Leo found himself back 535Please respect copyright.PENANAPpIbwCFr7K
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 535Please respect copyright.PENANA1zwSPqo9Yo
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after535Please respect copyright.PENANAsEbcRX6Pd9
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in535Please respect copyright.PENANAVIv2LxREf8
the room.535Please respect copyright.PENANAEQPjJJRh1s
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAsDjM7xo7HK
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAdarfkMIY6p
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.535Please respect copyright.PENANAgDrLaYosxz
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"535Please respect copyright.PENANARFeyfDWNvE
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."535Please respect copyright.PENANAldV2Zeyv78
Eric raised an eyebrow 535Please respect copyright.PENANA2KIa2KmLIX
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 535Please respect copyright.PENANAoL9S305oJX
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 535Please respect copyright.PENANA9WBs450Bfl
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.535Please respect copyright.PENANAHLJlYqigQZ
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAh31nMWMahi
"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."535Please respect copyright.PENANANpO6IRPnNL
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.535Please respect copyright.PENANA8kpi4pgNIR
"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?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAx7MzyCnyYG
"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."535Please respect copyright.PENANAM88jQsGwj8
Leo soon turned around, 535Please respect copyright.PENANAjPKQFXkNYd
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt535Please respect copyright.PENANAE0R093BhJC
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue535Please respect copyright.PENANAZFcRanifQC
on top of it.535Please respect copyright.PENANAwRV291tndZ
Kim had been crying. She535Please respect copyright.PENANAVmumxH0Qsw
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the535Please respect copyright.PENANA3wNmY2UEoF
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 535Please respect copyright.PENANAc9Vmvh1kfx
her tears with another tissue.535Please respect copyright.PENANAPlBsUGBt4W
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."535Please respect copyright.PENANA6CmG1618z1
"I'm not going to say 535Please respect copyright.PENANA8MmDk7ulRr
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 535Please respect copyright.PENANAgePdARNOdv
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."535Please respect copyright.PENANA7bsuGSHJfz
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.535Please respect copyright.PENANA2GVJ1Vb9Kl
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."535Please respect copyright.PENANAr5T1PuoL0o
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"535Please respect copyright.PENANARNsARYv9yW
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."535Please respect copyright.PENANAyS5fVv2APQ
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAms7DrRbySo
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.535Please respect copyright.PENANApPxx1wDTtl
"Yes, we are."535Please respect copyright.PENANAapApFT6QLR
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."535Please respect copyright.PENANAZm0wQONsKU
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."535Please respect copyright.PENANAHGrarPY8Ap
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."535Please respect copyright.PENANAcotOmJFZGH
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAsJiiNVNKmH
The two ladies agreed 535Please respect copyright.PENANAVVo4eVqLLr
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 535Please respect copyright.PENANA8Nqqqi6XmV
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 535Please respect copyright.PENANAC0PjS5BxvC
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.535Please respect copyright.PENANAArjj7YXkEL
"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."535Please respect copyright.PENANAgaEDQtiFm5
Most people in the 535Please respect copyright.PENANAIgsFoObyY0
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 535Please respect copyright.PENANA9NL7VAc1vf
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 535Please respect copyright.PENANAdCTSVltFXT
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 535Please respect copyright.PENANAbVBwNRqbIA
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 535Please respect copyright.PENANAgzjrOZ9dcy
struggle to put out the first fire.535Please respect copyright.PENANA3qbreyEjTu
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.535Please respect copyright.PENANAksopSKAJTu
"I would rather suggest 535Please respect copyright.PENANALOPwu9Cj7S
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his535Please respect copyright.PENANAXVonVSp7XQ
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 535Please respect copyright.PENANAMT2oFXaDkN
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAO33NHIl1ho
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.535Please respect copyright.PENANAWgrVazudpL
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAeR4zKgrd4P
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."535Please respect copyright.PENANAX70EM8dSkM
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."535Please respect copyright.PENANAghe6uTD5sT
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.535Please respect copyright.PENANAxzKekK1UUw
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.535Please respect copyright.PENANAGV0LLkthZj
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.535Please respect copyright.PENANA9TsS9kAb0g
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.535Please respect copyright.PENANAIsUJha1Hoq
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.535Please respect copyright.PENANAMsdZXMoEmM
Everyone slowly left the535Please respect copyright.PENANA68IzoPQm3H
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 535Please respect copyright.PENANAJwZ9MdliCd
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right535Please respect copyright.PENANAOEirofwHeD
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 535Please respect copyright.PENANApjvcWSysWX
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.535Please respect copyright.PENANAIPY5SnSsjF
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANADhx1xpRkVK
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."535Please respect copyright.PENANAsjIFyG0UyQ
After the loving prayer,535Please respect copyright.PENANALsUWPXXkHV
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed535Please respect copyright.PENANAbWRgVUGHMz
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.535Please respect copyright.PENANAWtLFB7XDfg
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAGffNimvETN
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."535Please respect copyright.PENANAPTmK681s5e
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."535Please respect copyright.PENANA9Cy0AcCkBq
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."535Please respect copyright.PENANA05mhOS6xSN
"He really can't get 535Please respect copyright.PENANAqaqwWCRhhE
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the535Please respect copyright.PENANAX1KeWXkLFd
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 535Please respect copyright.PENANAfaOaqPcwgy
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 535Please respect copyright.PENANA9pk6vKye9a
eyes in irritation.535Please respect copyright.PENANAB1nY334zeh
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."535Please respect copyright.PENANAQokXQOhfVo
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.535Please respect copyright.PENANADOESFAa4bw
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."535Please respect copyright.PENANA9ERLJMXs8L
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.535Please respect copyright.PENANAPjSJNxvctc
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.535Please respect copyright.PENANAj2Ro82Mz0w
"Why me?" Angel asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANArmmrcsXt0t
"I know you will explain535Please respect copyright.PENANA86DA3wM479
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 535Please respect copyright.PENANAccfP8hfYvY
of things from now on if mum is busy."535Please respect copyright.PENANAD2twiGBhP4
"Like what?" Diana asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAteTPyKExzv
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."535Please respect copyright.PENANAWe5xcO88xM
"That's so nice of you, 535Please respect copyright.PENANAd5cg8x5NW2
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,535Please respect copyright.PENANAdlsRJL1cXs
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 535Please respect copyright.PENANAarYNyUW7nR
want to."535Please respect copyright.PENANAN0KUqyo61e
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."535Please respect copyright.PENANAswEXTCEGeq
Angel looked at him and 535Please respect copyright.PENANATuwZhn7P33
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 535Please respect copyright.PENANAvab31MviVE
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 535Please respect copyright.PENANAvxGuQTYlZH
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.535Please respect copyright.PENANAZW8SK41WL5
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."535Please respect copyright.PENANAg9IMgvQjKt
Leo felt like he was 535Please respect copyright.PENANAvqKyFoFL1G
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 535Please respect copyright.PENANAk4q0ShyuvH
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.535Please respect copyright.PENANA3BH5fc9zoj
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.535Please respect copyright.PENANAKzcYRpHiD6
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.535Please respect copyright.PENANAtXbxYkkqLJ
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."535Please respect copyright.PENANA9i2BhnUAJF
"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."535Please respect copyright.PENANAyk5AucRO0x
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."535Please respect copyright.PENANAEiOeEypbN3
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.535Please respect copyright.PENANAloy9xyrKhI
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAN2OhtcJVs3
"It was fine, mum," said535Please respect copyright.PENANAhFJSIxfD7S
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 535Please respect copyright.PENANAdDp6pQJ3lJ
conversation was going to turn out.535Please respect copyright.PENANALRHrpZWSMh
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAr3ggbR4odY
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."535Please respect copyright.PENANA2NRvMfsxRV
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."535Please respect copyright.PENANAnwL1hD4h5o
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.535Please respect copyright.PENANA7rVJCNVv0D
"Alright," said Mrs 535Please respect copyright.PENANAIl6mptpW60
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 535Please respect copyright.PENANAtck3HdX4aZ
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 535Please respect copyright.PENANAg135HTg5kV
for you lately?"535Please respect copyright.PENANA2oiRgGzdp2
Angel and Carly both 535Please respect copyright.PENANAEsNVdOEEm0
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 535Please respect copyright.PENANA7G6JlooPpC
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 535Please respect copyright.PENANAu93tA4jeeC
already was one herself.535Please respect copyright.PENANAXIsrw8Mhfz
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.535Please respect copyright.PENANAAWQRnIRDKs
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAeINnv1BL9H
"Running well as usual."535Please respect copyright.PENANAFKjFjAqZgs
"I should really pay him535Please respect copyright.PENANAGeZIOeRMfD
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 535Please respect copyright.PENANA3L08ZEMgGQ
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."535Please respect copyright.PENANAXvPEIVMmuS
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.535Please respect copyright.PENANANPe7UPO6NB
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.535Please respect copyright.PENANAhKfnozcIIQ
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.535Please respect copyright.PENANA4wuffv4Xks
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.535Please respect copyright.PENANAogTKJjQxFS
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."535Please respect copyright.PENANAzCScOmTSvq
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."535Please respect copyright.PENANADz97gGSi2T
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."535Please respect copyright.PENANA7RDaYnNSTP
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.535Please respect copyright.PENANAZrBagr0sSj
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.535Please respect copyright.PENANAD3jMBjGown
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAPvfwmJl2ix
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."535Please respect copyright.PENANAXH4FwDPFOW
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"535Please respect copyright.PENANAyGTc7k7F1Q
"I would really like to,535Please respect copyright.PENANARwAGJMhFOM
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 535Please respect copyright.PENANALZGO0TSH82
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."535Please respect copyright.PENANAjDVPBFuAXU
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."535Please respect copyright.PENANAGP0sFX7FoQ
"Mum, most of us here 535Please respect copyright.PENANA6YJlbpLT4C
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 535Please respect copyright.PENANAWs5HXwR2Hn
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 535Please respect copyright.PENANAphSyS8F5My
mine."535Please respect copyright.PENANAH8pTJQFZml
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 535Please respect copyright.PENANAAR0WbALz5s
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others535Please respect copyright.PENANAPd5eK2dRZo
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 535Please respect copyright.PENANAqRtfvubrPU
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 535Please respect copyright.PENANAkv5WkQ8tJc
moment.535Please respect copyright.PENANApHPafDQlCu
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."535Please respect copyright.PENANAHTmGuHe3WA
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.535Please respect copyright.PENANAZR9fDpothJ
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.535Please respect copyright.PENANAd95iiTSy7w
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:535Please respect copyright.PENANAVm3N4jG0Vx
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."535Please respect copyright.PENANAfcBxwkkc0G
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."535Please respect copyright.PENANAOwIXZM8vnf
"For now or never?" Leo asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAqr5vnATePp
"Don't start, son."535Please respect copyright.PENANAbab2XK7GWI
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"535Please respect copyright.PENANA7Sdss5ntxv
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.535Please respect copyright.PENANAU99WPmQAUE
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.535Please respect copyright.PENANABmfqsUMjR5
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.535Please respect copyright.PENANAl0TqhaCSoT
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.535Please respect copyright.PENANAahhmgO0joj
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.535Please respect copyright.PENANA9NCXcfLRQk
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."535Please respect copyright.PENANAZcUtldiNsd
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.535Please respect copyright.PENANA8d8dJO8Sou
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.535Please respect copyright.PENANA1ULP3u4XXp
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.535Please respect copyright.PENANAhvKLiBafNP
"I'll come and help," said Eric.535Please respect copyright.PENANA9Fq3zvuM6Q
"Me too," said Carly.535Please respect copyright.PENANAWaKkUBdLl8
Soon, Angel with the help of Eric, Oliver and Carly left the table, leaving Mrs McDonell, Diana and Kim at the table.
ns 15.158.61.20da2