Leo found himself back 681Please respect copyright.PENANAsNYytSfN6s
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 681Please respect copyright.PENANApaRo6rUI8K
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after681Please respect copyright.PENANAbaAELyyhPp
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in681Please respect copyright.PENANAuwVveHNmlM
the room.681Please respect copyright.PENANApXY16LmqWN
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAyeuwbVwJqV
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAaJz7jdi3rJ
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.681Please respect copyright.PENANAECok2XKSpQ
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAOEWlqPplvN
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."681Please respect copyright.PENANA2Zs7DQd5fq
Eric raised an eyebrow 681Please respect copyright.PENANAvFi1cQemw3
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 681Please respect copyright.PENANAwgCeUolbIz
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 681Please respect copyright.PENANAlGUzyBVokZ
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.681Please respect copyright.PENANA9nCd2UhPJy
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAWPrYzmQUUN
"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."681Please respect copyright.PENANAjFll3s40vC
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.681Please respect copyright.PENANAoV9Obh0YHV
"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?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAyM0vGXgxLR
"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."681Please respect copyright.PENANAxjOUjVQTkL
Leo soon turned around, 681Please respect copyright.PENANARACjs5d7KT
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt681Please respect copyright.PENANAe40YJF62Oi
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue681Please respect copyright.PENANADcMPiSIezn
on top of it.681Please respect copyright.PENANAZIsSQ4b70L
Kim had been crying. She681Please respect copyright.PENANAtbP1SEosD3
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the681Please respect copyright.PENANA6nyfH13hCb
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 681Please respect copyright.PENANAujDeoGv1bt
her tears with another tissue.681Please respect copyright.PENANAR0NGLWNsVB
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."681Please respect copyright.PENANAHxbFPhFl9O
"I'm not going to say 681Please respect copyright.PENANA4DjrUjFDhW
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 681Please respect copyright.PENANANLjoKGeDet
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."681Please respect copyright.PENANANdvhmJAGay
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.681Please respect copyright.PENANASrlFDIeCmE
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."681Please respect copyright.PENANAIDCWD0igES
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAvNTmBq8Cx1
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."681Please respect copyright.PENANAcMTIXlHdxz
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAkA4CXHu3bl
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.681Please respect copyright.PENANAA74VFEJ8fH
"Yes, we are."681Please respect copyright.PENANAKO56Lu69f7
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."681Please respect copyright.PENANAH9u4W4oVnR
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."681Please respect copyright.PENANAYzqILMJKqu
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."681Please respect copyright.PENANAHj6BDAYiEg
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAhKvtll8JUR
The two ladies agreed 681Please respect copyright.PENANAif9Bzpz3iS
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 681Please respect copyright.PENANApPJZRhke4y
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 681Please respect copyright.PENANAP1My0q1bn1
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.681Please respect copyright.PENANAQTzPoJUsF8
"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."681Please respect copyright.PENANA2wwbVYOTq0
Most people in the 681Please respect copyright.PENANAGaoIUwfSgg
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 681Please respect copyright.PENANARP2R08krtS
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 681Please respect copyright.PENANAgPlkPBQ3MF
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 681Please respect copyright.PENANAQf4h8RZjLd
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 681Please respect copyright.PENANABzjqWiUg7B
struggle to put out the first fire.681Please respect copyright.PENANAjzvCTO8NAb
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.681Please respect copyright.PENANATfkEqrra8Y
"I would rather suggest 681Please respect copyright.PENANA15blXRDtCm
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his681Please respect copyright.PENANA2REmXMo4n7
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 681Please respect copyright.PENANAYP5naTTqrW
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"681Please respect copyright.PENANA9SNuyC29kL
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.681Please respect copyright.PENANAoqyTuwZuFq
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAo2G0hkAx35
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."681Please respect copyright.PENANAutN9tDifON
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."681Please respect copyright.PENANA6G3EMT0jKV
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.681Please respect copyright.PENANAgtgvaFORpS
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.681Please respect copyright.PENANA4uZ8MNfVA8
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.681Please respect copyright.PENANAAdaFhzZzvE
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.681Please respect copyright.PENANAIVVGyFsNjG
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.681Please respect copyright.PENANAOi19AF5YkN
Everyone slowly left the681Please respect copyright.PENANAMnmIlZmT1m
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 681Please respect copyright.PENANATboU8oyhmr
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right681Please respect copyright.PENANAuvbArHAETa
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 681Please respect copyright.PENANANy7sHoAmxH
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.681Please respect copyright.PENANA1Z52AlOIa7
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAMtFJrmx9qw
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."681Please respect copyright.PENANANVTp4ObNyG
After the loving prayer,681Please respect copyright.PENANAYtmuplbd7W
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed681Please respect copyright.PENANAQrVVTLrgig
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.681Please respect copyright.PENANAL1rkBGdXky
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAJSNl95pYBv
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."681Please respect copyright.PENANAkJVsJlBlWF
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."681Please respect copyright.PENANAphGOy10Gmv
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."681Please respect copyright.PENANAmi4zrySCc9
"He really can't get 681Please respect copyright.PENANAypC3AawnIa
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the681Please respect copyright.PENANAXHBUtNBN1b
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 681Please respect copyright.PENANA3avlyUiktB
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 681Please respect copyright.PENANATW7xdFBU8W
eyes in irritation.681Please respect copyright.PENANAZlf3EF1GR0
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."681Please respect copyright.PENANA8Iy2Zqgut6
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.681Please respect copyright.PENANADQ9np9WO9W
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."681Please respect copyright.PENANA0AQlst6avI
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.681Please respect copyright.PENANAxsjrxGQSqi
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.681Please respect copyright.PENANAHhBOapfHaF
"Why me?" Angel asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANApKmU1hOJ4Z
"I know you will explain681Please respect copyright.PENANAOOXpi3bnWE
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 681Please respect copyright.PENANAe2yAzRMOQn
of things from now on if mum is busy."681Please respect copyright.PENANAEFKEzxtFWK
"Like what?" Diana asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANA3T9DKi7wfd
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."681Please respect copyright.PENANAs0Jnv0rJ2c
"That's so nice of you, 681Please respect copyright.PENANAuDruw8t752
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,681Please respect copyright.PENANAO42jvXvBSm
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 681Please respect copyright.PENANAylKiwhoRgy
want to."681Please respect copyright.PENANAR3ocgwAlOt
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."681Please respect copyright.PENANANBXhaehznh
Angel looked at him and 681Please respect copyright.PENANAzbkDrjFqNg
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 681Please respect copyright.PENANAlkWBRR230U
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 681Please respect copyright.PENANAAYhEyL77C2
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.681Please respect copyright.PENANAcRXzV3C1gh
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."681Please respect copyright.PENANAZnAWgjmWAv
Leo felt like he was 681Please respect copyright.PENANA35N9i7kF2u
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 681Please respect copyright.PENANAbKYWHV20AR
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.681Please respect copyright.PENANAErrIRLdBo4
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.681Please respect copyright.PENANA32WajMhamc
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.681Please respect copyright.PENANAJrPYA0hcBU
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."681Please respect copyright.PENANAN4zQyYVjkr
"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."681Please respect copyright.PENANAncWJGsrOrc
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."681Please respect copyright.PENANAEciLlgOGdB
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.681Please respect copyright.PENANArO6E7C8bCV
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAm1GApdZLo6
"It was fine, mum," said681Please respect copyright.PENANAg06f0SkI7Y
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 681Please respect copyright.PENANArn5bN4VCcG
conversation was going to turn out.681Please respect copyright.PENANAt2ZEdV6WM8
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAKg9TjAbOGG
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."681Please respect copyright.PENANASsEFoAGbX3
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."681Please respect copyright.PENANAq1WHcw9IzJ
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.681Please respect copyright.PENANA5eUw8nLaea
"Alright," said Mrs 681Please respect copyright.PENANAAdR7eqGUL9
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 681Please respect copyright.PENANAMtaKD6Abhh
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 681Please respect copyright.PENANANyF41bRXsf
for you lately?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAcmalmscUK2
Angel and Carly both 681Please respect copyright.PENANAp2lin9FRjr
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 681Please respect copyright.PENANAVl6BZeg1uN
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 681Please respect copyright.PENANA35yJMNLwaJ
already was one herself.681Please respect copyright.PENANAFEINHIXWQg
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.681Please respect copyright.PENANATR5XX2Qho2
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAAfbcOODsNj
"Running well as usual."681Please respect copyright.PENANAdosOCpZsuJ
"I should really pay him681Please respect copyright.PENANAHVdt1XpCCh
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 681Please respect copyright.PENANAg3h12wsxJb
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."681Please respect copyright.PENANAPP5zZpYShv
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.681Please respect copyright.PENANA917OEf6sPn
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.681Please respect copyright.PENANACN3dW8T1IQ
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.681Please respect copyright.PENANAfUEUCYJ5j2
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.681Please respect copyright.PENANAoaqDULGqkP
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."681Please respect copyright.PENANAmRGja4VlRy
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."681Please respect copyright.PENANARjKmpL3M9R
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."681Please respect copyright.PENANAK70Vaf20Tx
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.681Please respect copyright.PENANAoVh2oiKm8B
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.681Please respect copyright.PENANA2Z2ZkY2F1i
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAJOi0m3LEOM
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."681Please respect copyright.PENANA0Rsfv6rlzN
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"681Please respect copyright.PENANAGwVMQZdgkn
"I would really like to,681Please respect copyright.PENANALto9HUALVI
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 681Please respect copyright.PENANAc9Ot8fmnnx
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."681Please respect copyright.PENANA7GpUC8oh9b
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."681Please respect copyright.PENANAc6quNKPszo
"Mum, most of us here 681Please respect copyright.PENANApKqGlPObGr
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 681Please respect copyright.PENANAEEUmKo4wTZ
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 681Please respect copyright.PENANAH7mnLtbVvH
mine."681Please respect copyright.PENANAQDDyyX6PGi
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 681Please respect copyright.PENANAuJmGTewuXF
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others681Please respect copyright.PENANA5jKZnDttXs
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 681Please respect copyright.PENANACqQmXzIVBW
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 681Please respect copyright.PENANA1mMtvs1SeG
moment.681Please respect copyright.PENANAAM9yrweYw3
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."681Please respect copyright.PENANAPttyIo1si0
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.681Please respect copyright.PENANALnKa73uWfp
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.681Please respect copyright.PENANA0e9RAMGmmI
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:681Please respect copyright.PENANAA2WUY9ai0m
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."681Please respect copyright.PENANAM0XBbIsabi
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."681Please respect copyright.PENANA4gn2rCLquT
"For now or never?" Leo asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAUTnstU6BC2
"Don't start, son."681Please respect copyright.PENANAizLGCXnqFv
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"681Please respect copyright.PENANADxf2EEvfO3
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.681Please respect copyright.PENANAOxI712ddSD
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.681Please respect copyright.PENANAtoF0hbxiqD
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.681Please respect copyright.PENANAaA4TKYVW8N
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.681Please respect copyright.PENANAfeaba7G8ce
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.681Please respect copyright.PENANAgjpxQFLQd1
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."681Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2zuUlkWlV
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.681Please respect copyright.PENANAYxV3LzEmSR
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.681Please respect copyright.PENANALzY0Hu55hs
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.681Please respect copyright.PENANAjMU1WUReTY
"I'll come and help," said Eric.681Please respect copyright.PENANAv88HiGjuVv
"Me too," said Carly.681Please respect copyright.PENANAb0HJ9FBaTr
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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