Leo found himself back 767Please respect copyright.PENANAPHgvMTc5rD
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 767Please respect copyright.PENANAVOW9p2JvAI
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after767Please respect copyright.PENANAfoKirgXZdQ
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in767Please respect copyright.PENANAKBcmO1ByxO
the room.767Please respect copyright.PENANAlIUQSRWIWK
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAiXLNQ4cHD5
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAucpJb2Kctu
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.767Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0b6Rfc94E
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAltL8vOrBDd
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."767Please respect copyright.PENANAU6LuCwnSyR
Eric raised an eyebrow 767Please respect copyright.PENANAer47WMt5yG
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 767Please respect copyright.PENANA37aRgzAmE5
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 767Please respect copyright.PENANAFjIobPd25s
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.767Please respect copyright.PENANAR2Smrp2UlS
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAuWUkFis5Je
"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."767Please respect copyright.PENANAqVw5H0czCg
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.767Please respect copyright.PENANASlPt3gMYt3
"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?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAuhXUssMUvd
"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."767Please respect copyright.PENANAMfd43iKfWO
Leo soon turned around, 767Please respect copyright.PENANAuOSf5upVF3
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt767Please respect copyright.PENANAryrierECbA
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue767Please respect copyright.PENANAzmWv4ovXIm
on top of it.767Please respect copyright.PENANAfpoWdRZpS6
Kim had been crying. She767Please respect copyright.PENANAqsVpCpNsA3
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the767Please respect copyright.PENANAGkUqAdKIYW
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 767Please respect copyright.PENANAbbvgzm9Wvq
her tears with another tissue.767Please respect copyright.PENANAFV6GpmTCmo
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."767Please respect copyright.PENANATTlrfzZ5dP
"I'm not going to say 767Please respect copyright.PENANAy7JxPwZvZL
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 767Please respect copyright.PENANAKB9T9biJVt
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."767Please respect copyright.PENANAyMuHXXk6LZ
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.767Please respect copyright.PENANADqFOHsGwwr
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."767Please respect copyright.PENANA59wab6Oqzc
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAGY72tSrhSE
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."767Please respect copyright.PENANAp2KuleWKBf
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAdo8sl982FQ
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.767Please respect copyright.PENANA8eQdowsocQ
"Yes, we are."767Please respect copyright.PENANAPSjRYUGP3u
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."767Please respect copyright.PENANACLa0YE0UDv
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."767Please respect copyright.PENANAd5XtuJfCM7
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."767Please respect copyright.PENANACp6b5a0wsx
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"767Please respect copyright.PENANABdPUcmoi2N
The two ladies agreed 767Please respect copyright.PENANAc4dw0jUAgP
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 767Please respect copyright.PENANAV0Y73i6VuW
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 767Please respect copyright.PENANAB7AddydDdQ
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.767Please respect copyright.PENANA7KFCCChbxq
"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."767Please respect copyright.PENANADfPH0rTzRk
Most people in the 767Please respect copyright.PENANAGU7mpiAIcr
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 767Please respect copyright.PENANAeYehCjVLwS
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 767Please respect copyright.PENANA1Z6UXLJqRG
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 767Please respect copyright.PENANAme5mC1udQ4
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 767Please respect copyright.PENANAn2mWENWGob
struggle to put out the first fire.767Please respect copyright.PENANATsDomaovvV
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.767Please respect copyright.PENANAPmAJ6KleTt
"I would rather suggest 767Please respect copyright.PENANAtrfRkgDx2p
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his767Please respect copyright.PENANA1PZaUUFQVh
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 767Please respect copyright.PENANAlpjRkaKpPd
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAeOeouubiKG
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.767Please respect copyright.PENANA2I7sCVFDsr
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAOyaU6VgwYt
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."767Please respect copyright.PENANAJElfnj6HNM
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."767Please respect copyright.PENANAkij0Sid1p6
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.767Please respect copyright.PENANA4OlvGej2gi
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.767Please respect copyright.PENANAFJlIzqwd2p
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.767Please respect copyright.PENANAa9K0jUdQFq
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.767Please respect copyright.PENANAtIs9xIIs6v
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.767Please respect copyright.PENANABFFuTustBE
Everyone slowly left the767Please respect copyright.PENANAOghUbud7rE
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 767Please respect copyright.PENANAMkwhRMgvsV
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right767Please respect copyright.PENANA1safFurPDZ
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 767Please respect copyright.PENANAOzhlIvtOEb
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.767Please respect copyright.PENANA6J3T4BSfkx
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAn2ttyhRRFV
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."767Please respect copyright.PENANA8qcPzcCdMe
After the loving prayer,767Please respect copyright.PENANAOKP6GvHG96
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed767Please respect copyright.PENANASCSAtBGpoS
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.767Please respect copyright.PENANA3rLv7KY0Ym
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAzqkKITNRRh
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."767Please respect copyright.PENANAeNGXBzwQGt
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."767Please respect copyright.PENANAuFZcWV6s1x
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."767Please respect copyright.PENANABYm9mSCYOj
"He really can't get 767Please respect copyright.PENANAYOJFngh13y
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the767Please respect copyright.PENANA5pvWpZWSqy
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 767Please respect copyright.PENANA8wDQwciItq
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 767Please respect copyright.PENANAw4mx6jDlho
eyes in irritation.767Please respect copyright.PENANA0C3vFd14lN
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."767Please respect copyright.PENANAMavfMk3gdZ
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.767Please respect copyright.PENANACo4gP1ilOD
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."767Please respect copyright.PENANAG52fbqCLH6
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.767Please respect copyright.PENANApSNp8yJR77
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.767Please respect copyright.PENANAZuO4kjtRgk
"Why me?" Angel asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAPDlOMBKkWp
"I know you will explain767Please respect copyright.PENANAwWlK3MfQ2l
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 767Please respect copyright.PENANAzR0b8Q1oYB
of things from now on if mum is busy."767Please respect copyright.PENANA3nbIIKXtlP
"Like what?" Diana asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAV3jd17MLsQ
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."767Please respect copyright.PENANAjcg2zttbx7
"That's so nice of you, 767Please respect copyright.PENANAazeHeqWvzb
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,767Please respect copyright.PENANAgCqA9rDY0r
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 767Please respect copyright.PENANA1ndBcE2uMj
want to."767Please respect copyright.PENANAwbJlyi0ge1
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."767Please respect copyright.PENANAlWY9uEF8zr
Angel looked at him and 767Please respect copyright.PENANAUrD2sZ5ask
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 767Please respect copyright.PENANAzr5q9ZjEB0
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 767Please respect copyright.PENANA01r6msb0pQ
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.767Please respect copyright.PENANAS1rgU4nAhD
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."767Please respect copyright.PENANAr8CJnemXTH
Leo felt like he was 767Please respect copyright.PENANAeOTakvyX63
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 767Please respect copyright.PENANACEuPCwhRyz
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.767Please respect copyright.PENANAtdGuGdj66R
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.767Please respect copyright.PENANA01P7o3xlPO
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.767Please respect copyright.PENANAQJoABtSQg1
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."767Please respect copyright.PENANALVuhDNEV45
"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."767Please respect copyright.PENANAXhOUojgXJ0
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."767Please respect copyright.PENANAZWa2JumMPs
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.767Please respect copyright.PENANAlhY4YXQL2U
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"767Please respect copyright.PENANA4LAOMLrv5j
"It was fine, mum," said767Please respect copyright.PENANAN7IoNWExtL
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 767Please respect copyright.PENANARadOf2VDlq
conversation was going to turn out.767Please respect copyright.PENANAMT6S8uxDl4
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAijrPMZBdZt
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."767Please respect copyright.PENANATFyCmrSmox
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."767Please respect copyright.PENANApOafPjeCOp
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.767Please respect copyright.PENANAIUzAD8ZIKK
"Alright," said Mrs 767Please respect copyright.PENANAvPnx12n39a
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 767Please respect copyright.PENANAzAnxp45gRt
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 767Please respect copyright.PENANA2mln1PekKG
for you lately?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAZeTSDhhIVK
Angel and Carly both 767Please respect copyright.PENANAyzVfR5aomU
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 767Please respect copyright.PENANA7SHsqJBbaT
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 767Please respect copyright.PENANA6ziLUKC9R7
already was one herself.767Please respect copyright.PENANAXfdmdhGr5q
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.767Please respect copyright.PENANAvgiNz00wQh
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAohKVZZ5BJf
"Running well as usual."767Please respect copyright.PENANAXaTg993ROX
"I should really pay him767Please respect copyright.PENANAVPKlxbffa2
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 767Please respect copyright.PENANA9yIy1dgFvJ
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."767Please respect copyright.PENANAmImyuBC1LY
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.767Please respect copyright.PENANAoZI8Ah6uTb
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.767Please respect copyright.PENANAtOsQsGFRSb
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.767Please respect copyright.PENANADYuMFQcuIZ
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.767Please respect copyright.PENANA8pzZ7D9xaG
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."767Please respect copyright.PENANAGBFV5tKNJg
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."767Please respect copyright.PENANAEBfHSCkCJb
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."767Please respect copyright.PENANAvy1jCONw6Q
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.767Please respect copyright.PENANAKu0SpvwFQ7
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.767Please respect copyright.PENANAR84PserTzU
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAGNUbASKZzD
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."767Please respect copyright.PENANAFpyptFzC9e
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"767Please respect copyright.PENANAKELNVEYMTE
"I would really like to,767Please respect copyright.PENANABHhWcBnbqr
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 767Please respect copyright.PENANA31Cw5OX7Mp
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."767Please respect copyright.PENANA45FqXmEBYJ
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."767Please respect copyright.PENANAQlfpOiYAC7
"Mum, most of us here 767Please respect copyright.PENANAAgLP5G5l8h
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 767Please respect copyright.PENANA4yidrdctCk
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 767Please respect copyright.PENANAwah7s0QtDc
mine."767Please respect copyright.PENANAEznblNtePF
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 767Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ10QSzDrs
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others767Please respect copyright.PENANA8pWSHgSrqz
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 767Please respect copyright.PENANALnW2fovOWa
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 767Please respect copyright.PENANAaaspC9yri0
moment.767Please respect copyright.PENANAnrxINeYdlG
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."767Please respect copyright.PENANA9igKoVW4NU
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.767Please respect copyright.PENANANDHzO0mQcG
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.767Please respect copyright.PENANAJFkWJ6C0wM
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:767Please respect copyright.PENANAO8XeoNJG1I
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."767Please respect copyright.PENANA5CxGtQo6DV
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."767Please respect copyright.PENANAB4QWnF53uC
"For now or never?" Leo asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAfVoePmYX5G
"Don't start, son."767Please respect copyright.PENANAvZu9vl83mD
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"767Please respect copyright.PENANATopZeinhlS
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.767Please respect copyright.PENANAe679I25bfU
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.767Please respect copyright.PENANAsKzicoNExe
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.767Please respect copyright.PENANAwd69E88i1R
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.767Please respect copyright.PENANArOmWwG7I5b
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.767Please respect copyright.PENANAm973YegsfS
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."767Please respect copyright.PENANAYWUz4rp0O4
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.767Please respect copyright.PENANAR8ZnnxkBFJ
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.767Please respect copyright.PENANAg3GNvbZJIt
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.767Please respect copyright.PENANAJL2n0v0mTU
"I'll come and help," said Eric.767Please respect copyright.PENANArUrm3pmuhb
"Me too," said Carly.767Please respect copyright.PENANAVXFi6F0LpZ
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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