND6kA
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.579Please respect copyright.PENANAwBW8MAMPL0
"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?"579Please respect copyright.PENANAmvhqMmCPZ4
"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."579Please respect copyright.PENANAgweQYVQsJh
Leo soon turned around, 579Please respect copyright.PENANAeqBRJ3eiHF
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt579Please respect copyright.PENANA8xmi3ReHnE
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue579Please respect copyright.PENANAAZCQvOsoTM
on top of it.579Please respect copyright.PENANAC33jpl0jxx
Kim had been crying. She579Please respect copyright.PENANA20ZHvFOLBT
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the579Please respect copyright.PENANAaBR26INZis
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 579Please respect copyright.PENANAJBHcCOr9k8
her tears with another tissue.579Please respect copyright.PENANAxSOZ3aIP8x
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."579Please respect copyright.PENANAzzoAX8iTCf
"I'm not going to say 579Please respect copyright.PENANAHQSuOcEkqm
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 579Please respect copyright.PENANA2wt1OdEv6E
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."579Please respect copyright.PENANA4WsDyRgGGK
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.579Please respect copyright.PENANACHjVZvlSCb
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."579Please respect copyright.PENANAMBmpnsG5X6
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"579Please respect copyright.PENANACtbB3PJNqe
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."579Please respect copyright.PENANAQOodUE4sMa
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"579Please respect copyright.PENANA5zNzTpc8zh
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.579Please respect copyright.PENANAQFwPWE3zFm
"Yes, we are."579Please respect copyright.PENANAp8L0fcs5VS
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."579Please respect copyright.PENANAl10UrkfZeY
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."579Please respect copyright.PENANATjx91eOn52
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."579Please respect copyright.PENANAnCsdPgZjnQ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"579Please respect copyright.PENANASYjnNIJ3tv
The two ladies agreed 579Please respect copyright.PENANAac5BEfSUV8
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 579Please respect copyright.PENANA9vErAwPieL
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 579Please respect copyright.PENANAKdwd5HcRiP
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.579Please respect copyright.PENANAUCijVlbwnM
"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."579Please respect copyright.PENANA56U0jpOULH
Most people in the 579Please respect copyright.PENANARivenxLs1m
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 579Please respect copyright.PENANA45OzGiTOSg
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 579Please respect copyright.PENANAb8d7Zsm9CI
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 579Please respect copyright.PENANAFfSibMnfAA
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 579Please respect copyright.PENANA0iSUKHmVc4
struggle to put out the first fire.579Please respect copyright.PENANAgiESYva972
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.579Please respect copyright.PENANAaDoKwsjNli
"I would rather suggest 579Please respect copyright.PENANAtTDeQkKT1u
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his579Please respect copyright.PENANAcnnz743c87
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 579Please respect copyright.PENANAgOMZVp9WKq
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"579Please respect copyright.PENANAnjz9TgJsiL
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.579Please respect copyright.PENANA0PfoT3ivJQ
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZLPC8UfLy
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."579Please respect copyright.PENANAXTnIR79tj7
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."579Please respect copyright.PENANAAri91BJgcx
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.579Please respect copyright.PENANAwqUO9mfhpf
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.579Please respect copyright.PENANAzCVVgM9prl
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.579Please respect copyright.PENANAYNc1ljOh32
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.579Please respect copyright.PENANAqca4n2Ugr0
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.579Please respect copyright.PENANAXTkBPia4wF
Everyone slowly left the579Please respect copyright.PENANAzv9l3AK0ip
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 579Please respect copyright.PENANAr0creQhjh2
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right579Please respect copyright.PENANATGJIfW3mET
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 579Please respect copyright.PENANATWABXcASl1
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.579Please respect copyright.PENANA4Zmkvoldre
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANArPbJ7ayGFn
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."579Please respect copyright.PENANADkAUxx4Bmg
After the loving prayer,579Please respect copyright.PENANAUX9kEqnPLX
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed579Please respect copyright.PENANAo2Z0Uw2eCW
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.579Please respect copyright.PENANAJilKNs0OQc
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAZEpxRw2prN
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."579Please respect copyright.PENANAGgtMVLvhtY
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."579Please respect copyright.PENANA7Mh7SsXY1K
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."579Please respect copyright.PENANAGw1cueBlcV
"He really can't get 579Please respect copyright.PENANAHAgyUtlVvK
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the579Please respect copyright.PENANAkrIfFGWzoV
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 579Please respect copyright.PENANA7ykgK78uQ4
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 579Please respect copyright.PENANAIanSh8EqMV
eyes in irritation.579Please respect copyright.PENANAAaiTUdZfQG
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."579Please respect copyright.PENANADf5ixWR7hn
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.579Please respect copyright.PENANA1RVA8OPLK0
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."579Please respect copyright.PENANAQLsBlQbzGK
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.579Please respect copyright.PENANAmRmLaCieqw
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.579Please respect copyright.PENANAsnd23NWLRk
"Why me?" Angel asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAtgUmSgiZsq
"I know you will explain579Please respect copyright.PENANArAm20bwp10
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 579Please respect copyright.PENANAe9bYexctfz
of things from now on if mum is busy."579Please respect copyright.PENANAeetAKv3Lln
"Like what?" Diana asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAcU95lX2Lz4
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."579Please respect copyright.PENANAwzg1vQqUUW
"That's so nice of you, 579Please respect copyright.PENANAqDNea1Jo3g
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,579Please respect copyright.PENANA2E8j3wrcOv
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 579Please respect copyright.PENANA1R46Ja3BrF
want to."579Please respect copyright.PENANAiE6WWVVcLE
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."579Please respect copyright.PENANAJH38NMnIYo
Angel looked at him and 579Please respect copyright.PENANAivWsuUqwkj
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 579Please respect copyright.PENANACTbOXkMBZp
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 579Please respect copyright.PENANABAH3P296Ky
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.579Please respect copyright.PENANA21z7NW1AgK
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."579Please respect copyright.PENANACZd3aLVK27
Leo felt like he was 579Please respect copyright.PENANAqWAwHiApvw
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 579Please respect copyright.PENANAaoBsLR6GJB
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.579Please respect copyright.PENANAeQopsRdbIY
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.579Please respect copyright.PENANAhVZwbl8CVk
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.579Please respect copyright.PENANA1Obs52uPQz
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."579Please respect copyright.PENANAMkuVE1ZDSX
"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."579Please respect copyright.PENANAdIyFQTLehS
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."579Please respect copyright.PENANAETiAk06w3q
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.579Please respect copyright.PENANA0hyyQCYhd8
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"579Please respect copyright.PENANArQqwqBojCK
"It was fine, mum," said579Please respect copyright.PENANAlVYRliyH6Z
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 579Please respect copyright.PENANA1zjcrhTAvV
conversation was going to turn out.579Please respect copyright.PENANAP2M2pFHLbt
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"579Please respect copyright.PENANArWdD1fVxBI
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."579Please respect copyright.PENANAovpA7vmheb
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."579Please respect copyright.PENANAzCWtPHFpMy
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.579Please respect copyright.PENANAcMNjHfPUTt
"Alright," said Mrs 579Please respect copyright.PENANAMu4M6ev9vb
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 579Please respect copyright.PENANAFgyQvju2A9
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 579Please respect copyright.PENANApdhbPi4LyQ
for you lately?"579Please respect copyright.PENANAEyDoaZmmE4
Angel and Carly both 579Please respect copyright.PENANAk2WtLWN9FC
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 579Please respect copyright.PENANAO6kvjt8x5c
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 579Please respect copyright.PENANAT4uOnnpR1V
already was one herself.579Please respect copyright.PENANA7rOsxMow5R
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.579Please respect copyright.PENANAEe3KO9xBtW
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAARFtzPr7mY
"Running well as usual."579Please respect copyright.PENANAbHCjKrEU7W
"I should really pay him579Please respect copyright.PENANArzTuUb3uxX
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 579Please respect copyright.PENANAAJru1WAXiD
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."579Please respect copyright.PENANA5P5jylDyk6
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.579Please respect copyright.PENANAIk3M7izK4X
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.579Please respect copyright.PENANACKMTFviSZt
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.579Please respect copyright.PENANAcMgsEAsA5r
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.579Please respect copyright.PENANAphSvsYvNWd
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."579Please respect copyright.PENANA2BEy2JSQKa
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."579Please respect copyright.PENANAmJYEWh6Xoi
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."579Please respect copyright.PENANA5dTxj3zCtl
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.579Please respect copyright.PENANAsDLthLFxi4
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.579Please respect copyright.PENANAPfqrdNnFw8
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAqhwbkVPb3E
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."579Please respect copyright.PENANA3n70B1vtzQ
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"579Please respect copyright.PENANAY8Cz9z87EZ
"I would really like to,579Please respect copyright.PENANAlAbj8ISNRs
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 579Please respect copyright.PENANAK1PMtZGSFw
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."579Please respect copyright.PENANACClL1WnSNH
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."579Please respect copyright.PENANA0DL5DgPmwz
"Mum, most of us here 579Please respect copyright.PENANAnpGeXKTkwA
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 579Please respect copyright.PENANAYeaZ6J6u4G
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 579Please respect copyright.PENANAlMzYmF8ukV
mine."579Please respect copyright.PENANArTRDiuiR0S
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 579Please respect copyright.PENANAAIffePUTQh
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others579Please respect copyright.PENANAOYLLUWICVi
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 579Please respect copyright.PENANAGYsXJiYPK8
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 579Please respect copyright.PENANA41STS1OWlF
moment.579Please respect copyright.PENANAceeeMa0iqP
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."579Please respect copyright.PENANAKDSCgt5HiZ
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.579Please respect copyright.PENANAXX4lLoyeyX
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.579Please respect copyright.PENANApE9dWcLGex
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:579Please respect copyright.PENANAN25qk6rGWq
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."579Please respect copyright.PENANArn8BzeGQLH
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."579Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ4jdpg5Tp
"For now or never?" Leo asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAyKbK8IFWLv
"Don't start, son."579Please respect copyright.PENANABAYmTFYvce
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"579Please respect copyright.PENANAL82RG6B2v4
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.579Please respect copyright.PENANAcwQoL23wqo
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.579Please respect copyright.PENANAj6lztMQkie
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.579Please respect copyright.PENANAlebjjzIvTQ
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.579Please respect copyright.PENANAuvvJ8L3zkA
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.579Please respect copyright.PENANAa36VTlVcfV
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."579Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2O2HFv5Jd
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.579Please respect copyright.PENANAq0QY9G5Vhc
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.579Please respect copyright.PENANAvZQHKAL2C1
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.579Please respect copyright.PENANAa6duZeVjMr
"I'll come and help," said Eric.579Please respect copyright.PENANA7QPKjkmX2s
"Me too," said Carly.579Please respect copyright.PENANAt1LGKiYuYk
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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