Leo found himself back 729Please respect copyright.PENANA8OVZigxA1I
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 729Please respect copyright.PENANAnQRjbM2buc
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after729Please respect copyright.PENANAXXnr3uJrF1
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in729Please respect copyright.PENANA5PHWLOyjsV
the room.729Please respect copyright.PENANAfg46VKtp9r
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAIYqmayQ7e9
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAjCVK4xwPYq
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.729Please respect copyright.PENANAfeiazmVkIM
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAvcrNkP6RTv
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."729Please respect copyright.PENANARkOwVSCbk5
Eric raised an eyebrow 729Please respect copyright.PENANAGuWLx6bccG
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 729Please respect copyright.PENANARt4MTaPwk8
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 729Please respect copyright.PENANAaZIOu1zaXO
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.729Please respect copyright.PENANAnKxXn0ysEE
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"729Please respect copyright.PENANA4uITrIWd5G
"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."729Please respect copyright.PENANAkhIAitkgtq
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.729Please respect copyright.PENANAzEYPaCuCPt
"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?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAamMYX2IBuL
"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."729Please respect copyright.PENANAWoiOzfEiND
Leo soon turned around, 729Please respect copyright.PENANA84wvvMMDqW
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt729Please respect copyright.PENANAebuaU2OR3a
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue729Please respect copyright.PENANAqk5bBKv0am
on top of it.729Please respect copyright.PENANAbbDxrIN5UX
Kim had been crying. She729Please respect copyright.PENANAisyMA4tJN4
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the729Please respect copyright.PENANAwEizUfsgKh
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 729Please respect copyright.PENANAXEPEMx4NbX
her tears with another tissue.729Please respect copyright.PENANA6L3PlMj5uR
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."729Please respect copyright.PENANA0B6ObrjQtL
"I'm not going to say 729Please respect copyright.PENANAsurfUIQrzs
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 729Please respect copyright.PENANA9JZmSojxNf
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."729Please respect copyright.PENANApmAp0dwCB3
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.729Please respect copyright.PENANAXmz0OvsncZ
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."729Please respect copyright.PENANA0q1eDwhrq2
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAESp39l1Y3U
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."729Please respect copyright.PENANAglgFQyjYJe
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAT4WNIrov87
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.729Please respect copyright.PENANAsyYAMA1vIa
"Yes, we are."729Please respect copyright.PENANAKHSuEEbsmQ
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."729Please respect copyright.PENANAkh3HDrkO84
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."729Please respect copyright.PENANAbgbR90RdFz
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."729Please respect copyright.PENANAzWOIT139bZ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"729Please respect copyright.PENANA5wm2pTVWxd
The two ladies agreed 729Please respect copyright.PENANAyiKacgBunk
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 729Please respect copyright.PENANAl4N6uhcAlb
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 729Please respect copyright.PENANAx1BAzGP6lf
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.729Please respect copyright.PENANAsMG52t2PmB
"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."729Please respect copyright.PENANAWoUFOIm1uX
Most people in the 729Please respect copyright.PENANA2crRNTwSGI
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 729Please respect copyright.PENANAko3n7ps2nN
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 729Please respect copyright.PENANAHWjHO5WChY
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 729Please respect copyright.PENANAj5Steaiaoj
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 729Please respect copyright.PENANAUs2QOryxSu
struggle to put out the first fire.729Please respect copyright.PENANAJukziQUJ0P
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.729Please respect copyright.PENANAyWLn6yTGfk
"I would rather suggest 729Please respect copyright.PENANAg8aRkF3AGA
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his729Please respect copyright.PENANAJzLr3wKwUO
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 729Please respect copyright.PENANAtHeChYe9HT
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"729Please respect copyright.PENANA6IHgzgWYy7
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.729Please respect copyright.PENANA7E87oPqYve
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANApdcaP8KcR5
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."729Please respect copyright.PENANARUGu9adnOm
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."729Please respect copyright.PENANAyymRdMCHNY
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.729Please respect copyright.PENANAzsaCyjX3KD
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.729Please respect copyright.PENANAHQR4m0lu3D
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.729Please respect copyright.PENANAYHu4zb4ftN
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.729Please respect copyright.PENANAiI8PKEW0MM
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.729Please respect copyright.PENANAB86SJO27Kw
Everyone slowly left the729Please respect copyright.PENANAPDLelKPuA6
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 729Please respect copyright.PENANAURrMhHP9nE
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right729Please respect copyright.PENANACq2C52eXWl
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 729Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0mSiooAzc
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.729Please respect copyright.PENANAaqLRjqCyrG
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANA0jw7JjmVIj
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."729Please respect copyright.PENANAlbld1EHXPI
After the loving prayer,729Please respect copyright.PENANAW4RVAhnKfM
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed729Please respect copyright.PENANAymyhaun4Ux
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.729Please respect copyright.PENANA7JSy5RC5ig
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANAubiLAxG10x
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."729Please respect copyright.PENANAtfQvkJ2gNe
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."729Please respect copyright.PENANAizkiItQpZi
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."729Please respect copyright.PENANAWklpnwuBQw
"He really can't get 729Please respect copyright.PENANAYmgBJ8ThDT
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the729Please respect copyright.PENANAiGkPGUZGEH
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 729Please respect copyright.PENANAjF9TrO5ZEH
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 729Please respect copyright.PENANAiF9Sep7ggA
eyes in irritation.729Please respect copyright.PENANAVV0MDcOMcH
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."729Please respect copyright.PENANApbCHke1Qq1
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.729Please respect copyright.PENANAzbBxB0bYPs
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."729Please respect copyright.PENANAiyx9uspn1T
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.729Please respect copyright.PENANAdVvtdeatif
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.729Please respect copyright.PENANAmCyPLFVbVY
"Why me?" Angel asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANAtx9o6hWFTh
"I know you will explain729Please respect copyright.PENANAxgrmjr20Xo
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 729Please respect copyright.PENANA5RDrJrSws2
of things from now on if mum is busy."729Please respect copyright.PENANAgX0jKskCqp
"Like what?" Diana asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANAobHkQ4VtTt
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."729Please respect copyright.PENANAS74RkYfZv7
"That's so nice of you, 729Please respect copyright.PENANA7VdZY3yQlK
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,729Please respect copyright.PENANADNueEx7Yvv
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 729Please respect copyright.PENANAGn3lZgXr88
want to."729Please respect copyright.PENANATBAtmok6wT
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."729Please respect copyright.PENANAv1kLCCjsQD
Angel looked at him and 729Please respect copyright.PENANAWtcI4nKEAK
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 729Please respect copyright.PENANAwmW5ApEzYC
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 729Please respect copyright.PENANAMQUnybeug2
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.729Please respect copyright.PENANAjLT6fY4kRK
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."729Please respect copyright.PENANAJAlAawf6vS
Leo felt like he was 729Please respect copyright.PENANAnUvf5EAPDG
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 729Please respect copyright.PENANAeuvlJ59QT3
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.729Please respect copyright.PENANAnIp4xxxNMj
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.729Please respect copyright.PENANAdxRNfHpCO9
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.729Please respect copyright.PENANAXdP6nkYPDM
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."729Please respect copyright.PENANAZQeq76CmuS
"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."729Please respect copyright.PENANAHGCigvuDCx
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."729Please respect copyright.PENANAvplJYUDH5F
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.729Please respect copyright.PENANAp1IXBUWC5G
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"729Please respect copyright.PENANA8zCbxxvHlM
"It was fine, mum," said729Please respect copyright.PENANAeY1jHGTKFf
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 729Please respect copyright.PENANAhYhjSSIpDX
conversation was going to turn out.729Please respect copyright.PENANAZhbAeGBzC2
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"729Please respect copyright.PENANA5bb9Jf3PTH
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."729Please respect copyright.PENANANk9LBpnj7y
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."729Please respect copyright.PENANAaAF7PDyb8U
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.729Please respect copyright.PENANAiRQEYdnuwx
"Alright," said Mrs 729Please respect copyright.PENANASvFVN4eaMX
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 729Please respect copyright.PENANAvvKFWc4tL1
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 729Please respect copyright.PENANAzLlEhErDuK
for you lately?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAijppkv6VCg
Angel and Carly both 729Please respect copyright.PENANAV64QB3GLFr
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 729Please respect copyright.PENANAkHtlM79bsB
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 729Please respect copyright.PENANAHrhwsRJs1E
already was one herself.729Please respect copyright.PENANA98xhEItCZx
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.729Please respect copyright.PENANAE747Ehk7It
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANA6scd0PpMaa
"Running well as usual."729Please respect copyright.PENANAjoT4jjpZch
"I should really pay him729Please respect copyright.PENANAjwmkxL7PAg
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 729Please respect copyright.PENANAgjXDVlCZ1F
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."729Please respect copyright.PENANALLydGz235w
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.729Please respect copyright.PENANA9vveJTJ2fn
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.729Please respect copyright.PENANAPIKPA9NaFq
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.729Please respect copyright.PENANAOHMXrdhAFz
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.729Please respect copyright.PENANAdCCX3iINNU
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."729Please respect copyright.PENANA1LgabDqInw
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."729Please respect copyright.PENANAmx4nPgEZ4V
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."729Please respect copyright.PENANAE7VUdGcAo9
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.729Please respect copyright.PENANAJy6QN9GXgz
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.729Please respect copyright.PENANAcOnN3Wqzor
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANAjM21y9RGRj
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."729Please respect copyright.PENANAfcbbAVnXvY
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"729Please respect copyright.PENANApncSxvSAIu
"I would really like to,729Please respect copyright.PENANAdiTNKCUJL7
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 729Please respect copyright.PENANAxZh5xCIiL8
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."729Please respect copyright.PENANA4A6nWuzD5b
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."729Please respect copyright.PENANAHy0S57zcAR
"Mum, most of us here 729Please respect copyright.PENANAnet9CvFCiO
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 729Please respect copyright.PENANAF4wDq5OcS2
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 729Please respect copyright.PENANAYBzOOpS5RQ
mine."729Please respect copyright.PENANAdXDh7mt4fc
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 729Please respect copyright.PENANAXxSmsWqfGu
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others729Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z78wejxKZ
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 729Please respect copyright.PENANAuRfPLByy3n
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 729Please respect copyright.PENANA1tqPgh7sGS
moment.729Please respect copyright.PENANAMMymkk3IV0
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."729Please respect copyright.PENANAAfGKwretrD
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.729Please respect copyright.PENANAu3QtcjUwkr
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.729Please respect copyright.PENANA2vVZTqZW6i
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:729Please respect copyright.PENANA6TalwN6q0J
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."729Please respect copyright.PENANAGPP3mXfLZW
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."729Please respect copyright.PENANAJAQrUyJJNQ
"For now or never?" Leo asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANAYpaEOjC2W5
"Don't start, son."729Please respect copyright.PENANAw21VDAD8Zf
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"729Please respect copyright.PENANAqWeBbehYzy
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.729Please respect copyright.PENANAvVUNrFdZD2
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.729Please respect copyright.PENANAbq57rHPyHj
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.729Please respect copyright.PENANAvoNDEV9itV
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.729Please respect copyright.PENANAObvCGzI8Ro
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.729Please respect copyright.PENANABNQWGCilfi
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."729Please respect copyright.PENANAQspcyXJKUZ
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.729Please respect copyright.PENANAIDQXyhrvO0
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.729Please respect copyright.PENANAWw7yThg5wd
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.729Please respect copyright.PENANA8gIRFs9KU8
"I'll come and help," said Eric.729Please respect copyright.PENANAlpnze769U5
"Me too," said Carly.729Please respect copyright.PENANAH2hvhmHjWZ
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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