Leo found himself back 694Please respect copyright.PENANA78sQdfGgDn
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 694Please respect copyright.PENANAoC4hllARQo
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after694Please respect copyright.PENANAmRyEOWPor4
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in694Please respect copyright.PENANAoBqnlkA90V
the room.694Please respect copyright.PENANAGdNlfWoAFm
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAoyWBZT6dlh
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAsFHNeYhN3U
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.694Please respect copyright.PENANANUuACq4L3K
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAv3GADGKxcd
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."694Please respect copyright.PENANA3Oo0ivR6hW
Eric raised an eyebrow 694Please respect copyright.PENANAmnpSIaEBOH
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 694Please respect copyright.PENANA1frLHdonq7
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 694Please respect copyright.PENANAtNUdXHdYns
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.694Please respect copyright.PENANAFBeWZpTe80
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAH1NbXIXxuG
"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."694Please respect copyright.PENANAtCvNWKNJMw
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.694Please respect copyright.PENANAfAUCCrfB0g
"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?"694Please respect copyright.PENANALiEY4NyF2S
"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."694Please respect copyright.PENANAwwUnnApMh1
Leo soon turned around, 694Please respect copyright.PENANA240pr3h7y3
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt694Please respect copyright.PENANAzYl8OGryaI
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue694Please respect copyright.PENANA4QtSvrj4AL
on top of it.694Please respect copyright.PENANAysRgWdkq4y
Kim had been crying. She694Please respect copyright.PENANAilFK0tvtRV
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the694Please respect copyright.PENANAPSyJW6VQl7
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 694Please respect copyright.PENANAgEJK9ikX8f
her tears with another tissue.694Please respect copyright.PENANArkrLdlxamV
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."694Please respect copyright.PENANAc65ca6gZI8
"I'm not going to say 694Please respect copyright.PENANAdUE9X06Am6
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 694Please respect copyright.PENANATaHikhhJrU
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."694Please respect copyright.PENANADx3AVReEcg
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.694Please respect copyright.PENANAba93WE3tvI
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."694Please respect copyright.PENANAOmnifsRD2s
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAjVylYjgaOW
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."694Please respect copyright.PENANAsdUMWTzKFD
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"694Please respect copyright.PENANA4cnjsX5jAf
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.694Please respect copyright.PENANAZjx9TAWmJn
"Yes, we are."694Please respect copyright.PENANACn6cmJ1yTs
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."694Please respect copyright.PENANAi0O2om6iNC
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."694Please respect copyright.PENANAVu0SVSxH7U
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."694Please respect copyright.PENANAETOLhDDmNH
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAgKJurirt8k
The two ladies agreed 694Please respect copyright.PENANABs5FZA7EAc
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 694Please respect copyright.PENANAhyOQndNEpn
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 694Please respect copyright.PENANAClkYVVqX2N
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.694Please respect copyright.PENANA8InXYGgLxf
"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."694Please respect copyright.PENANAE3AO91io2y
Most people in the 694Please respect copyright.PENANAqSaTV3JO7S
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 694Please respect copyright.PENANAgnXMvsu934
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 694Please respect copyright.PENANA1o19CD2bjz
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 694Please respect copyright.PENANARUP0Wf9Ayz
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 694Please respect copyright.PENANA9KOgRiGZy6
struggle to put out the first fire.694Please respect copyright.PENANALeWgcStucs
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.694Please respect copyright.PENANAIE0WSvdk2Q
"I would rather suggest 694Please respect copyright.PENANAzLNhxTggVO
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his694Please respect copyright.PENANAXgWpn55CCX
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 694Please respect copyright.PENANAuPSwdvrbkF
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAEublKo2Olw
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.694Please respect copyright.PENANA9xFS0AtwXf
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAIsZdULsGa7
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."694Please respect copyright.PENANApNAEV9DthF
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."694Please respect copyright.PENANAiwz07j0Gk7
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.694Please respect copyright.PENANArFDWcvyt5h
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.694Please respect copyright.PENANA3YmlFvVHfZ
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.694Please respect copyright.PENANAX55s8gqI6j
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.694Please respect copyright.PENANA15LatSK7fz
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.694Please respect copyright.PENANA7eUHKtaI6Y
Everyone slowly left the694Please respect copyright.PENANA7PUFiQPI3y
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 694Please respect copyright.PENANAOL9csgpQj8
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right694Please respect copyright.PENANAxjWbARmluk
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 694Please respect copyright.PENANArn14nmIgk5
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.694Please respect copyright.PENANA4EEACjUxAN
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANALsQHOtkv0Y
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."694Please respect copyright.PENANAnSGpnHJUk5
After the loving prayer,694Please respect copyright.PENANAyGtB2Nu35s
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed694Please respect copyright.PENANA9oTzjPPspL
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.694Please respect copyright.PENANAHCyRosexhG
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAliv9EOiyCS
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."694Please respect copyright.PENANADacu3hznXx
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."694Please respect copyright.PENANAZbd8DOSDUo
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."694Please respect copyright.PENANAvTsKhmWOD8
"He really can't get 694Please respect copyright.PENANAx329cZy1s3
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the694Please respect copyright.PENANAgS1jKCaVpW
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 694Please respect copyright.PENANALnJkL4lA92
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 694Please respect copyright.PENANArj1t6P1QGR
eyes in irritation.694Please respect copyright.PENANAl8ItXZ3g4O
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."694Please respect copyright.PENANAz6YzX6hFrp
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.694Please respect copyright.PENANAqziQZMecLc
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."694Please respect copyright.PENANArcFe2LOtUZ
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.694Please respect copyright.PENANAyDxUTIgXHW
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.694Please respect copyright.PENANAtxveBmRxLg
"Why me?" Angel asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAgIzvcz1qIw
"I know you will explain694Please respect copyright.PENANAhxIfaxZDRS
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 694Please respect copyright.PENANA0I2jvEX4a0
of things from now on if mum is busy."694Please respect copyright.PENANAV8wHHAF5ZL
"Like what?" Diana asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAFmdr7gcSzf
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."694Please respect copyright.PENANAX6iIgUoi11
"That's so nice of you, 694Please respect copyright.PENANA8tohZ7IrE2
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,694Please respect copyright.PENANAL4d6wY23cT
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 694Please respect copyright.PENANA9xqpdEhSEX
want to."694Please respect copyright.PENANAdFjqiMlDW9
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."694Please respect copyright.PENANAhavGYqkfW5
Angel looked at him and 694Please respect copyright.PENANAaJk0Got9DM
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 694Please respect copyright.PENANAuCVFSuDf10
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 694Please respect copyright.PENANAjAwo4JA6BD
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.694Please respect copyright.PENANAjUDU0TjCTm
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."694Please respect copyright.PENANAoaj5iuMoMd
Leo felt like he was 694Please respect copyright.PENANAImfz3eFpwx
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 694Please respect copyright.PENANAuPSIQl0Zm7
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.694Please respect copyright.PENANAwWl8XQwX0b
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.694Please respect copyright.PENANAi1SaHbxR92
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.694Please respect copyright.PENANAoQrE5uIKSD
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."694Please respect copyright.PENANAawsgHaqdME
"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."694Please respect copyright.PENANAiBO1aghCC1
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."694Please respect copyright.PENANAWUsWbP0MsK
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.694Please respect copyright.PENANAWCNJE0kqzt
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAdIdy4heJ49
"It was fine, mum," said694Please respect copyright.PENANA4zumFc7sED
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 694Please respect copyright.PENANALXv4uqzwgY
conversation was going to turn out.694Please respect copyright.PENANArFSEeZsuXN
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAFFrL3tWMJA
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."694Please respect copyright.PENANAdBCHvbMTUD
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."694Please respect copyright.PENANA10ldowbNVj
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.694Please respect copyright.PENANAfhVWH4qMjo
"Alright," said Mrs 694Please respect copyright.PENANAS99wB6Epdo
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 694Please respect copyright.PENANAG7KpJCJU2u
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 694Please respect copyright.PENANArKm87h5Dab
for you lately?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAIHi6iecrLS
Angel and Carly both 694Please respect copyright.PENANA3pMsT4MmVL
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 694Please respect copyright.PENANANnSVD8ISde
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 694Please respect copyright.PENANAp5vYWM9wBX
already was one herself.694Please respect copyright.PENANA3MdhBrF6WL
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.694Please respect copyright.PENANAM9tCusj8v2
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAE1LykPumCZ
"Running well as usual."694Please respect copyright.PENANAbpIqssn0rb
"I should really pay him694Please respect copyright.PENANABX9qsm2Qww
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 694Please respect copyright.PENANAPm46UXzYnN
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."694Please respect copyright.PENANATEXGhPQsZo
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.694Please respect copyright.PENANAC4sbg9KNBE
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.694Please respect copyright.PENANAp1YAja5wkY
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.694Please respect copyright.PENANAZqSaaTVE6x
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.694Please respect copyright.PENANAKeq9cbevvx
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."694Please respect copyright.PENANAx2Z7rSK4dp
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."694Please respect copyright.PENANABNJBsFqzzj
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."694Please respect copyright.PENANAKTFOpj8AvO
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.694Please respect copyright.PENANAmSFf1p6SJ8
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.694Please respect copyright.PENANAynL1AUgyLG
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANA3oEHb9StNW
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."694Please respect copyright.PENANAaTGKf8Wsiv
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"694Please respect copyright.PENANAAvj7Jc8dRA
"I would really like to,694Please respect copyright.PENANAU8coG9Ot6Z
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 694Please respect copyright.PENANAG4j6WjqjdB
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."694Please respect copyright.PENANAX9nelrv2UK
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."694Please respect copyright.PENANA2Wcmtj6Nmr
"Mum, most of us here 694Please respect copyright.PENANAYwAoyq5i1a
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 694Please respect copyright.PENANATwHpOhAhAq
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 694Please respect copyright.PENANAlhJwYEZMYG
mine."694Please respect copyright.PENANAOjxuvihKvY
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 694Please respect copyright.PENANAiGSlvUcwrl
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others694Please respect copyright.PENANAG0C7OPTy0d
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 694Please respect copyright.PENANAWNAvsmD0J5
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 694Please respect copyright.PENANA8jQWBAzOo2
moment.694Please respect copyright.PENANAxoh2TBvu1C
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."694Please respect copyright.PENANAF4VBau1zHM
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.694Please respect copyright.PENANAvK5skg4wUH
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.694Please respect copyright.PENANA92tz1gPB6B
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:694Please respect copyright.PENANA4l5DF1mXIc
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."694Please respect copyright.PENANAcvbFdLYIO1
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."694Please respect copyright.PENANAhPW6ubbTKS
"For now or never?" Leo asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAdanhmeeX9b
"Don't start, son."694Please respect copyright.PENANA5dpGqx8XGk
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"694Please respect copyright.PENANANBVJLqkWdF
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.694Please respect copyright.PENANAwIpTSUXFxn
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.694Please respect copyright.PENANAKy18wHe53B
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.694Please respect copyright.PENANAeYParpQ7Fy
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.694Please respect copyright.PENANAdR7zu6Xkcs
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.694Please respect copyright.PENANAtFmCp0cxIB
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."694Please respect copyright.PENANAsNo4HEMyEu
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.694Please respect copyright.PENANAfqG0OuFlGg
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.694Please respect copyright.PENANAs8HHvj9ZQ6
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.694Please respect copyright.PENANAufXvnjkLdL
"I'll come and help," said Eric.694Please respect copyright.PENANARVMI4K7YGX
"Me too," said Carly.694Please respect copyright.PENANAWWfw2xtNIV
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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