Leo found himself back 693Please respect copyright.PENANAGOXVUsUHUR
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 693Please respect copyright.PENANADiBuo7Nmst
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after693Please respect copyright.PENANAWFpkV9sVv1
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in693Please respect copyright.PENANACKJfzCUwcX
the room.693Please respect copyright.PENANAGGz7Fyirhe
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAPDpGR71V6I
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"693Please respect copyright.PENANA1aI3zsylo3
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.693Please respect copyright.PENANARk43uDKvgr
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAFIlWp1Jjqz
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."693Please respect copyright.PENANAkzoz2TtKUN
Eric raised an eyebrow 693Please respect copyright.PENANAUNE4MjnFRe
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 693Please respect copyright.PENANASwJcDzi0wK
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 693Please respect copyright.PENANAkFnWf2dFoC
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.693Please respect copyright.PENANAcq8OV3blcc
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAYtkgJX75O1
"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."693Please respect copyright.PENANAvdVbOdPtih
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.693Please respect copyright.PENANApAg8I3V0O3
"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?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAWxpXiuTaCZ
"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."693Please respect copyright.PENANAucIQt7eiCy
Leo soon turned around, 693Please respect copyright.PENANArUMoMD74vB
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt693Please respect copyright.PENANAVaZpXCfxae
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue693Please respect copyright.PENANAtMjAFSzCrN
on top of it.693Please respect copyright.PENANA0Nw1RuAhOd
Kim had been crying. She693Please respect copyright.PENANANqxcGOAHtP
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the693Please respect copyright.PENANA4hz1CFID1v
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 693Please respect copyright.PENANA25jJ5Z452y
her tears with another tissue.693Please respect copyright.PENANAbSMjtmOO9V
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."693Please respect copyright.PENANASok8So7xId
"I'm not going to say 693Please respect copyright.PENANAejP57meOvF
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 693Please respect copyright.PENANAfapjbsW0hu
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."693Please respect copyright.PENANAeWFeL2hWu8
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.693Please respect copyright.PENANAY9Hdpps8Kj
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."693Please respect copyright.PENANAplzIncQZ2H
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAR0OAD4NE7y
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."693Please respect copyright.PENANA9jJBWaQbc3
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"693Please respect copyright.PENANA11Zu2Ly8QS
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.693Please respect copyright.PENANAAGu5poRSuR
"Yes, we are."693Please respect copyright.PENANAP7xk0KREzc
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."693Please respect copyright.PENANAEeWM2F0S12
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."693Please respect copyright.PENANAor8k2B7U4x
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."693Please respect copyright.PENANAk2X0GklR25
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAIMkyhoYui3
The two ladies agreed 693Please respect copyright.PENANAecyU8775Bu
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 693Please respect copyright.PENANAkwvaItVkrx
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 693Please respect copyright.PENANAZutjd1EuVe
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.693Please respect copyright.PENANAyazh04gB0P
"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."693Please respect copyright.PENANAKhq9Z25Op7
Most people in the 693Please respect copyright.PENANAXKGQTSA7BK
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 693Please respect copyright.PENANA2Wsyp9siHR
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 693Please respect copyright.PENANAcVgANUXLHn
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 693Please respect copyright.PENANAdIxGAliBMe
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 693Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ4mzQCIgF
struggle to put out the first fire.693Please respect copyright.PENANAJ02SQayNxK
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.693Please respect copyright.PENANAoGqWjUEQHF
"I would rather suggest 693Please respect copyright.PENANAED1GSRYsC1
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his693Please respect copyright.PENANASe3mhhnEdV
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 693Please respect copyright.PENANAI2o3JHXw2Q
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"693Please respect copyright.PENANA9zvIoIgiK6
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.693Please respect copyright.PENANA3rNhcgNkAO
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAX1Z7btP7Zs
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."693Please respect copyright.PENANAYxHrU9IBeu
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."693Please respect copyright.PENANApRYcJlFnRs
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.693Please respect copyright.PENANAO1BVGKzJWW
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.693Please respect copyright.PENANAdhRO172Fe2
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.693Please respect copyright.PENANA2KaFKJ35kX
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.693Please respect copyright.PENANAwZSKX4bYUs
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.693Please respect copyright.PENANAesTnIdifT2
Everyone slowly left the693Please respect copyright.PENANAA6rSfTIzVf
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 693Please respect copyright.PENANAieg0Y0OGtg
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right693Please respect copyright.PENANA0Jo6JNiKSH
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 693Please respect copyright.PENANA5VXwIzg1oB
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.693Please respect copyright.PENANAJjm0fjhFSJ
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAnKkR8LdaYj
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."693Please respect copyright.PENANAWNgZE3PW8f
After the loving prayer,693Please respect copyright.PENANAxuBbuLZFhy
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed693Please respect copyright.PENANAlc2ixvzQ2K
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.693Please respect copyright.PENANAL7jXLEoyVA
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAxYx0oer2Da
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."693Please respect copyright.PENANAYRF7b57cV0
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."693Please respect copyright.PENANAETRkE7P9Vv
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."693Please respect copyright.PENANAyLugxFGxhC
"He really can't get 693Please respect copyright.PENANADxJHvA9dy5
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the693Please respect copyright.PENANAvhFk861lE3
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 693Please respect copyright.PENANApnT22Pzv4e
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 693Please respect copyright.PENANAmpKNursaiH
eyes in irritation.693Please respect copyright.PENANAAuptcmQWEz
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."693Please respect copyright.PENANAcpOC7DS20i
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.693Please respect copyright.PENANATUBQgI2lYs
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."693Please respect copyright.PENANAqTIKvVQlV3
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.693Please respect copyright.PENANAcZEhy6ZxrQ
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.693Please respect copyright.PENANAzstTh0quQ6
"Why me?" Angel asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANA41spYlevcy
"I know you will explain693Please respect copyright.PENANAID0soihch5
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 693Please respect copyright.PENANATbp8DF33qL
of things from now on if mum is busy."693Please respect copyright.PENANAcveEA0wN37
"Like what?" Diana asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANA0V2BblTAx6
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."693Please respect copyright.PENANAJtGcX6VmTj
"That's so nice of you, 693Please respect copyright.PENANA0sdI6P7EWq
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,693Please respect copyright.PENANA2h91FZd442
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 693Please respect copyright.PENANA0wpIai9vPE
want to."693Please respect copyright.PENANAxp1oy8nNPH
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."693Please respect copyright.PENANA2BdHvwilCd
Angel looked at him and 693Please respect copyright.PENANAwMMloqIvUz
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 693Please respect copyright.PENANA6OMvjUvn6T
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 693Please respect copyright.PENANAjCfSJCQSwm
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.693Please respect copyright.PENANAiNmhVuLEBN
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."693Please respect copyright.PENANA8D80ZpZJgM
Leo felt like he was 693Please respect copyright.PENANAo5jdy8nBx6
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 693Please respect copyright.PENANAILOLCfm6vo
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.693Please respect copyright.PENANACN9bgn3vYY
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.693Please respect copyright.PENANA2jBVOOSHO5
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.693Please respect copyright.PENANAx2F9v0t1HQ
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."693Please respect copyright.PENANARUlvSYLGBG
"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."693Please respect copyright.PENANABSCTvcflWI
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."693Please respect copyright.PENANAFsvBJrt1vt
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.693Please respect copyright.PENANAFJVrId35GM
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAPseQOKFfPX
"It was fine, mum," said693Please respect copyright.PENANAuMIp78mbqY
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 693Please respect copyright.PENANANnUVLDS6lE
conversation was going to turn out.693Please respect copyright.PENANAqrR92ftwM6
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"693Please respect copyright.PENANA6GhxbT5fdb
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."693Please respect copyright.PENANAleq3FTewQY
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."693Please respect copyright.PENANAzm7nyUcmZs
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.693Please respect copyright.PENANAp84vh2Fy2s
"Alright," said Mrs 693Please respect copyright.PENANA27AxZW2Goq
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 693Please respect copyright.PENANA5qcrYF8TqA
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 693Please respect copyright.PENANAzhinxCu4fv
for you lately?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAcQtoyMqdhW
Angel and Carly both 693Please respect copyright.PENANANupBIU772G
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 693Please respect copyright.PENANA0b3A3VRn5k
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 693Please respect copyright.PENANApxF2locNf3
already was one herself.693Please respect copyright.PENANAcpQRBqSQEz
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.693Please respect copyright.PENANAcLqY6RtNg6
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAMpETi0pqeY
"Running well as usual."693Please respect copyright.PENANAz876v4w4KO
"I should really pay him693Please respect copyright.PENANAb5TJ3I77k8
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 693Please respect copyright.PENANAAC1hMboQZD
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."693Please respect copyright.PENANA9lCIn5bqE0
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.693Please respect copyright.PENANAzYhnyCsPK8
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.693Please respect copyright.PENANAx1ycF4ZacJ
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.693Please respect copyright.PENANATfsOI9LWVQ
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.693Please respect copyright.PENANACqmecNrRtB
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."693Please respect copyright.PENANArTcpvHjzsC
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."693Please respect copyright.PENANAt1jO67Gth5
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."693Please respect copyright.PENANABOlPCbj9w5
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.693Please respect copyright.PENANAz4lTTLUPbm
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.693Please respect copyright.PENANADLIu7R338H
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAlkxMEwVULv
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."693Please respect copyright.PENANA9RXYTyZu1o
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAYLzuXj0gYu
"I would really like to,693Please respect copyright.PENANA0i8Z0FOoRq
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 693Please respect copyright.PENANApKsHJumHA7
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."693Please respect copyright.PENANAD8iVs5KngH
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."693Please respect copyright.PENANAE9cxjmpi01
"Mum, most of us here 693Please respect copyright.PENANAzChKikMvEL
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 693Please respect copyright.PENANAgBReb3D1Db
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 693Please respect copyright.PENANAhrMP5yN9QB
mine."693Please respect copyright.PENANATWefHcy7Wl
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 693Please respect copyright.PENANAgQ6n2UT40J
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others693Please respect copyright.PENANAAHSMaQFk55
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 693Please respect copyright.PENANAHbK35pkK9e
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 693Please respect copyright.PENANAtuDhkgnw1U
moment.693Please respect copyright.PENANAUv2IYbE8Jy
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."693Please respect copyright.PENANAk9T0RYJgWn
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.693Please respect copyright.PENANAlslFBb3DOd
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.693Please respect copyright.PENANA5hygrtZ7kZ
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:693Please respect copyright.PENANACpHuJIE4Ra
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."693Please respect copyright.PENANABrKGFj8T5C
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."693Please respect copyright.PENANAMMPQKlNGo6
"For now or never?" Leo asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAi4nrBQRfv5
"Don't start, son."693Please respect copyright.PENANA8OUNJbpxsy
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"693Please respect copyright.PENANAwneLy4CNTH
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.693Please respect copyright.PENANAFUX7TIV8TD
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.693Please respect copyright.PENANAuWrbE6yFpO
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.693Please respect copyright.PENANAyhIhWEGUPT
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.693Please respect copyright.PENANAWt7V4G61ZE
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.693Please respect copyright.PENANAMMg9IZeqY1
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."693Please respect copyright.PENANAbohiaM6E7K
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.693Please respect copyright.PENANABtM2kPeMVD
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.693Please respect copyright.PENANA2g3tixkt8c
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.693Please respect copyright.PENANA7Jt8tZ0TQS
"I'll come and help," said Eric.693Please respect copyright.PENANAVgH4OkguWI
"Me too," said Carly.693Please respect copyright.PENANA2xPTHK3EJh
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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