Leo found himself back 835Please respect copyright.PENANARWSUpCsV11
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 835Please respect copyright.PENANAAlHHzuyN0s
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after835Please respect copyright.PENANAZhvUCBWEpG
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in835Please respect copyright.PENANAVnujeTfysF
the room.835Please respect copyright.PENANAhY2FK7fzy0
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"835Please respect copyright.PENANApw4YCC2JYv
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"835Please respect copyright.PENANAbcb6QLbayq
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.835Please respect copyright.PENANAvGmxYMCYEb
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"835Please respect copyright.PENANAKQkXftHzi5
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."835Please respect copyright.PENANAUK89ZOwCXF
Eric raised an eyebrow 835Please respect copyright.PENANArA3fn69Bac
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 835Please respect copyright.PENANAbM5thmhPgW
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 835Please respect copyright.PENANAgOF8LaPzdp
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.835Please respect copyright.PENANApMQy71Q4Ke
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"835Please respect copyright.PENANAp4wCNQglmZ
"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."835Please respect copyright.PENANAiOg07ydLzO
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.835Please respect copyright.PENANAT9AffWJkk3
"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?"835Please respect copyright.PENANA9nPyk6eUn1
"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."835Please respect copyright.PENANA3uADMWeUQk
Leo soon turned around, 835Please respect copyright.PENANAonlOzfrsdg
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt835Please respect copyright.PENANAzHIfW31kXW
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue835Please respect copyright.PENANAyVKvWTq4Fx
on top of it.835Please respect copyright.PENANALURfWTHfsp
Kim had been crying. She835Please respect copyright.PENANA02bBFnpHp8
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the835Please respect copyright.PENANAQJ0cw41l8L
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 835Please respect copyright.PENANAKyGkOXueMm
her tears with another tissue.835Please respect copyright.PENANAkn9mGpjNVE
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."835Please respect copyright.PENANAIbagXr0UFl
"I'm not going to say 835Please respect copyright.PENANAgb3tVRmdaV
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 835Please respect copyright.PENANA9qhRNYv0z9
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."835Please respect copyright.PENANAB7zak1hrtr
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.835Please respect copyright.PENANAXSABFvjhAB
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."835Please respect copyright.PENANA3ld5FXRI7n
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"835Please respect copyright.PENANA0YQiAUxmq9
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."835Please respect copyright.PENANAC3720FRobu
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"835Please respect copyright.PENANASfmlAwy0pn
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.835Please respect copyright.PENANAA2F2FXg36I
"Yes, we are."835Please respect copyright.PENANAdEcNRWMuhm
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."835Please respect copyright.PENANAFff0gzB18O
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."835Please respect copyright.PENANAZS6fttWR7S
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."835Please respect copyright.PENANArvQ2aEnmyx
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"835Please respect copyright.PENANA3leB141maY
The two ladies agreed 835Please respect copyright.PENANAyY7UG2ZeKR
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 835Please respect copyright.PENANANbPKDmCoAB
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 835Please respect copyright.PENANAynX2fuQZY9
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.835Please respect copyright.PENANAqLRS0m7CvE
"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."835Please respect copyright.PENANA5QOeWdd3ON
Most people in the 835Please respect copyright.PENANA7oeAxORS24
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 835Please respect copyright.PENANAvtaJp9UwBB
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 835Please respect copyright.PENANAO5uiKazogV
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 835Please respect copyright.PENANAyYzsHOWkgH
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 835Please respect copyright.PENANAZDLfxvzC0u
struggle to put out the first fire.835Please respect copyright.PENANA05C6e9DLjp
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.835Please respect copyright.PENANACiiY8CBMOr
"I would rather suggest 835Please respect copyright.PENANAnfOwi8f4fz
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his835Please respect copyright.PENANAEVNw8Qn5la
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 835Please respect copyright.PENANAfGTBl85QKk
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"835Please respect copyright.PENANAkq21tY1VIl
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.835Please respect copyright.PENANAkRSTtwOgNc
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANAUHDQVtY51W
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."835Please respect copyright.PENANAkXL6pJIRw1
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."835Please respect copyright.PENANAYddoJ5KpgY
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.835Please respect copyright.PENANAoZKSobhi33
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.835Please respect copyright.PENANA0vGcFOIfWR
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.835Please respect copyright.PENANASBvUNuBiT1
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.835Please respect copyright.PENANA1vMvbFvqwy
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.835Please respect copyright.PENANA0QUYrtezs6
Everyone slowly left the835Please respect copyright.PENANAEKOk22ubiE
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 835Please respect copyright.PENANAkd58wcaEwU
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right835Please respect copyright.PENANAjvkCExQFGD
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 835Please respect copyright.PENANAzwDgvVjLDL
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.835Please respect copyright.PENANAu8myOYo2Yc
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANAFYEWJIjP2M
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."835Please respect copyright.PENANAv9OFNrmDWl
After the loving prayer,835Please respect copyright.PENANAweRAGupUk8
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed835Please respect copyright.PENANAg8NhGua7b0
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.835Please respect copyright.PENANAM3gAnmNfRS
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANAvGuPz3UbsN
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."835Please respect copyright.PENANATGLEW1D96e
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."835Please respect copyright.PENANAAJW6UO5B5Z
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."835Please respect copyright.PENANAEpXiS58E7N
"He really can't get 835Please respect copyright.PENANApPMxaVJx7b
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the835Please respect copyright.PENANA4z8uG2u4DM
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 835Please respect copyright.PENANArII0BsKE8o
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 835Please respect copyright.PENANAifLR4JhwIa
eyes in irritation.835Please respect copyright.PENANAi9grmDA93l
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."835Please respect copyright.PENANAScea0h5Y9t
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.835Please respect copyright.PENANAsk2TbkKcPM
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."835Please respect copyright.PENANAodqsRD9a7B
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.835Please respect copyright.PENANACeh5EP6Rhw
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.835Please respect copyright.PENANAOFtFz3CjLY
"Why me?" Angel asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANA4HgmSczQAJ
"I know you will explain835Please respect copyright.PENANA6C5KJ8sMTN
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 835Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ6UU6kUR7
of things from now on if mum is busy."835Please respect copyright.PENANAbjpRa9E63X
"Like what?" Diana asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANAPZxgEaNVYr
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."835Please respect copyright.PENANAZaa8Vjpeox
"That's so nice of you, 835Please respect copyright.PENANA8rsjQZkXw5
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,835Please respect copyright.PENANAqDMCBpTCZO
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 835Please respect copyright.PENANAfRiWfLxnmG
want to."835Please respect copyright.PENANAXVVd4qrdWu
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."835Please respect copyright.PENANA9bRZVkB8Hn
Angel looked at him and 835Please respect copyright.PENANAzpAMWXcjsW
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 835Please respect copyright.PENANAFjlNggNk3n
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 835Please respect copyright.PENANAlKIBduWTy3
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.835Please respect copyright.PENANAgItg6GPtXI
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."835Please respect copyright.PENANA5tQL1Ys4DT
Leo felt like he was 835Please respect copyright.PENANAxB5JSIxcVL
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 835Please respect copyright.PENANA9qhJnpYFlc
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.835Please respect copyright.PENANAy67p0To1pO
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.835Please respect copyright.PENANAKOFBsTaUSl
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.835Please respect copyright.PENANATYRNnOxjKE
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."835Please respect copyright.PENANAqEsfUOzzCp
"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."835Please respect copyright.PENANAib1YtMyrat
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."835Please respect copyright.PENANAjHOxGd4UBd
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.835Please respect copyright.PENANAQqUte8a3sY
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"835Please respect copyright.PENANABI84i4rxNB
"It was fine, mum," said835Please respect copyright.PENANA3slhi1rvgd
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 835Please respect copyright.PENANAhwZOLqRPEQ
conversation was going to turn out.835Please respect copyright.PENANAWkfZA3KiOo
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"835Please respect copyright.PENANAgLo7siWcTk
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."835Please respect copyright.PENANALcPWPNCFMO
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."835Please respect copyright.PENANAejFRvMvu6e
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.835Please respect copyright.PENANAsrLn5eu9Ij
"Alright," said Mrs 835Please respect copyright.PENANAc1lIwNs13X
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 835Please respect copyright.PENANAMHE6wOyIc7
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 835Please respect copyright.PENANAEnBGEgqXVa
for you lately?"835Please respect copyright.PENANA6Y3kYeFuj0
Angel and Carly both 835Please respect copyright.PENANA4dCHIhPlYL
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 835Please respect copyright.PENANAyG00CqcbmM
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 835Please respect copyright.PENANAOUNYL62cAS
already was one herself.835Please respect copyright.PENANA870wkpobeW
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.835Please respect copyright.PENANAQy4FUNX5JR
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANA8R7t7ksR0G
"Running well as usual."835Please respect copyright.PENANA6BXIwsWDbI
"I should really pay him835Please respect copyright.PENANAk7Y8PTwrcd
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 835Please respect copyright.PENANAnCT05uJjOf
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."835Please respect copyright.PENANAx2cWRcALoZ
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.835Please respect copyright.PENANASkgKkKIV5t
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.835Please respect copyright.PENANAmQwUnyIuPv
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.835Please respect copyright.PENANASSQqcBkN2h
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.835Please respect copyright.PENANAbz5IYVjvLi
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."835Please respect copyright.PENANA2G1CpTzqbh
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."835Please respect copyright.PENANAcrgZbdpCHe
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."835Please respect copyright.PENANAKfku7sQJgg
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.835Please respect copyright.PENANA0ERbojiyW1
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.835Please respect copyright.PENANAlDWNWJGvZc
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANAh2iyrMiXiN
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."835Please respect copyright.PENANADShlpSV6Gt
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"835Please respect copyright.PENANAkQpSMpszfQ
"I would really like to,835Please respect copyright.PENANA4qxbzqszI1
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 835Please respect copyright.PENANAK7VkVZ0feZ
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."835Please respect copyright.PENANAtaDXSPC4Xk
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."835Please respect copyright.PENANAU7sCirJSpz
"Mum, most of us here 835Please respect copyright.PENANAEfEkMwv56e
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 835Please respect copyright.PENANAfkoPbSvUOQ
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 835Please respect copyright.PENANAWrHMm55FiK
mine."835Please respect copyright.PENANAKCiFZcGn58
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 835Please respect copyright.PENANAWXaBTf7fMZ
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others835Please respect copyright.PENANAiuVLSO8Jd6
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 835Please respect copyright.PENANA7Cw3XMrCA2
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 835Please respect copyright.PENANAubAP2pGUwD
moment.835Please respect copyright.PENANAMWSKJAWy5y
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."835Please respect copyright.PENANAA6ygJbhV2L
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.835Please respect copyright.PENANABwrbtPdzMY
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.835Please respect copyright.PENANApwZ3OvEDOB
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:835Please respect copyright.PENANAPaOmUnvU1M
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."835Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0lRGax9Ar
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."835Please respect copyright.PENANAYJP0JQDolk
"For now or never?" Leo asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANA23p6Ys0DAX
"Don't start, son."835Please respect copyright.PENANAf7MmiaK8CM
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"835Please respect copyright.PENANArtXiBHWqRJ
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.835Please respect copyright.PENANA6bmGRgbKLC
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.835Please respect copyright.PENANAZT0mj3T3rY
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.835Please respect copyright.PENANAgQGChJJKXJ
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.835Please respect copyright.PENANAgfhHeGuGZ3
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.835Please respect copyright.PENANAOA02HLKVi8
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."835Please respect copyright.PENANAfLEhXNClTj
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.835Please respect copyright.PENANAIqocQt1nMJ
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.835Please respect copyright.PENANASxfooGAWqF
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.835Please respect copyright.PENANAewL9k36h60
"I'll come and help," said Eric.835Please respect copyright.PENANAyZFXGiNgod
"Me too," said Carly.835Please respect copyright.PENANAjuO6HRcUp7
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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