Leo found himself back 578Please respect copyright.PENANA2QHJStQ3Zh
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 578Please respect copyright.PENANAgDbDf2E9rt
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after578Please respect copyright.PENANAdayHntRkrX
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in578Please respect copyright.PENANAvR2Xqkcfgw
the room.578Please respect copyright.PENANA6XxywmPhTl
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"578Please respect copyright.PENANA6DSeTjXhF2
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAg28LrhmRDF
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.578Please respect copyright.PENANAsiuFqI68e7
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAc0KnpOhXMo
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."578Please respect copyright.PENANAcnl78ZaKQ2
Eric raised an eyebrow 578Please respect copyright.PENANAizF5zfGTQr
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 578Please respect copyright.PENANATb7oxmcgVB
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 578Please respect copyright.PENANAI1oKPnrPw5
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.578Please respect copyright.PENANAka3i4frHva
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAFLgsTSXMJT
"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."578Please respect copyright.PENANA6fxFad338s
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.578Please respect copyright.PENANAe1EEAxOkkr
"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?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAWgp4VIIWMv
"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."578Please respect copyright.PENANAsFQCv5yxnp
Leo soon turned around, 578Please respect copyright.PENANAewIpfwWUKi
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt578Please respect copyright.PENANAj9vperlzNa
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue578Please respect copyright.PENANAQwVkmp4fe3
on top of it.578Please respect copyright.PENANAilsyJUvEdh
Kim had been crying. She578Please respect copyright.PENANAueagC5mPei
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the578Please respect copyright.PENANAK8D3Ac46h0
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 578Please respect copyright.PENANAT2cueh8zt7
her tears with another tissue.578Please respect copyright.PENANAijKVnAkaSh
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."578Please respect copyright.PENANAU81De44fEd
"I'm not going to say 578Please respect copyright.PENANA3AKLMWImyH
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 578Please respect copyright.PENANAu4qPZXjEjb
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."578Please respect copyright.PENANAKjLivenAlp
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.578Please respect copyright.PENANAJxtLGhY4gy
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."578Please respect copyright.PENANAfIsYMchGSn
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAhpUno3ZnKX
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."578Please respect copyright.PENANAd7xIbN8hhu
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAyPKNRYgTJe
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.578Please respect copyright.PENANAj6CRyPnyOy
"Yes, we are."578Please respect copyright.PENANAaWMhI1Fvfd
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."578Please respect copyright.PENANA3hgZHefbzV
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."578Please respect copyright.PENANAjmyqXFrzRw
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."578Please respect copyright.PENANApu0BJX8R9z
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAtWFbdlitn4
The two ladies agreed 578Please respect copyright.PENANAhLHnmGkUcG
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 578Please respect copyright.PENANAi2DnPc5gpe
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 578Please respect copyright.PENANAJhQ4Xbc0bj
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.578Please respect copyright.PENANAg00oXYMdQu
"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."578Please respect copyright.PENANACAjXI4ojlN
Most people in the 578Please respect copyright.PENANA2jlAXIQU3s
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 578Please respect copyright.PENANAZUTh9K2ZFw
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 578Please respect copyright.PENANApO4hEuEjC2
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 578Please respect copyright.PENANAGxD8vRx7nT
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 578Please respect copyright.PENANAQkkihvtZEt
struggle to put out the first fire.578Please respect copyright.PENANAEfJLACtVJt
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.578Please respect copyright.PENANAYh4aD26Xjt
"I would rather suggest 578Please respect copyright.PENANAxy1E85FQV0
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his578Please respect copyright.PENANA5o6z30WVBI
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 578Please respect copyright.PENANAJEFVY7kRdI
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAm0bYA7tpoR
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.578Please respect copyright.PENANA8DANC0yAr1
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAfvh7RzpeCn
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."578Please respect copyright.PENANAwax8l2ri1N
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."578Please respect copyright.PENANAYksCwbamMA
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.578Please respect copyright.PENANAp6RXGfkteT
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.578Please respect copyright.PENANA2qetvDqxL2
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.578Please respect copyright.PENANApSQHjnjoMA
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.578Please respect copyright.PENANA9FmPppLsFp
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.578Please respect copyright.PENANAPLqFLh52PS
Everyone slowly left the578Please respect copyright.PENANAAEOU7k0NVn
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 578Please respect copyright.PENANAKRGJY7vnAQ
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right578Please respect copyright.PENANAF7RnC8ln2N
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 578Please respect copyright.PENANASoD6Se1JB6
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.578Please respect copyright.PENANAVaIM99TYyk
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAfqH4T5JVwQ
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."578Please respect copyright.PENANAAKhk70GplT
After the loving prayer,578Please respect copyright.PENANAcIkIown8G9
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed578Please respect copyright.PENANAZdkdLEJbzw
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.578Please respect copyright.PENANARBWzFOILwy
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAdXL9YfPWUI
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."578Please respect copyright.PENANA5jajfr6Q2A
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."578Please respect copyright.PENANA8mvyq2F4Y6
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."578Please respect copyright.PENANAYt7kndsFyr
"He really can't get 578Please respect copyright.PENANA6fbvNXLUyf
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the578Please respect copyright.PENANAQTPhIz00C8
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 578Please respect copyright.PENANAdsOXKM4Qp0
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 578Please respect copyright.PENANA1iMdnktH0O
eyes in irritation.578Please respect copyright.PENANAufFvRmKL48
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."578Please respect copyright.PENANAvDSlDGUZbl
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.578Please respect copyright.PENANADN4g9MYJ9j
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."578Please respect copyright.PENANAYyi9yqlbTd
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.578Please respect copyright.PENANAepTr1jsc99
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.578Please respect copyright.PENANAfDUGrXvxfj
"Why me?" Angel asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAGEKR2wNuPS
"I know you will explain578Please respect copyright.PENANAsDYpyehw5n
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 578Please respect copyright.PENANA27ey2zJG29
of things from now on if mum is busy."578Please respect copyright.PENANARIAa90TUuv
"Like what?" Diana asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAEzV8euBkTw
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."578Please respect copyright.PENANAkIkQM0kEbm
"That's so nice of you, 578Please respect copyright.PENANAd75nfIcCuh
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,578Please respect copyright.PENANASXtz07F1nE
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 578Please respect copyright.PENANAwXoce4HAFY
want to."578Please respect copyright.PENANAzwnJ1jC9ZT
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."578Please respect copyright.PENANAggxYHh2NR3
Angel looked at him and 578Please respect copyright.PENANA2U1SaS8lli
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 578Please respect copyright.PENANAplZAvgoUZX
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 578Please respect copyright.PENANATgDEPcMizW
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.578Please respect copyright.PENANAaGf4ReswZX
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."578Please respect copyright.PENANAQMof1Y4BJU
Leo felt like he was 578Please respect copyright.PENANAkM5nXZLeRt
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 578Please respect copyright.PENANAyVJo12mi2g
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.578Please respect copyright.PENANAEm7bNmCoyG
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.578Please respect copyright.PENANAkZbimG6elC
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.578Please respect copyright.PENANArrp7tBIx8j
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."578Please respect copyright.PENANAuIJa2r7PtL
"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."578Please respect copyright.PENANAwGH8ImSygg
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."578Please respect copyright.PENANAz8xXjlYZKL
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.578Please respect copyright.PENANABlUPeyA09I
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAwq47VTeiAr
"It was fine, mum," said578Please respect copyright.PENANAyeFzFgKWws
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 578Please respect copyright.PENANASN0XwbwctA
conversation was going to turn out.578Please respect copyright.PENANAGVeqpO9t1F
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAQhES7BmWZy
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."578Please respect copyright.PENANA7jZXMODAtC
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."578Please respect copyright.PENANArEw2qAWjfR
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.578Please respect copyright.PENANA8NFLd0ijdC
"Alright," said Mrs 578Please respect copyright.PENANA1Xv4wYvZkS
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 578Please respect copyright.PENANAlULEr4vKln
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 578Please respect copyright.PENANAW7dvk38ZUM
for you lately?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAlYVmbqCBK4
Angel and Carly both 578Please respect copyright.PENANA1pQsJuDtVH
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 578Please respect copyright.PENANARuHjSxnk2p
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 578Please respect copyright.PENANA7rATZxw5Kx
already was one herself.578Please respect copyright.PENANA5cP8KZYdeb
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.578Please respect copyright.PENANAuQQUrMmGUY
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAgHfGVl98hY
"Running well as usual."578Please respect copyright.PENANAt1CNnTevhl
"I should really pay him578Please respect copyright.PENANAo15HorI03D
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 578Please respect copyright.PENANAxwRw4pq1Xl
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."578Please respect copyright.PENANA7DyW2ed7Qf
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.578Please respect copyright.PENANA8HYDVryIK2
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.578Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZFUgIOx2e
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.578Please respect copyright.PENANAQPAKDPZai0
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.578Please respect copyright.PENANAokIQLdd96f
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."578Please respect copyright.PENANAcCSaTmX2AC
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."578Please respect copyright.PENANAK60QbgprIA
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."578Please respect copyright.PENANA9D9k3fKAot
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.578Please respect copyright.PENANAdqWMKsHruV
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.578Please respect copyright.PENANAVoHtekPJWh
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAP4v55qpOSR
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."578Please respect copyright.PENANA5gbRDnAR5o
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"578Please respect copyright.PENANAAUnWguEKqH
"I would really like to,578Please respect copyright.PENANAH7nOVDK0AO
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 578Please respect copyright.PENANAq8JAT7tGAB
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."578Please respect copyright.PENANAyE4bR55JqD
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."578Please respect copyright.PENANAw2OjisLEZa
"Mum, most of us here 578Please respect copyright.PENANAuThljsn6i5
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 578Please respect copyright.PENANAuqp92zhdW7
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 578Please respect copyright.PENANAPJDp1smx48
mine."578Please respect copyright.PENANAFzz2gwtHtx
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 578Please respect copyright.PENANALlc8gN6lJP
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others578Please respect copyright.PENANAP2EMWF0iAX
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 578Please respect copyright.PENANAqiOtuYPz6N
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 578Please respect copyright.PENANAA5zQNg1aUP
moment.578Please respect copyright.PENANAV5cHNitkSr
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."578Please respect copyright.PENANAysHSPQv3j1
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.578Please respect copyright.PENANAzUgBMTsuag
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.578Please respect copyright.PENANAy5gfzboQeY
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:578Please respect copyright.PENANASLbwctzG4r
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."578Please respect copyright.PENANA6clc37EEeo
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."578Please respect copyright.PENANAi9XPcnaGwj
"For now or never?" Leo asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAfGC0QmcLaQ
"Don't start, son."578Please respect copyright.PENANAxYWYQCCY4e
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"578Please respect copyright.PENANA4XTTkXhtwG
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.578Please respect copyright.PENANA7o1om9UUg9
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.578Please respect copyright.PENANABYqcpjtbim
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.578Please respect copyright.PENANAlz3ZFmUGwP
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.578Please respect copyright.PENANAIcBjzjKfvK
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.578Please respect copyright.PENANA1kd2uPrK28
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."578Please respect copyright.PENANAXzURtydDyM
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.578Please respect copyright.PENANAuaOqMIzKF8
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.578Please respect copyright.PENANAQdNkhLpdSO
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.578Please respect copyright.PENANACY1JWdNehN
"I'll come and help," said Eric.578Please respect copyright.PENANAgrz4noPXKP
"Me too," said Carly.578Please respect copyright.PENANAfMQtPPwUy7
Soon, Angel with the help of Eric, Oliver and Carly left the table, leaving Mrs McDonell, Diana and Kim at the table.
ns 15.158.61.17da2