Leo found himself back 652Please respect copyright.PENANAoHvLrFm5nt
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 652Please respect copyright.PENANAAyE6ynl0M9
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after652Please respect copyright.PENANA4kh0SmwIot
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in652Please respect copyright.PENANAuquw9fLuTC
the room.652Please respect copyright.PENANAOqQhpJQFwf
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAxraGxCeFKf
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAKfSclGIhar
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.652Please respect copyright.PENANAQwbU4NnIPI
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAzeSjEZSiL5
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."652Please respect copyright.PENANA15sFLPcw5V
Eric raised an eyebrow 652Please respect copyright.PENANAoEd7zFxuqL
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 652Please respect copyright.PENANAOY8dZWcjIH
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 652Please respect copyright.PENANAfGkCI8WAFD
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.652Please respect copyright.PENANAqZG0Fweypk
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAd6MhLm58ow
"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."652Please respect copyright.PENANA0FW1CRskWU
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.652Please respect copyright.PENANA1zArlAQDoN
"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?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAhVtVLjSqno
"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."652Please respect copyright.PENANA6xWEsc702e
Leo soon turned around, 652Please respect copyright.PENANAykk0WZzHBO
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt652Please respect copyright.PENANA9J2w1ELU8W
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue652Please respect copyright.PENANAcWfEJhMffT
on top of it.652Please respect copyright.PENANA3qcOpYVPZh
Kim had been crying. She652Please respect copyright.PENANAfJ0xahROeb
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the652Please respect copyright.PENANA3SDllaXtAr
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 652Please respect copyright.PENANA128zTBPLVW
her tears with another tissue.652Please respect copyright.PENANADgHeHnJ6bd
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."652Please respect copyright.PENANAlp0B1nKhKJ
"I'm not going to say 652Please respect copyright.PENANAkPyer9erPZ
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 652Please respect copyright.PENANAREsZNPzCOE
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."652Please respect copyright.PENANAjOiMMN3G3Y
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.652Please respect copyright.PENANA9bHEZY0Xy5
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."652Please respect copyright.PENANAkcEwdGRpmL
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"652Please respect copyright.PENANABYP4yYfIGH
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."652Please respect copyright.PENANA58sWsCotTE
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"652Please respect copyright.PENANA7IXGCqYmGj
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.652Please respect copyright.PENANA4kFhfilcth
"Yes, we are."652Please respect copyright.PENANATySj5GtDt2
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."652Please respect copyright.PENANA9M8UuJTgVr
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."652Please respect copyright.PENANAJMqMq4LCMx
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."652Please respect copyright.PENANAkGqDK0sKcQ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAup2wkBAylq
The two ladies agreed 652Please respect copyright.PENANAw0ZwetvT7E
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 652Please respect copyright.PENANAT9WC6lxs5U
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 652Please respect copyright.PENANAwEtqb4JXOF
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.652Please respect copyright.PENANAfaqBrMn1k4
"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."652Please respect copyright.PENANA7MmGUXyoQI
Most people in the 652Please respect copyright.PENANAzkuIl21UCT
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 652Please respect copyright.PENANApUhLTqRPc3
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 652Please respect copyright.PENANAIQkNwomUkq
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 652Please respect copyright.PENANAJkxXxpYMgg
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 652Please respect copyright.PENANAVzbud3QX9o
struggle to put out the first fire.652Please respect copyright.PENANABi6cjxkzqy
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.652Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q00HEntuo
"I would rather suggest 652Please respect copyright.PENANAZObTU8RJEO
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his652Please respect copyright.PENANABZTvPA0ssm
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 652Please respect copyright.PENANAU2Q7hQvsCb
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAerbaDUH6eb
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.652Please respect copyright.PENANAWjnohRbFpx
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANA2dB8TOV4NG
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."652Please respect copyright.PENANAYW3FIJehZJ
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."652Please respect copyright.PENANAD6D5AVc132
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.652Please respect copyright.PENANAtp5wCMwWxg
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.652Please respect copyright.PENANAYtGRhXMI8r
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.652Please respect copyright.PENANAOVdPfKOJHP
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.652Please respect copyright.PENANAoxr9QqHolD
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.652Please respect copyright.PENANAgpEH2sZJZV
Everyone slowly left the652Please respect copyright.PENANAhRX0pmgJt4
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 652Please respect copyright.PENANAtlF1ruFkwo
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right652Please respect copyright.PENANA6Vinc5r2tZ
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 652Please respect copyright.PENANAy2UEv4yRaP
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.652Please respect copyright.PENANAznomgWlN8E
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANALOi2bqw7ng
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."652Please respect copyright.PENANAom4zjiXF6N
After the loving prayer,652Please respect copyright.PENANAXvoXqZ3RwJ
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed652Please respect copyright.PENANASHBne1rjQ3
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.652Please respect copyright.PENANAqeY7NelAfK
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANABMAJ21I1J5
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."652Please respect copyright.PENANAKbaMnfC71D
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."652Please respect copyright.PENANA1ilzE5be42
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."652Please respect copyright.PENANAtj61dTqmhD
"He really can't get 652Please respect copyright.PENANAgVJXC7jy6Y
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the652Please respect copyright.PENANAyxJKUC5s5y
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 652Please respect copyright.PENANAFdKJSMujNd
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 652Please respect copyright.PENANA6Z14NZafI8
eyes in irritation.652Please respect copyright.PENANA7kL4rZkX0B
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."652Please respect copyright.PENANAOYGFTVFl4M
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.652Please respect copyright.PENANA8KijsHC6nH
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."652Please respect copyright.PENANAGr9ska7owz
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.652Please respect copyright.PENANArhy7O2UvFn
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.652Please respect copyright.PENANAigghM7LfGK
"Why me?" Angel asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANAShPR0qyzfq
"I know you will explain652Please respect copyright.PENANAHn5xnakbFu
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 652Please respect copyright.PENANA8DfpqDpvA4
of things from now on if mum is busy."652Please respect copyright.PENANAqPZpMNhN5y
"Like what?" Diana asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANAcLFzCTtQhv
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."652Please respect copyright.PENANAZcTuiVgRdA
"That's so nice of you, 652Please respect copyright.PENANA0C164hdzXG
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,652Please respect copyright.PENANAJoMsJBkBEK
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 652Please respect copyright.PENANAnHZwfgHonu
want to."652Please respect copyright.PENANAeKiZikaVgM
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."652Please respect copyright.PENANAULAWBoQ4ZL
Angel looked at him and 652Please respect copyright.PENANARoEUMDfsFb
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 652Please respect copyright.PENANAtIhTEIHQox
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 652Please respect copyright.PENANA8WL5JRfuW2
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.652Please respect copyright.PENANAzpF1MQJILE
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."652Please respect copyright.PENANAi7karx2MLU
Leo felt like he was 652Please respect copyright.PENANAL4KW0SKEt5
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 652Please respect copyright.PENANATNmLpGkM37
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.652Please respect copyright.PENANALXTb5j1GWx
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.652Please respect copyright.PENANAVh9pwxs70p
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.652Please respect copyright.PENANAfiAkPjI09G
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."652Please respect copyright.PENANAiQIeXa7dYy
"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."652Please respect copyright.PENANAtpLEVrzvW3
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."652Please respect copyright.PENANAKKMgE5oH8v
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.652Please respect copyright.PENANA4jbmvowtpB
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAkfAsJb05yG
"It was fine, mum," said652Please respect copyright.PENANApHOaOh0Lgh
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 652Please respect copyright.PENANAVcwp5OKOUx
conversation was going to turn out.652Please respect copyright.PENANAxzJZ52tJHI
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAzLdXxBJ6JK
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."652Please respect copyright.PENANABOBw5LJ090
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."652Please respect copyright.PENANAGUnGaw42sW
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.652Please respect copyright.PENANAEbBsYcYeZD
"Alright," said Mrs 652Please respect copyright.PENANAq8wlBkyf6V
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 652Please respect copyright.PENANA43vnVFb7jC
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 652Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3kR1XoFVb
for you lately?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAdzWNhsl0zM
Angel and Carly both 652Please respect copyright.PENANAQSlfLW2n6W
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 652Please respect copyright.PENANAjI1F8cmeuX
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 652Please respect copyright.PENANAptVmYLz0TT
already was one herself.652Please respect copyright.PENANA1c1Qs1Kjz8
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.652Please respect copyright.PENANAcVgoVeW2Ul
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANAyh0TdBd4dC
"Running well as usual."652Please respect copyright.PENANAR6DNPvCnoL
"I should really pay him652Please respect copyright.PENANA0rOMiedpFF
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 652Please respect copyright.PENANA1r0AYLpIJm
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."652Please respect copyright.PENANA3Dk9OPR7Cp
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.652Please respect copyright.PENANA5vmub2gfD1
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.652Please respect copyright.PENANAETpoC0MCQD
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.652Please respect copyright.PENANAofQcY0k4D3
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.652Please respect copyright.PENANACAvd6zya8p
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."652Please respect copyright.PENANAxpNCHe5Fyd
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."652Please respect copyright.PENANAQVH7J6OGto
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."652Please respect copyright.PENANAG0dPhX7SQD
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.652Please respect copyright.PENANADnOvUqpLZO
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.652Please respect copyright.PENANAWFbvrDMy1I
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANArNaAMDGzQa
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."652Please respect copyright.PENANAT4h1ZJuzfg
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"652Please respect copyright.PENANA7GwR7Y74CF
"I would really like to,652Please respect copyright.PENANAyYOroVX5ac
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 652Please respect copyright.PENANAq1W3MrHFI8
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."652Please respect copyright.PENANA9saaqSuGu5
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."652Please respect copyright.PENANAdlav2MC8vb
"Mum, most of us here 652Please respect copyright.PENANAY3Jt6wD4Fx
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 652Please respect copyright.PENANAi59DFRfTtZ
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 652Please respect copyright.PENANAWeZ1gbKjO7
mine."652Please respect copyright.PENANAqkpmqmdV4a
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 652Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7dkJ0qjb9
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others652Please respect copyright.PENANAdEtIOxbLCf
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 652Please respect copyright.PENANAOuoUu2GUYQ
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 652Please respect copyright.PENANALcKblBzvGr
moment.652Please respect copyright.PENANARcwhoBvAWR
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."652Please respect copyright.PENANAo4BvVDVTFb
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.652Please respect copyright.PENANALJL9Te0Net
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.652Please respect copyright.PENANAugFuztwEYn
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:652Please respect copyright.PENANAnzv9Y7aBw1
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."652Please respect copyright.PENANArvFarxvv6h
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."652Please respect copyright.PENANAVZsgZjiFcA
"For now or never?" Leo asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANA2TCNsRqTwy
"Don't start, son."652Please respect copyright.PENANANbyiqkFpiD
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"652Please respect copyright.PENANAnrmbw44M5o
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.652Please respect copyright.PENANADv98AsPYeF
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.652Please respect copyright.PENANAqnAqWdw9lg
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.652Please respect copyright.PENANAs2fuK5D06Y
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.652Please respect copyright.PENANAO8Y4A52Jpx
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.652Please respect copyright.PENANA4gAN34653V
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."652Please respect copyright.PENANA6OZbibgLGE
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.652Please respect copyright.PENANALx18WNP2qA
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.652Please respect copyright.PENANAoGRoxYa6EZ
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.652Please respect copyright.PENANAZTAr1jRXnx
"I'll come and help," said Eric.652Please respect copyright.PENANAuJCk6aOgqC
"Me too," said Carly.652Please respect copyright.PENANAPeYqJwinmA
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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