Leo found himself back 809Please respect copyright.PENANAxGZ7JCYWoJ
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 809Please respect copyright.PENANA1O7UPzJkyN
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after809Please respect copyright.PENANAKvBoMazF5n
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in809Please respect copyright.PENANAkLOz5A87DM
the room.809Please respect copyright.PENANAK6KfLcDDMM
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAKibXYl3wnD
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAuuQkzRcjWU
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.809Please respect copyright.PENANA59ifE8qGyb
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAYMAfvatQFE
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."809Please respect copyright.PENANASQKvphIFrJ
Eric raised an eyebrow 809Please respect copyright.PENANAsy3JRLzxzX
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 809Please respect copyright.PENANAS1GUez22pZ
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 809Please respect copyright.PENANAyRJCfWl9WM
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.809Please respect copyright.PENANAOfMLmNLI58
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAa8t0AOFzhr
"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."809Please respect copyright.PENANAz4lvb2jo1A
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.809Please respect copyright.PENANAs0yysiJBZO
"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?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7d6zZNShk
"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."809Please respect copyright.PENANAzP1sWB98CA
Leo soon turned around, 809Please respect copyright.PENANAmjX7NBNVtR
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt809Please respect copyright.PENANAyzTw5pyAkg
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue809Please respect copyright.PENANA3uLPGs18CD
on top of it.809Please respect copyright.PENANAuqFAQh24Qc
Kim had been crying. She809Please respect copyright.PENANACzTAtUiLvw
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the809Please respect copyright.PENANAWkZVtbbcfm
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 809Please respect copyright.PENANAM0SXdjyO0x
her tears with another tissue.809Please respect copyright.PENANAX3tIcoOx2e
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."809Please respect copyright.PENANAQijW2n3f9L
"I'm not going to say 809Please respect copyright.PENANA7eUnMEQ5Uv
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 809Please respect copyright.PENANAz2PbFI6eb7
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."809Please respect copyright.PENANATqZYJlmO00
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.809Please respect copyright.PENANAwl71XzlyFp
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."809Please respect copyright.PENANAylgogFFYwA
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"809Please respect copyright.PENANABlcXTDak8X
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."809Please respect copyright.PENANAyPv4SnAN1J
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAGSAhrWYpT0
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.809Please respect copyright.PENANA0W5e4WXUZZ
"Yes, we are."809Please respect copyright.PENANAUcOzCC2qHf
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."809Please respect copyright.PENANA2cgMGR4ZHI
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."809Please respect copyright.PENANAO7vp66UIxw
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."809Please respect copyright.PENANACuGptdpBAQ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAeOhQTauzND
The two ladies agreed 809Please respect copyright.PENANATDFHWUovOa
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 809Please respect copyright.PENANAIhiEBpZbRY
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 809Please respect copyright.PENANAfgXWbrI5gH
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.809Please respect copyright.PENANABXfmWrMMB0
"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."809Please respect copyright.PENANAimQ6AdMrl9
Most people in the 809Please respect copyright.PENANA8PnDVsUCYG
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 809Please respect copyright.PENANAJdKjF3mgBV
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 809Please respect copyright.PENANAm8W6wJRBUp
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 809Please respect copyright.PENANA7AOCsUontn
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 809Please respect copyright.PENANAqEQkCdMHTZ
struggle to put out the first fire.809Please respect copyright.PENANAHEC4ABqCsJ
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.809Please respect copyright.PENANAuY662UQXmX
"I would rather suggest 809Please respect copyright.PENANAEfTzODI4Dj
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his809Please respect copyright.PENANAoOo7s74p4A
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 809Please respect copyright.PENANAboSJV2Kxf4
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"809Please respect copyright.PENANA8cI1FV2scS
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.809Please respect copyright.PENANAnOsDMcT78m
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAjenwtz6D0K
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."809Please respect copyright.PENANAMmMBv6zEz6
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."809Please respect copyright.PENANAMuxi0bQ33W
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.809Please respect copyright.PENANAsomaCFsUsD
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.809Please respect copyright.PENANADq7CBmEjLV
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.809Please respect copyright.PENANAlsDLrF963W
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.809Please respect copyright.PENANA3ghaofF2VI
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.809Please respect copyright.PENANAS2jMkCGGnE
Everyone slowly left the809Please respect copyright.PENANARk2ehrUZyc
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 809Please respect copyright.PENANA0nos3kxmYz
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right809Please respect copyright.PENANA3ovVDjo9mO
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 809Please respect copyright.PENANATgaRmB8zGK
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.809Please respect copyright.PENANA1tRhVUfAAr
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAvdEAZkb1eU
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."809Please respect copyright.PENANA4CcIpDarvT
After the loving prayer,809Please respect copyright.PENANAX08UJsEMu7
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed809Please respect copyright.PENANAfM1zv9mNEu
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.809Please respect copyright.PENANAQNyPso6vua
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAhO1ZHZ3dXv
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."809Please respect copyright.PENANA34TlBzCWkM
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."809Please respect copyright.PENANAYCKLc79BMs
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."809Please respect copyright.PENANAGgkV39IN9h
"He really can't get 809Please respect copyright.PENANAyhUAhMizDk
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the809Please respect copyright.PENANAIjSlRPTbuk
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 809Please respect copyright.PENANAuUzYgIXmaM
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 809Please respect copyright.PENANA1ztXqFa4qu
eyes in irritation.809Please respect copyright.PENANAf0Fiqq1yKB
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."809Please respect copyright.PENANA8gaZrVlLNv
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.809Please respect copyright.PENANABvmTfoGWRw
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."809Please respect copyright.PENANACP8MtJxpu5
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.809Please respect copyright.PENANANSJ77paFYz
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.809Please respect copyright.PENANAGtaIN0Vuof
"Why me?" Angel asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAot1qrwXl6Y
"I know you will explain809Please respect copyright.PENANAVEiOdoiSl7
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 809Please respect copyright.PENANAvCABjV1I5g
of things from now on if mum is busy."809Please respect copyright.PENANAyAVkWoE4zb
"Like what?" Diana asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANATdE42Y5NTF
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."809Please respect copyright.PENANAYPrLe6uqRi
"That's so nice of you, 809Please respect copyright.PENANA25f03dqh4e
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,809Please respect copyright.PENANARfLdqOpPcO
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 809Please respect copyright.PENANArOmJDso8Qd
want to."809Please respect copyright.PENANAv07VD93Xre
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."809Please respect copyright.PENANAHjUXLdqAKA
Angel looked at him and 809Please respect copyright.PENANAKQ9Ywprgqw
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 809Please respect copyright.PENANAIcC0R6RUzW
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 809Please respect copyright.PENANAnDw70u7ERt
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.809Please respect copyright.PENANA3qjHhiZ9Xd
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."809Please respect copyright.PENANAqn0uBjjvuh
Leo felt like he was 809Please respect copyright.PENANAI6QDzffPJC
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 809Please respect copyright.PENANAMMb1XGhqcz
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.809Please respect copyright.PENANA9GbTCCXsq6
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.809Please respect copyright.PENANAGHUWzfNRLF
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.809Please respect copyright.PENANA94BxyweHBj
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."809Please respect copyright.PENANAJ07MLc9P8y
"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."809Please respect copyright.PENANAWP6pI1OKBP
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."809Please respect copyright.PENANAkRwwdO4H45
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.809Please respect copyright.PENANAcSDYWXsZ3U
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAuMjjz21rVU
"It was fine, mum," said809Please respect copyright.PENANAppgT2ku5if
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 809Please respect copyright.PENANAIGcM54NJE4
conversation was going to turn out.809Please respect copyright.PENANAwdtpWz89Jr
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3eS0TdLNJ
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."809Please respect copyright.PENANAWbvTiRYXAD
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."809Please respect copyright.PENANA89eqpfvUws
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.809Please respect copyright.PENANAexgzjVVjsG
"Alright," said Mrs 809Please respect copyright.PENANA3WmBNIk3TF
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 809Please respect copyright.PENANAAc9px8Hse5
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 809Please respect copyright.PENANAY68sPzq0eJ
for you lately?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAvBt4nYVboZ
Angel and Carly both 809Please respect copyright.PENANAA8hVvilCRD
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 809Please respect copyright.PENANAFXAis42qwt
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 809Please respect copyright.PENANAQm4L05YkOq
already was one herself.809Please respect copyright.PENANAvlc2rb0klN
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.809Please respect copyright.PENANAgDGyO74tbU
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAspECl2O0PI
"Running well as usual."809Please respect copyright.PENANA2gCCriI3DH
"I should really pay him809Please respect copyright.PENANAq7mxY9sDxw
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 809Please respect copyright.PENANAO7viThGhEZ
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."809Please respect copyright.PENANAxp0h6gwVMN
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.809Please respect copyright.PENANAfyYcNAce3x
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.809Please respect copyright.PENANAHJi8Q4ZS8F
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.809Please respect copyright.PENANALsbVuR9kgW
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.809Please respect copyright.PENANAxwVkWEDbdi
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."809Please respect copyright.PENANACe2YoqRrja
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."809Please respect copyright.PENANAp7qJ20w68x
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."809Please respect copyright.PENANAphp8M47uPB
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.809Please respect copyright.PENANArygQgXgP3e
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.809Please respect copyright.PENANABU8sGlV7tv
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAfRrYRGZ7oR
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."809Please respect copyright.PENANAP42ZJLNlcI
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"809Please respect copyright.PENANAyoCqigYrNN
"I would really like to,809Please respect copyright.PENANAvM3lOMHxvg
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 809Please respect copyright.PENANAijcWBTIPoy
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."809Please respect copyright.PENANAhNpisF8d8M
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."809Please respect copyright.PENANADdl3dVT3Vi
"Mum, most of us here 809Please respect copyright.PENANA7WR7xPyBiU
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 809Please respect copyright.PENANAI7gSbHiXU6
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 809Please respect copyright.PENANA5VTAmDxo6n
mine."809Please respect copyright.PENANAbs64Uyyw7J
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 809Please respect copyright.PENANA0i73gIzcq1
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others809Please respect copyright.PENANAipDCoyPXdv
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 809Please respect copyright.PENANAl3C2scQsZ3
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 809Please respect copyright.PENANAo47t7WjXgz
moment.809Please respect copyright.PENANAq5nkuCOJLd
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."809Please respect copyright.PENANA3yh1FCUhSL
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.809Please respect copyright.PENANAc41kLONKaG
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.809Please respect copyright.PENANAXQf9jqdleG
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:809Please respect copyright.PENANAWpffW9YsBn
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."809Please respect copyright.PENANARhghm45CxW
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."809Please respect copyright.PENANAz8wYPkZOn7
"For now or never?" Leo asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANALJ08aU20GP
"Don't start, son."809Please respect copyright.PENANAR0IJaGrqcT
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"809Please respect copyright.PENANARqPKZeTHfC
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.809Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6GLKdWLvm
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.809Please respect copyright.PENANAMDJiCY89zZ
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.809Please respect copyright.PENANAOrWlZsMQnb
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.809Please respect copyright.PENANAnaWLij1KxQ
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.809Please respect copyright.PENANAxujg7XyTgV
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."809Please respect copyright.PENANAECE6kzbeZe
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.809Please respect copyright.PENANAerLPAR1XKO
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.809Please respect copyright.PENANASMaj4C8kM1
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.809Please respect copyright.PENANAfC5Azd6H3n
"I'll come and help," said Eric.809Please respect copyright.PENANAGRq9Ez6eQy
"Me too," said Carly.809Please respect copyright.PENANAvp2Lht81sO
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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