Leo found himself back 608Please respect copyright.PENANA5tbj73QENs
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 608Please respect copyright.PENANAXung4z9zZ4
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after608Please respect copyright.PENANAbbb2A5RbYl
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in608Please respect copyright.PENANA4IjI7EDKN6
the room.608Please respect copyright.PENANA2II0oktuJI
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"608Please respect copyright.PENANA9RzP4fttgt
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"608Please respect copyright.PENANACi7lsrP9Ko
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.608Please respect copyright.PENANA9E0GNBGOb6
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAwqSBTKYFOv
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."608Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ngkzx2x9b
Eric raised an eyebrow 608Please respect copyright.PENANAOv3wAAfpwC
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 608Please respect copyright.PENANArTYg0zu1gk
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 608Please respect copyright.PENANAnfPIEmTF95
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.608Please respect copyright.PENANALs37bd9FCZ
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAqo3CNQ5rUT
"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."608Please respect copyright.PENANAMs5by7Yb3S
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.608Please respect copyright.PENANAPeg8Dh1Zhc
"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?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAotP8OHcCx3
"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."608Please respect copyright.PENANASROQShfwMq
Leo soon turned around, 608Please respect copyright.PENANAkODoXAxWs0
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt608Please respect copyright.PENANA6bT21QgrAF
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue608Please respect copyright.PENANAICkk0c4qXF
on top of it.608Please respect copyright.PENANA07f9XJzjxE
Kim had been crying. She608Please respect copyright.PENANADJmFIsSXky
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the608Please respect copyright.PENANAE6K41VRSbW
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 608Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ8gG8WnGh
her tears with another tissue.608Please respect copyright.PENANAPCuehVtWPa
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."608Please respect copyright.PENANAGE4Puiv4WC
"I'm not going to say 608Please respect copyright.PENANAopePswgknR
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 608Please respect copyright.PENANACb2jfTA2MA
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."608Please respect copyright.PENANA5DcJC4jmsN
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.608Please respect copyright.PENANARaMQBiyLHV
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."608Please respect copyright.PENANAoEOdsp4G3h
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAGZ9FGsP9he
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."608Please respect copyright.PENANAzB3VKpYfxT
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAwqWR5D4MPI
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.608Please respect copyright.PENANAq7MfMGuj1g
"Yes, we are."608Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jj1t0VfJC
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."608Please respect copyright.PENANApm31Udg15g
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."608Please respect copyright.PENANAU7wbEsjKJZ
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."608Please respect copyright.PENANA3ah7mqdbEs
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"608Please respect copyright.PENANANMAxk1nVOO
The two ladies agreed 608Please respect copyright.PENANAkFCKPIATMB
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 608Please respect copyright.PENANAmkNkKEOmtf
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 608Please respect copyright.PENANA8ghCiY803r
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.608Please respect copyright.PENANAQrFgpIondK
"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."608Please respect copyright.PENANAANaS8EO3JL
Most people in the 608Please respect copyright.PENANAWc0k61Q0ub
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 608Please respect copyright.PENANAwq82vOk7Px
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 608Please respect copyright.PENANAkSLR9IAJRo
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 608Please respect copyright.PENANA0UqhxCjb17
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 608Please respect copyright.PENANA4mAb8bd62Y
struggle to put out the first fire.608Please respect copyright.PENANAPEE1nMkuNM
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.608Please respect copyright.PENANAOkb4tpCzro
"I would rather suggest 608Please respect copyright.PENANAg7L6u9LCUo
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his608Please respect copyright.PENANAf4FbUWFH0m
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 608Please respect copyright.PENANATJquhp0RW8
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAU30o0We3mF
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.608Please respect copyright.PENANAwleqAPDvpO
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAnvCgczMdyO
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."608Please respect copyright.PENANAjOYOOSIWQu
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."608Please respect copyright.PENANA3yG4b87B2U
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.608Please respect copyright.PENANApy64e2SlFc
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.608Please respect copyright.PENANA4Metwr3YrN
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.608Please respect copyright.PENANAfAg9A4zTLs
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.608Please respect copyright.PENANALrVuFZqvcy
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.608Please respect copyright.PENANAyhQ2JlEoRw
Everyone slowly left the608Please respect copyright.PENANAdmSUCXppVn
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 608Please respect copyright.PENANAOKha7i2kDE
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right608Please respect copyright.PENANArmH7bgVnSG
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 608Please respect copyright.PENANAb2UZXVp7QN
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.608Please respect copyright.PENANAE7fy2MN7i8
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAEdnOomEafW
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."608Please respect copyright.PENANA9Fqs3o6mHa
After the loving prayer,608Please respect copyright.PENANA2HkbW3Xl1j
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed608Please respect copyright.PENANArRE1UdSraL
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.608Please respect copyright.PENANALZmbZKRYLn
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAl4Mu1CbDWp
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."608Please respect copyright.PENANAmrvgveatIm
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."608Please respect copyright.PENANA5so12gCMtB
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."608Please respect copyright.PENANAltyNxImDRY
"He really can't get 608Please respect copyright.PENANAvAmUXrhHSd
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the608Please respect copyright.PENANAVIUnJnOHAr
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 608Please respect copyright.PENANA3fr8km9P1l
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 608Please respect copyright.PENANALOhOEzrF41
eyes in irritation.608Please respect copyright.PENANA9VZe1SuqP5
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."608Please respect copyright.PENANAtDCZ261Cma
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.608Please respect copyright.PENANALLtDkdet5L
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."608Please respect copyright.PENANA9f0FlHtmAl
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.608Please respect copyright.PENANAt315Cl0K63
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.608Please respect copyright.PENANArHvoz6o7lR
"Why me?" Angel asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANATqUFp2HKlQ
"I know you will explain608Please respect copyright.PENANAAjMoRCtkun
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 608Please respect copyright.PENANAUtuEkC9fxe
of things from now on if mum is busy."608Please respect copyright.PENANAoEXR5qfS4j
"Like what?" Diana asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAJQp41tPNkn
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."608Please respect copyright.PENANArxqBXq0QQQ
"That's so nice of you, 608Please respect copyright.PENANA7RQ7gInVA0
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,608Please respect copyright.PENANAjwj8xosYdQ
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 608Please respect copyright.PENANAdEywxOO9Yw
want to."608Please respect copyright.PENANAw8zRKhVZMN
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."608Please respect copyright.PENANAzMGJnVr4eN
Angel looked at him and 608Please respect copyright.PENANAULK25ai4Kp
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 608Please respect copyright.PENANAqD2fAGCowl
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 608Please respect copyright.PENANAkKeqAKi9iJ
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.608Please respect copyright.PENANAhL4cDVsLyP
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."608Please respect copyright.PENANApzdemYhqcn
Leo felt like he was 608Please respect copyright.PENANADwvzkTQCFT
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 608Please respect copyright.PENANAGX7g16FP8y
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.608Please respect copyright.PENANAs81oOxeAjC
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.608Please respect copyright.PENANAhaP5WydNey
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.608Please respect copyright.PENANA3HxesCvc6R
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."608Please respect copyright.PENANASw787WFCaL
"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."608Please respect copyright.PENANAxBnN1B1OGq
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."608Please respect copyright.PENANAErz19uaIX8
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.608Please respect copyright.PENANAO6Dl5ORcaA
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"608Please respect copyright.PENANA4J9RY9xv28
"It was fine, mum," said608Please respect copyright.PENANArqApguP8pv
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 608Please respect copyright.PENANAso3WHfPw4P
conversation was going to turn out.608Please respect copyright.PENANAXO4bln0QCl
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAoGPaOV6nLx
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."608Please respect copyright.PENANAOfswOOhvum
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."608Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ldamf81lV
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.608Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8YgM66veJ
"Alright," said Mrs 608Please respect copyright.PENANAcWHUDj08ii
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 608Please respect copyright.PENANAYC78aLV4P3
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 608Please respect copyright.PENANAB3My5Niyan
for you lately?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAKRJQYcdyJr
Angel and Carly both 608Please respect copyright.PENANA8Xyxda1iRe
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 608Please respect copyright.PENANA36HlPJ2ni4
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 608Please respect copyright.PENANALGZkWohmny
already was one herself.608Please respect copyright.PENANAPpcAB3iFsM
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.608Please respect copyright.PENANAJHHGUPL2Zp
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAKtcAXlG2cb
"Running well as usual."608Please respect copyright.PENANAl1nPFpBx5d
"I should really pay him608Please respect copyright.PENANAan5DVGsgP6
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 608Please respect copyright.PENANAtRPbIbzele
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."608Please respect copyright.PENANALSvwYseYcy
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.608Please respect copyright.PENANAR6KTe9kzsk
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.608Please respect copyright.PENANAuODzY1kjie
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.608Please respect copyright.PENANAO2VqPh6Hw3
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.608Please respect copyright.PENANAcoVl61Vede
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."608Please respect copyright.PENANArqj4JnMgpq
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."608Please respect copyright.PENANAzILYJsoZIj
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."608Please respect copyright.PENANAx6mrQKFeUY
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.608Please respect copyright.PENANAF6ExwJRvxM
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.608Please respect copyright.PENANAHYl4YuAlmb
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAA1zNICGLQZ
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."608Please respect copyright.PENANAVl3VRIArZP
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAY3OmQAqHRD
"I would really like to,608Please respect copyright.PENANAagNLYhUws1
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 608Please respect copyright.PENANAF3FFHuqdIY
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."608Please respect copyright.PENANAKzQOTDSB4n
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."608Please respect copyright.PENANARztEp6DkAy
"Mum, most of us here 608Please respect copyright.PENANAWqGhL3W99j
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 608Please respect copyright.PENANAK91d32PkOp
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 608Please respect copyright.PENANA3qhDbLJKab
mine."608Please respect copyright.PENANAmLNYs8kE8w
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 608Please respect copyright.PENANAZtHrBeao7T
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others608Please respect copyright.PENANAFcrm0iZQL9
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 608Please respect copyright.PENANAt9sngWVc8c
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 608Please respect copyright.PENANALzq5hKQeuc
moment.608Please respect copyright.PENANAJJi2x4S4Mq
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."608Please respect copyright.PENANALjuRA8BWov
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.608Please respect copyright.PENANAittiL3gecs
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.608Please respect copyright.PENANATSpvITYXXf
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:608Please respect copyright.PENANA3yz0tZSSJf
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."608Please respect copyright.PENANAITqAv058tB
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."608Please respect copyright.PENANAOWx6CwDqFQ
"For now or never?" Leo asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANA3AGmKf6yQo
"Don't start, son."608Please respect copyright.PENANAAAoGQcbUVJ
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"608Please respect copyright.PENANAnbaUZOXFPD
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.608Please respect copyright.PENANA08UamWIy83
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.608Please respect copyright.PENANAMsRReiZdhC
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.608Please respect copyright.PENANAgZ3UW1EWT2
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.608Please respect copyright.PENANAEUu3mPFo0M
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.608Please respect copyright.PENANARuUfh4cREm
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."608Please respect copyright.PENANAxGeCpWpMFa
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.608Please respect copyright.PENANAGlAd6gdgSe
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.608Please respect copyright.PENANAL9cMP5PQxf
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.608Please respect copyright.PENANAFpeyLQbQY5
"I'll come and help," said Eric.608Please respect copyright.PENANA2wHNoWhBCO
"Me too," said Carly.608Please respect copyright.PENANAgSp1I5SwQm
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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