Leo found himself back 807Please respect copyright.PENANAc9MrZs499v
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 807Please respect copyright.PENANAXnnmiF7svz
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after807Please respect copyright.PENANAEoLbDeNeIC
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in807Please respect copyright.PENANAGnBov9bKna
the room.807Please respect copyright.PENANAIiX6qC1XPg
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAF9NoDGRtEB
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"807Please respect copyright.PENANA8gxWh6ltdT
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.807Please respect copyright.PENANAA0sRJz1l0z
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"807Please respect copyright.PENANA94JG1MqPDp
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."807Please respect copyright.PENANAdx2i4YpyLz
Eric raised an eyebrow 807Please respect copyright.PENANA7MEjan5ddn
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 807Please respect copyright.PENANABFHd4EyWp1
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 807Please respect copyright.PENANAWkGcRwjXsB
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.807Please respect copyright.PENANAPmVwRgdLtK
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAWCLa11taY0
"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."807Please respect copyright.PENANAuIfnqFragJ
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.807Please respect copyright.PENANAoTkqtQBLJx
"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?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAxob484kfwM
"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."807Please respect copyright.PENANAV5czznmZKP
Leo soon turned around, 807Please respect copyright.PENANAaQj7vvtjNU
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt807Please respect copyright.PENANAwbgWAQK6ss
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue807Please respect copyright.PENANAexU2DqDsSD
on top of it.807Please respect copyright.PENANA2BRzy62DdJ
Kim had been crying. She807Please respect copyright.PENANAwPU2pqeYlW
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the807Please respect copyright.PENANAPwUg3e6P4W
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 807Please respect copyright.PENANApAWGNy8GTP
her tears with another tissue.807Please respect copyright.PENANA7E4GUGIryP
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."807Please respect copyright.PENANAbPg2BnuZkg
"I'm not going to say 807Please respect copyright.PENANAnYX4tgUdnE
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 807Please respect copyright.PENANA5kVYqkA1Ky
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."807Please respect copyright.PENANAMS2k9HwcE7
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.807Please respect copyright.PENANA5z9kV8tOkR
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."807Please respect copyright.PENANASz3Q1Dv6dH
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAP4hAhTCovX
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."807Please respect copyright.PENANAVDUqoEVIzp
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAvNc4b3rrHe
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.807Please respect copyright.PENANA7dmBEFAU2o
"Yes, we are."807Please respect copyright.PENANAh3Uad6IKwH
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."807Please respect copyright.PENANA1yjaFo3G4z
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."807Please respect copyright.PENANAmMUEqMhNJO
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."807Please respect copyright.PENANAJXUOf7e2Wd
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAKCO6BvtonZ
The two ladies agreed 807Please respect copyright.PENANA7M89XIz2H5
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 807Please respect copyright.PENANAcUKvDaOL0T
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 807Please respect copyright.PENANAv6YvTHdM3s
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.807Please respect copyright.PENANANYNJAioUXc
"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."807Please respect copyright.PENANASo6fiVv9uu
Most people in the 807Please respect copyright.PENANA3N6cSkFvnY
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 807Please respect copyright.PENANAUCmk6R0eMV
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 807Please respect copyright.PENANAWfBbbgckVH
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 807Please respect copyright.PENANAd1ruUJdi1b
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 807Please respect copyright.PENANAiYH1w0IrHT
struggle to put out the first fire.807Please respect copyright.PENANAHCkpghEA8T
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.807Please respect copyright.PENANA9B8DXvehAa
"I would rather suggest 807Please respect copyright.PENANA7IeM7Tx5pS
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his807Please respect copyright.PENANA9GDBxobhPq
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 807Please respect copyright.PENANAAF5daf3iFO
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAjyaW86ZvHy
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.807Please respect copyright.PENANAaVS7lCmKNS
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANAPkwWiGjSQq
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."807Please respect copyright.PENANAsThjNOZPtb
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."807Please respect copyright.PENANAqrHNDVRXV2
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.807Please respect copyright.PENANAqpao3NdF5w
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.807Please respect copyright.PENANAt8WJuCxEN0
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.807Please respect copyright.PENANAGNxlDUp7B1
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.807Please respect copyright.PENANAZLPh4rMUiX
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.807Please respect copyright.PENANAY8VK7kreyW
Everyone slowly left the807Please respect copyright.PENANAmP5Agnd56y
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 807Please respect copyright.PENANAw5dRe3eC7Q
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right807Please respect copyright.PENANA0pzsAljSxx
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 807Please respect copyright.PENANAXfGCQk1Wmh
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.807Please respect copyright.PENANApnZQN4DMwG
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANAKPcI9kyXTk
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."807Please respect copyright.PENANASgEuNHmQY7
After the loving prayer,807Please respect copyright.PENANAKsmRu4dkFX
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed807Please respect copyright.PENANAdWfnBvD1o4
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.807Please respect copyright.PENANA8BoIFsICTn
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANA99r4wb1I6b
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."807Please respect copyright.PENANABsoZn0yQi1
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."807Please respect copyright.PENANASRtlHqFnMR
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."807Please respect copyright.PENANAMgDrcNSOUh
"He really can't get 807Please respect copyright.PENANAa1n9BoPVXO
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the807Please respect copyright.PENANAkQDKt64Oc7
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 807Please respect copyright.PENANA5M59uAFERG
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 807Please respect copyright.PENANA4Kd6IL61ca
eyes in irritation.807Please respect copyright.PENANAylYwx70sNO
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."807Please respect copyright.PENANA1jWG8USoDH
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.807Please respect copyright.PENANApJbzbnEhaN
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."807Please respect copyright.PENANAVhn21Xsk0q
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.807Please respect copyright.PENANALs1R0bhmrd
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.807Please respect copyright.PENANAwo1dSUs801
"Why me?" Angel asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANAMmcv44hDxM
"I know you will explain807Please respect copyright.PENANAFop80GhP5x
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 807Please respect copyright.PENANAAv2OumhtbP
of things from now on if mum is busy."807Please respect copyright.PENANAhjpJiuMzGg
"Like what?" Diana asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANAa6mxPmVzpY
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."807Please respect copyright.PENANA3BzS0lgUpk
"That's so nice of you, 807Please respect copyright.PENANAj3b3baZqkS
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,807Please respect copyright.PENANAea95IFgdCR
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 807Please respect copyright.PENANAGB8RBmqS1O
want to."807Please respect copyright.PENANACUg30aCgJr
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."807Please respect copyright.PENANAyw86MtZkGz
Angel looked at him and 807Please respect copyright.PENANAcR8yUI5Dsr
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 807Please respect copyright.PENANAmRtgHgKFsA
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 807Please respect copyright.PENANAa52ycx3u9r
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.807Please respect copyright.PENANAHtm2Q9wwE1
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."807Please respect copyright.PENANAkTVfmGrM5G
Leo felt like he was 807Please respect copyright.PENANAHYV18Mm7l9
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 807Please respect copyright.PENANArlZrYLiSbi
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.807Please respect copyright.PENANAPmE8g2JE9F
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.807Please respect copyright.PENANAXJCr3hS5ew
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.807Please respect copyright.PENANAEuJTqv4GQ4
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."807Please respect copyright.PENANA4s7LQaP3R4
"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."807Please respect copyright.PENANAnKntWlivxf
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."807Please respect copyright.PENANAlUP0zijKnE
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.807Please respect copyright.PENANAPtQSCZHwv7
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAeQV8tLVjq6
"It was fine, mum," said807Please respect copyright.PENANApef7vvgXGz
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 807Please respect copyright.PENANA0bLirYPmwv
conversation was going to turn out.807Please respect copyright.PENANAKRILfNXu3r
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAxWZ0fdf69A
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."807Please respect copyright.PENANAZjTo9gsAWB
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."807Please respect copyright.PENANAbdrX9lTnxw
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.807Please respect copyright.PENANAggVRSQrJgY
"Alright," said Mrs 807Please respect copyright.PENANAeI3bzqxASB
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 807Please respect copyright.PENANAQTOfjOTdYz
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 807Please respect copyright.PENANAlPyoSExvDq
for you lately?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAwDAuXAWMx1
Angel and Carly both 807Please respect copyright.PENANAD42PnXhdUS
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 807Please respect copyright.PENANAKHmJPUUutU
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 807Please respect copyright.PENANAhYSAz461qI
already was one herself.807Please respect copyright.PENANA7bLm2Z5ixW
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.807Please respect copyright.PENANAkgoboOUK28
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANAtFDdzWuad1
"Running well as usual."807Please respect copyright.PENANArCeoTzMocI
"I should really pay him807Please respect copyright.PENANAla3jKPwefp
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 807Please respect copyright.PENANAZwIln9yi77
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."807Please respect copyright.PENANAYGrO5q2yHn
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.807Please respect copyright.PENANAIl2MeX4MFp
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.807Please respect copyright.PENANAAo5IbpYLY4
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.807Please respect copyright.PENANAVRe4H5lWSn
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.807Please respect copyright.PENANA3alYtuKGmk
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."807Please respect copyright.PENANALEYrmrrfTV
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."807Please respect copyright.PENANAGwiVM7Eckh
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."807Please respect copyright.PENANAvq2PKcBkIJ
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.807Please respect copyright.PENANAn5MJ3PVNFO
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.807Please respect copyright.PENANAiBkAjvgX8k
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANAdphRSV1CZs
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."807Please respect copyright.PENANAuGVXc8gs10
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAk7PkcsBE8P
"I would really like to,807Please respect copyright.PENANAZzt5EnOsRp
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 807Please respect copyright.PENANAUC03Lq4l0H
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."807Please respect copyright.PENANAJ08tXVCtWe
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."807Please respect copyright.PENANAhSqt4ugHmF
"Mum, most of us here 807Please respect copyright.PENANA0F5JHOo0LP
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 807Please respect copyright.PENANAO3bMpu4ynM
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 807Please respect copyright.PENANAUuAUNbKB6V
mine."807Please respect copyright.PENANAkjbmeqXhvP
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 807Please respect copyright.PENANAZjlzooKauo
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others807Please respect copyright.PENANAvHbvsi3QQw
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 807Please respect copyright.PENANAdTcP5tRA4U
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 807Please respect copyright.PENANAbu8lijlBuc
moment.807Please respect copyright.PENANArzIR1JGM0u
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."807Please respect copyright.PENANANSB4vS0utM
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.807Please respect copyright.PENANAh3zFst4teo
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.807Please respect copyright.PENANAVXUpVnBCFH
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:807Please respect copyright.PENANAXp9mAzjMSI
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."807Please respect copyright.PENANA8EV11Zv21E
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."807Please respect copyright.PENANAMOG0NNMmv0
"For now or never?" Leo asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANASrDHQ9FJEW
"Don't start, son."807Please respect copyright.PENANA8F3CFf6Lan
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"807Please respect copyright.PENANAduHPXsUkCz
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.807Please respect copyright.PENANAG07ElqFIG9
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.807Please respect copyright.PENANADDoPuO2OdE
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.807Please respect copyright.PENANA2i9haCMtUD
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.807Please respect copyright.PENANAEH3j8vgMY1
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.807Please respect copyright.PENANA6ejg32110P
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."807Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZPbXTUTP1
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.807Please respect copyright.PENANA4zkVv13R24
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.807Please respect copyright.PENANAHuhWnrA3jz
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.807Please respect copyright.PENANA1KaamYJLJr
"I'll come and help," said Eric.807Please respect copyright.PENANAzbFVj8dUiC
"Me too," said Carly.807Please respect copyright.PENANAF72qrsQIe8
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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