Leo found himself back 791Please respect copyright.PENANA82tLYbPKMo
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 791Please respect copyright.PENANA4zHek30m5J
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after791Please respect copyright.PENANAAZU1wLy6zU
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in791Please respect copyright.PENANA7gsjWo9mal
the room.791Please respect copyright.PENANAZcwE79hxLs
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAtwcRRQGZ5p
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"791Please respect copyright.PENANATVHCC4wx15
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.791Please respect copyright.PENANAtsa79AFSXp
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"791Please respect copyright.PENANASacleAjTaG
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."791Please respect copyright.PENANAWpbLxpE3y8
Eric raised an eyebrow 791Please respect copyright.PENANA5ugWAjzBOi
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 791Please respect copyright.PENANA9BwdWhdafg
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAuikdtsjcLB
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.791Please respect copyright.PENANAeBpAG9jJTV
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAfx5XckgXcR
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAFVm27rvQS6
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.791Please respect copyright.PENANAug3FAe5AuK
"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?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAT81cWHWckK
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANACpfctV5ccr
Leo soon turned around, 791Please respect copyright.PENANA7TbVDLXD0c
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt791Please respect copyright.PENANApKWsquWnuj
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue791Please respect copyright.PENANAkpegy5IOnb
on top of it.791Please respect copyright.PENANApfLfLC08nc
Kim had been crying. She791Please respect copyright.PENANAnp1j4UdUSI
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the791Please respect copyright.PENANAxsoynydnGz
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 791Please respect copyright.PENANA6T9Tg59m11
her tears with another tissue.791Please respect copyright.PENANAhCUwl8Scx5
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."791Please respect copyright.PENANAM9PuNLaIs4
"I'm not going to say 791Please respect copyright.PENANA9UTBfewl3m
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 791Please respect copyright.PENANAyJGt2u2FWf
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."791Please respect copyright.PENANAc2IAe4uqEO
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.791Please respect copyright.PENANAtruzoTLMuL
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."791Please respect copyright.PENANAvfnWRfOxIr
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"791Please respect copyright.PENANANnDARb84DL
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."791Please respect copyright.PENANAPjEP8KhHXP
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAOk74vhderi
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.791Please respect copyright.PENANAGcYqWQwUwM
"Yes, we are."791Please respect copyright.PENANA4C0KQJ79nf
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."791Please respect copyright.PENANAHRW9xq6Hzg
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."791Please respect copyright.PENANAZjimyFAXkS
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."791Please respect copyright.PENANAsqfVuazEmo
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"791Please respect copyright.PENANA6lGRob7yos
The two ladies agreed 791Please respect copyright.PENANAmb2AQGFkWh
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 791Please respect copyright.PENANANrkLNmrDWH
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 791Please respect copyright.PENANARQzEXEDrgc
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.791Please respect copyright.PENANA9tEfPj2BEg
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAaa2wR08NQt
Most people in the 791Please respect copyright.PENANAJhYxGO5EXV
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 791Please respect copyright.PENANAlSI9ldU7KA
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 791Please respect copyright.PENANAW3dHyRCCat
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 791Please respect copyright.PENANAwal7DMIuj2
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 791Please respect copyright.PENANAL3njg53yfU
struggle to put out the first fire.791Please respect copyright.PENANAXmTvqldigK
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.791Please respect copyright.PENANAyEwXGlQTid
"I would rather suggest 791Please respect copyright.PENANAchTD7PAKoE
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his791Please respect copyright.PENANAQhtP9UNO4C
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 791Please respect copyright.PENANA4iglfIg2pE
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAA6yRTHQVl2
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.791Please respect copyright.PENANA9gfhi7UshA
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAKMiR8bXuPj
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."791Please respect copyright.PENANAuRs6awGbYA
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."791Please respect copyright.PENANAOABKwxYxK2
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.791Please respect copyright.PENANAaeTGTLUNZa
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.791Please respect copyright.PENANAAHyvmMicZe
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.791Please respect copyright.PENANAKG1FGNa7Xc
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.791Please respect copyright.PENANAMj2UI1LW7H
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.791Please respect copyright.PENANAzGFHRYGcUQ
Everyone slowly left the791Please respect copyright.PENANAmmXlL5L9fl
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 791Please respect copyright.PENANAtdsATD7JUU
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right791Please respect copyright.PENANA1912fUUXSY
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 791Please respect copyright.PENANAPJ5jEuUfqK
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.791Please respect copyright.PENANAgCSIjLWbMj
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAXFPxQjD21L
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."791Please respect copyright.PENANAW2ezvoTiyL
After the loving prayer,791Please respect copyright.PENANAvlmhiHUE18
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed791Please respect copyright.PENANAxZVULR24AP
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.791Please respect copyright.PENANAqDeVOy0emd
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANADpZag29IvS
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."791Please respect copyright.PENANAyK51MqVBIT
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."791Please respect copyright.PENANAGkpNt3pULb
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."791Please respect copyright.PENANAyNdYEeifBj
"He really can't get 791Please respect copyright.PENANArT1TgTZ3G5
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the791Please respect copyright.PENANAW7OLM5GXSh
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 791Please respect copyright.PENANAxTVFyDvSyE
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 791Please respect copyright.PENANAHEp2UyShmX
eyes in irritation.791Please respect copyright.PENANAc215O0gaLx
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."791Please respect copyright.PENANAQxMZWxFhdE
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.791Please respect copyright.PENANA0Fdci1RReR
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."791Please respect copyright.PENANApTvd4k9RZ5
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.791Please respect copyright.PENANAAuwIhjD81d
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.791Please respect copyright.PENANARfGBbNyRJ3
"Why me?" Angel asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAm11mNrt2Ao
"I know you will explain791Please respect copyright.PENANAbyoQ8aBRiH
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 791Please respect copyright.PENANABzJ8GjymYw
of things from now on if mum is busy."791Please respect copyright.PENANA1YKX0mnzPw
"Like what?" Diana asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAIPQosePdC0
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."791Please respect copyright.PENANAWdFTEKlX3d
"That's so nice of you, 791Please respect copyright.PENANAhUvPSfX2B5
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,791Please respect copyright.PENANAYAIUKKLeA9
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 791Please respect copyright.PENANAQaLfpEzf5I
want to."791Please respect copyright.PENANAFuX0Eg6rmE
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."791Please respect copyright.PENANApYrknJOR1W
Angel looked at him and 791Please respect copyright.PENANAjvsZJcu90P
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 791Please respect copyright.PENANA0KUu6TgDC2
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 791Please respect copyright.PENANAqYr225VDgw
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.791Please respect copyright.PENANAAn7KLWCLPs
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."791Please respect copyright.PENANAlCbPiChYvF
Leo felt like he was 791Please respect copyright.PENANAes2ss2Iaqw
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 791Please respect copyright.PENANAL7K1F84bxH
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.791Please respect copyright.PENANAZF6jqFoG0n
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.791Please respect copyright.PENANAmQ1IGxfQDi
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.791Please respect copyright.PENANAQEUEHQyR7E
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."791Please respect copyright.PENANAyck0qu3Jp3
"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."791Please respect copyright.PENANAvLjlQC0ecf
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."791Please respect copyright.PENANAGTbjdUX7KT
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.791Please respect copyright.PENANAvU2NB9UyJV
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAYSfwnqVljR
"It was fine, mum," said791Please respect copyright.PENANARBlvgSGCq4
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 791Please respect copyright.PENANA9LNhBpuasO
conversation was going to turn out.791Please respect copyright.PENANAflq9A4yDga
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"791Please respect copyright.PENANA9NALT6ZTyC
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."791Please respect copyright.PENANAPhkDsr2gJv
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."791Please respect copyright.PENANAXNrKBm7lOd
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.791Please respect copyright.PENANAplFK670Njy
"Alright," said Mrs 791Please respect copyright.PENANAk3NIguj8bi
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 791Please respect copyright.PENANAp2sSenZByJ
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 791Please respect copyright.PENANA57gE0urvUh
for you lately?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAfc7lqKWKeU
Angel and Carly both 791Please respect copyright.PENANA9AhTmR2aXP
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 791Please respect copyright.PENANAGn9VKJFcyC
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 791Please respect copyright.PENANATXZKLSkaRb
already was one herself.791Please respect copyright.PENANA86ELBzEDXv
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.791Please respect copyright.PENANAA4bUKGhNdy
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAzWxnLgyLsk
"Running well as usual."791Please respect copyright.PENANAawzOsxEBsF
"I should really pay him791Please respect copyright.PENANAXh2AljXylq
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAeyESsK1lel
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."791Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZkKvp9aD6
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.791Please respect copyright.PENANArJj62tdW54
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.791Please respect copyright.PENANAhJCF4AgKN7
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.791Please respect copyright.PENANAJEvILOqAOB
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.791Please respect copyright.PENANAYi3GiyTFhI
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."791Please respect copyright.PENANAcnmOCbWtNG
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."791Please respect copyright.PENANAx8ptFsZWnW
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."791Please respect copyright.PENANAjao7yit6yd
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.791Please respect copyright.PENANATEX8xQTRQk
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.791Please respect copyright.PENANAU2J9IiyUww
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAyJL1gFI54y
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."791Please respect copyright.PENANAhZ0J1FLs9m
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAM6yC4nP1rB
"I would really like to,791Please respect copyright.PENANACUN4MY93mR
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 791Please respect copyright.PENANAHDsZYtla1F
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."791Please respect copyright.PENANARdp8Xfjvuk
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."791Please respect copyright.PENANAEd05rlt689
"Mum, most of us here 791Please respect copyright.PENANAAM1bSkRFDo
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 791Please respect copyright.PENANA9Iix9DB037
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 791Please respect copyright.PENANAGp0JDdf11S
mine."791Please respect copyright.PENANAuyNiEJfFxN
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 791Please respect copyright.PENANAXTtnd0e8g5
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others791Please respect copyright.PENANAaWuZZdI2oq
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 791Please respect copyright.PENANArCeNTQuqlP
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 791Please respect copyright.PENANAYJqlzLieTo
moment.791Please respect copyright.PENANA3Tx7N3TNNR
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."791Please respect copyright.PENANAV9Jl3dvmcM
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.791Please respect copyright.PENANAs7usOSBSTr
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.791Please respect copyright.PENANAyPXJ1CUVGg
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:791Please respect copyright.PENANA8oOsKt2vVm
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."791Please respect copyright.PENANAC0jhDnlMjN
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."791Please respect copyright.PENANAbQn1OhJanS
"For now or never?" Leo asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAzKVZX7ZIGF
"Don't start, son."791Please respect copyright.PENANAIYN1fsbHn4
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"791Please respect copyright.PENANAhRq5CJP6r4
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.791Please respect copyright.PENANAqbTKXzIIm8
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.791Please respect copyright.PENANAP9wcd0R3wS
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.791Please respect copyright.PENANAn0KPl66L0C
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.791Please respect copyright.PENANAkPYBJy7BAq
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.791Please respect copyright.PENANA2pWqEQhRpd
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."791Please respect copyright.PENANAyHdgWDM61O
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.791Please respect copyright.PENANABNJjiumDXC
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.791Please respect copyright.PENANAX0bmQTq2s0
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.791Please respect copyright.PENANAfFxNjAjM6n
"I'll come and help," said Eric.791Please respect copyright.PENANALqaIL25LCH
"Me too," said Carly.791Please respect copyright.PENANA2DCIgfcxo4
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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