Leo found himself back 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPGOlxLsUX8
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 703Please respect copyright.PENANAIXcRgB3sGZ
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after703Please respect copyright.PENANAlVVYIP9O8a
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in703Please respect copyright.PENANAAtlbA2Ho1B
the room.703Please respect copyright.PENANAXIK6T0mtKX
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"703Please respect copyright.PENANA3HBB6V0ReP
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"703Please respect copyright.PENANATqUQcsSXgr
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.703Please respect copyright.PENANA6gUORVpSbt
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"703Please respect copyright.PENANANKZywTeJAS
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."703Please respect copyright.PENANAFLC5u7trxF
Eric raised an eyebrow 703Please respect copyright.PENANAhCDek8nL9P
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 703Please respect copyright.PENANAV8XAgPGD9R
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPPZSy7CtYh
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.703Please respect copyright.PENANA1Q3qoorN10
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAZjgYfE2uQj
"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."703Please respect copyright.PENANAwnsX205I3D
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.703Please respect copyright.PENANA3dSymS43zt
"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?"703Please respect copyright.PENANARHzm5PIprA
"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."703Please respect copyright.PENANADKp0OPcW84
Leo soon turned around, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAP1Q6H6Eb2p
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt703Please respect copyright.PENANAcsYZU6oaGU
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue703Please respect copyright.PENANAVKuCR3WVxM
on top of it.703Please respect copyright.PENANABBjUOJQxSy
Kim had been crying. She703Please respect copyright.PENANAmpfcg5F74S
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the703Please respect copyright.PENANA1CQbkgeds8
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYof9qPwyuq
her tears with another tissue.703Please respect copyright.PENANAQGFSd7cH9U
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."703Please respect copyright.PENANA1oMzYHg5UJ
"I'm not going to say 703Please respect copyright.PENANA8glNF9QSkK
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 703Please respect copyright.PENANAMTjsHv9Zk4
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."703Please respect copyright.PENANAVV0p66y5MH
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.703Please respect copyright.PENANAeX0KJLYLWA
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."703Please respect copyright.PENANAFLitPhYOXn
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"703Please respect copyright.PENANA9regE3xEud
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."703Please respect copyright.PENANA7Wj0WFMfuy
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAhyP6O2PIr6
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.703Please respect copyright.PENANAI3PLHWuLMO
"Yes, we are."703Please respect copyright.PENANAWBPfbTRpCt
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."703Please respect copyright.PENANALHAuBYDjf5
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."703Please respect copyright.PENANAozlJd7RotL
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."703Please respect copyright.PENANAVHhRviTkg1
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAiqEow1vxU8
The two ladies agreed 703Please respect copyright.PENANALW4HBiERQd
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 703Please respect copyright.PENANADiSLeqtKSy
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 703Please respect copyright.PENANAsOiSl03hnM
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.703Please respect copyright.PENANAlRyo4qsE1D
"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."703Please respect copyright.PENANAatKO4L1WMC
Most people in the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAFF1SyAUdm2
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 703Please respect copyright.PENANAHLrnJ5oBJQ
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 703Please respect copyright.PENANACBwU71xP2m
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 703Please respect copyright.PENANAxYoAeeeHCm
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 703Please respect copyright.PENANA9vMkxVOWbd
struggle to put out the first fire.703Please respect copyright.PENANAQDkdfM9j4Y
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.703Please respect copyright.PENANAPlcvlfvXBj
"I would rather suggest 703Please respect copyright.PENANAc93BVpZKnd
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his703Please respect copyright.PENANAWzAAXepC90
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 703Please respect copyright.PENANANK3z7wCllP
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"703Please respect copyright.PENANACVFoGQ3Tqk
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.703Please respect copyright.PENANAlTIj8l2sjL
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANAwhkmDN2vLt
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."703Please respect copyright.PENANAExxjOqSBlp
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."703Please respect copyright.PENANADJRlWYEtyk
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.703Please respect copyright.PENANAxmCDTeSgir
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.703Please respect copyright.PENANAUnGzT3yTxp
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.703Please respect copyright.PENANA2JJrJ35qy8
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.703Please respect copyright.PENANAL4wNmHH4XQ
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.703Please respect copyright.PENANABLdOw3PPZM
Everyone slowly left the703Please respect copyright.PENANAw1naGnkahE
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 703Please respect copyright.PENANAGThuZAt9kR
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right703Please respect copyright.PENANAlkOdso3ZVP
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 703Please respect copyright.PENANALB5kyIXkUH
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.703Please respect copyright.PENANAml74KiU4Ij
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANASHcLsFnCn6
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."703Please respect copyright.PENANA7C5By4Xad8
After the loving prayer,703Please respect copyright.PENANAQWpxJwjE9c
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed703Please respect copyright.PENANAzXYSGWpjX2
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.703Please respect copyright.PENANAR7wzVkJTOx
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANAAq4WqIIID5
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."703Please respect copyright.PENANA2IJCKLpDFh
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."703Please respect copyright.PENANAmpSfEWX1VL
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."703Please respect copyright.PENANAwdQ8mNMNR3
"He really can't get 703Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mb6qibpWc
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the703Please respect copyright.PENANAF587lVcRMB
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 703Please respect copyright.PENANA3J5XLzUdTO
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 703Please respect copyright.PENANACCv5QRs0WL
eyes in irritation.703Please respect copyright.PENANAmzcApXlGbc
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."703Please respect copyright.PENANADYviN3eNF2
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.703Please respect copyright.PENANAjYycQiqVVX
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."703Please respect copyright.PENANAH77UoGTDCM
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.703Please respect copyright.PENANAT1aJ8BCVKD
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.703Please respect copyright.PENANAm4p6JTpUiP
"Why me?" Angel asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANA8Xp8usg8Fu
"I know you will explain703Please respect copyright.PENANAiFIq5ypFbU
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 703Please respect copyright.PENANAZorKOwDZ7t
of things from now on if mum is busy."703Please respect copyright.PENANAp8vEo2eWZ4
"Like what?" Diana asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANAmg37KTE0sx
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."703Please respect copyright.PENANAIx5JsJYDwj
"That's so nice of you, 703Please respect copyright.PENANAaBK0YlIFPA
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,703Please respect copyright.PENANAJd1xUMyMsK
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 703Please respect copyright.PENANAA0NrqwtNE2
want to."703Please respect copyright.PENANAIjRPHrbC76
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."703Please respect copyright.PENANAsTr9hHXSJ6
Angel looked at him and 703Please respect copyright.PENANAYhNhbqpAT3
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 703Please respect copyright.PENANArSXJRfx7G6
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 703Please respect copyright.PENANANeXGGTU5Qk
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.703Please respect copyright.PENANAYqJsuH0uEB
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."703Please respect copyright.PENANA7xyFNaQ0PJ
Leo felt like he was 703Please respect copyright.PENANAPWWSeSIMs4
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 703Please respect copyright.PENANAbSCxQJC9y1
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.703Please respect copyright.PENANAJRgJNMPl06
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.703Please respect copyright.PENANAleHy2LZPa2
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.703Please respect copyright.PENANARKZEQmoLGI
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."703Please respect copyright.PENANADoddIHLUs1
"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."703Please respect copyright.PENANAodKqUzgQT3
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."703Please respect copyright.PENANACc59V80gyh
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.703Please respect copyright.PENANAPUQGQGmYJ7
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAtY3Y1zV5uz
"It was fine, mum," said703Please respect copyright.PENANA2eKGy2Q8Ir
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAXyJ4fprSz7
conversation was going to turn out.703Please respect copyright.PENANAVeJFS9iLqG
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"703Please respect copyright.PENANADMyQuDCCQV
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."703Please respect copyright.PENANAm2vh3oZgVl
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."703Please respect copyright.PENANA9ELLEKHrcm
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.703Please respect copyright.PENANATWHr742OYy
"Alright," said Mrs 703Please respect copyright.PENANAfIbJKFUOxK
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 703Please respect copyright.PENANAgGlS25Qozm
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 703Please respect copyright.PENANANqr3yc9ihW
for you lately?"703Please respect copyright.PENANA1ljmOuf9hB
Angel and Carly both 703Please respect copyright.PENANAe6PMfTzydR
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 703Please respect copyright.PENANAh317aG7Em0
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 703Please respect copyright.PENANAaa997Du2eh
already was one herself.703Please respect copyright.PENANAN5tZvJMDZK
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.703Please respect copyright.PENANAdiEl3ptGLJ
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANA2yWmvanCqL
"Running well as usual."703Please respect copyright.PENANANmPLEiBUok
"I should really pay him703Please respect copyright.PENANAX8GbPUiF9K
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAAC2K8U8EsL
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."703Please respect copyright.PENANAwFqxch5Fp1
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.703Please respect copyright.PENANAhZDsR9mDeY
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.703Please respect copyright.PENANAGUo1e0WPIp
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.703Please respect copyright.PENANALbemfIbjKl
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.703Please respect copyright.PENANAF8Z9vkdsdK
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."703Please respect copyright.PENANAV3iZX8xAib
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."703Please respect copyright.PENANAVykwEL7Oax
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."703Please respect copyright.PENANAW4FMTq51kh
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.703Please respect copyright.PENANAIPSg7JJMAp
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.703Please respect copyright.PENANA30yb1EpEG8
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANATtawiU3wVg
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."703Please respect copyright.PENANAsOxFB2hZta
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"703Please respect copyright.PENANAonVH0il6kN
"I would really like to,703Please respect copyright.PENANA584gekUNSr
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 703Please respect copyright.PENANA1FVgnjR4EJ
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."703Please respect copyright.PENANAbQCal7DoMY
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."703Please respect copyright.PENANAWfWCfhf29P
"Mum, most of us here 703Please respect copyright.PENANAORr1VDjLXY
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 703Please respect copyright.PENANAyPbvqcxSx5
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 703Please respect copyright.PENANACz6voN0Y7E
mine."703Please respect copyright.PENANAeGj7IQWHk1
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 703Please respect copyright.PENANAGM4StyzT88
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others703Please respect copyright.PENANAwfOS6XIxJo
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 703Please respect copyright.PENANA99dG9k1srV
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 703Please respect copyright.PENANAhuaUjRHPeV
moment.703Please respect copyright.PENANAd9qON46aer
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."703Please respect copyright.PENANAvMITCTwF69
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.703Please respect copyright.PENANAieSFMfnjhp
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.703Please respect copyright.PENANAyIY3dTroAj
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:703Please respect copyright.PENANAylbMMHkvUU
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."703Please respect copyright.PENANANLgCcwsu93
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."703Please respect copyright.PENANAWLJ7vzSxYz
"For now or never?" Leo asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANAn1mpo9GPqQ
"Don't start, son."703Please respect copyright.PENANAUEkrAoTA01
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"703Please respect copyright.PENANA1xXnSuYr8f
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.703Please respect copyright.PENANAnNxUbhgAnT
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.703Please respect copyright.PENANAygdQ4K2rJc
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.703Please respect copyright.PENANAcePzRvQ7Cc
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.703Please respect copyright.PENANAHPg4gAUeOF
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.703Please respect copyright.PENANADjSUhm44i7
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."703Please respect copyright.PENANAYmx1x3bRSZ
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.703Please respect copyright.PENANAIgh9zY1YA9
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.703Please respect copyright.PENANA5jsknMjQO1
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.703Please respect copyright.PENANAE1NVfvrGw7
"I'll come and help," said Eric.703Please respect copyright.PENANATRWMWjxP0p
"Me too," said Carly.703Please respect copyright.PENANA6Fl5h3gebQ
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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