Leo found himself back 836Please respect copyright.PENANAljoeUpKox0
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 836Please respect copyright.PENANAvnrd5IK2CD
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after836Please respect copyright.PENANA7lm1tw5KwG
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in836Please respect copyright.PENANAFqo9p0GXrL
the room.836Please respect copyright.PENANA5KPr4w2hea
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAjYk4XpeuZe
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAqAO6SVTHeS
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.836Please respect copyright.PENANAhGMRJZc2j1
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAUH2vS3TK4U
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."836Please respect copyright.PENANAKoXmRcEX7y
Eric raised an eyebrow 836Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y553KnmnM
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 836Please respect copyright.PENANATS7qAHcPLR
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 836Please respect copyright.PENANA0NGiiq7bqI
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.836Please respect copyright.PENANAnJQUuJlddi
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAY2Z7HlpfV5
"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."836Please respect copyright.PENANAj7o4A5FNM0
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.836Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZgO2vldqK
"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?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAcPwVf89Ysf
"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."836Please respect copyright.PENANAQKjIVREjAr
Leo soon turned around, 836Please respect copyright.PENANAYFfb6dfLI8
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt836Please respect copyright.PENANAZEzh9G6QDD
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue836Please respect copyright.PENANAfYEawRPqFp
on top of it.836Please respect copyright.PENANAftIl4G8Rnr
Kim had been crying. She836Please respect copyright.PENANAhXplMwZkqL
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the836Please respect copyright.PENANARGdVLgOdDF
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 836Please respect copyright.PENANAhUVIoSvUG4
her tears with another tissue.836Please respect copyright.PENANABhpsEpY318
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."836Please respect copyright.PENANAPrKi3gqhyW
"I'm not going to say 836Please respect copyright.PENANAPXdCF5J4YO
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 836Please respect copyright.PENANAWmjIBIrF1w
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."836Please respect copyright.PENANAYF6Y6N71tK
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.836Please respect copyright.PENANAPY6EzhHstc
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."836Please respect copyright.PENANAfWDlMs67T5
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAGeu8HPKa8U
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."836Please respect copyright.PENANAhCYN7RSbZW
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"836Please respect copyright.PENANApp0Z46psST
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.836Please respect copyright.PENANAA4IdNGbBIb
"Yes, we are."836Please respect copyright.PENANAbmleAi8CrY
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."836Please respect copyright.PENANAXyj2RLKBhr
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."836Please respect copyright.PENANALykVIzPHTd
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."836Please respect copyright.PENANAia1wWJBxei
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"836Please respect copyright.PENANABDBmUoAO9G
The two ladies agreed 836Please respect copyright.PENANApjNxLUDANl
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 836Please respect copyright.PENANAiZIC7VJ2Ep
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 836Please respect copyright.PENANAyG5gDHfhJs
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.836Please respect copyright.PENANAyPqf12sRP8
"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."836Please respect copyright.PENANAland30b9EL
Most people in the 836Please respect copyright.PENANArdc8x9E4xx
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 836Please respect copyright.PENANAQAUatONA2I
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 836Please respect copyright.PENANA1hv79eNsZO
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 836Please respect copyright.PENANAAiB8mMQbRS
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 836Please respect copyright.PENANAX079CZsrFg
struggle to put out the first fire.836Please respect copyright.PENANAZGkz7SG2Ue
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.836Please respect copyright.PENANAnJtckERsD7
"I would rather suggest 836Please respect copyright.PENANAxkFqMqWlqu
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his836Please respect copyright.PENANAELXL1RpQeV
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 836Please respect copyright.PENANAK2Bd7kx5r5
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"836Please respect copyright.PENANALaeiJegB01
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.836Please respect copyright.PENANAuIBCVxYgDk
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANA9tllaGA2Fq
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."836Please respect copyright.PENANAUuJqUO3jOG
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."836Please respect copyright.PENANAodHXnNOdud
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.836Please respect copyright.PENANA167ClFf8hp
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.836Please respect copyright.PENANAhuyAwOtxjD
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.836Please respect copyright.PENANAPqU1OGnEdn
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.836Please respect copyright.PENANARCUDz4mhAB
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.836Please respect copyright.PENANAB0pp2LXzpO
Everyone slowly left the836Please respect copyright.PENANAZxryL3hrU4
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 836Please respect copyright.PENANAGpOmpR9Cpf
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right836Please respect copyright.PENANAZQnFzaCo24
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 836Please respect copyright.PENANArWbGcUbwIw
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.836Please respect copyright.PENANAwwa0l5oQua
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAGuaVuM97my
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."836Please respect copyright.PENANAQyIYsiSyMh
After the loving prayer,836Please respect copyright.PENANAoSsgbiZT1k
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed836Please respect copyright.PENANAJfL6NKg8CJ
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.836Please respect copyright.PENANArmf2ncNam9
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAdgyKb1JecZ
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."836Please respect copyright.PENANAnxqQCRl4TH
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."836Please respect copyright.PENANAo5WC8ZVuc1
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."836Please respect copyright.PENANAYOng028Y6M
"He really can't get 836Please respect copyright.PENANA96WGQmnQqp
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the836Please respect copyright.PENANA2hR8Ao8US3
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 836Please respect copyright.PENANAov6TLmHHtu
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 836Please respect copyright.PENANAz9tAbcaOLA
eyes in irritation.836Please respect copyright.PENANAPpzoOTtMpw
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."836Please respect copyright.PENANAqsFi98Yare
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.836Please respect copyright.PENANA2irFEYD4rP
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."836Please respect copyright.PENANAzKj7uwN7we
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.836Please respect copyright.PENANAU2gUkqqu25
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.836Please respect copyright.PENANAiGmvzjU9ea
"Why me?" Angel asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAE0cXr3tyjc
"I know you will explain836Please respect copyright.PENANABxgke09lYv
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 836Please respect copyright.PENANA0vSvdnugdh
of things from now on if mum is busy."836Please respect copyright.PENANAourWweVBJq
"Like what?" Diana asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAfMtlkv2c2K
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."836Please respect copyright.PENANAIRjhL3c5qq
"That's so nice of you, 836Please respect copyright.PENANAkDHMPmoFyn
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,836Please respect copyright.PENANAOPzt0WfdI5
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 836Please respect copyright.PENANAK0vofcJ8On
want to."836Please respect copyright.PENANAhkPzqTN97q
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."836Please respect copyright.PENANAbi0VuugCIh
Angel looked at him and 836Please respect copyright.PENANAZSDgG11m3P
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 836Please respect copyright.PENANATjYFM8gHVU
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 836Please respect copyright.PENANAHLswCosR2E
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.836Please respect copyright.PENANAK6LH3D0M99
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."836Please respect copyright.PENANAUXsFpuf8gM
Leo felt like he was 836Please respect copyright.PENANA8auI38rn17
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 836Please respect copyright.PENANAboUXp5lJu5
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.836Please respect copyright.PENANAsbo8Px0Gnw
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.836Please respect copyright.PENANAOTnsb6RrPY
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.836Please respect copyright.PENANAyeq06bYuBK
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."836Please respect copyright.PENANAriSK1Ivp19
"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."836Please respect copyright.PENANAJOEfv2l8EB
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."836Please respect copyright.PENANA1nZCGx5gBC
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.836Please respect copyright.PENANAwOQAZWKgKL
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAqWclacSW2A
"It was fine, mum," said836Please respect copyright.PENANAKV5ZS5ctn7
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 836Please respect copyright.PENANAJS2NhS9Jf9
conversation was going to turn out.836Please respect copyright.PENANA0OHuRfbwtX
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAnQbhSsp4aq
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."836Please respect copyright.PENANAeGkKs0cho5
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."836Please respect copyright.PENANAkDRe2I7rT9
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.836Please respect copyright.PENANAu3oT2bFuJJ
"Alright," said Mrs 836Please respect copyright.PENANAdv5SaxeOVt
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 836Please respect copyright.PENANAtrQGSFDula
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 836Please respect copyright.PENANAoxUQ4Cz7jY
for you lately?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAa2ta9gZ0X2
Angel and Carly both 836Please respect copyright.PENANA7VTZhj1dtn
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 836Please respect copyright.PENANAo2D2S5UQ5r
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 836Please respect copyright.PENANAKpdeLnIOEd
already was one herself.836Please respect copyright.PENANAKnR1dfU13z
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.836Please respect copyright.PENANAnx9LeIz8dV
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAEDpaBGw6Je
"Running well as usual."836Please respect copyright.PENANAn6CP56Vv7w
"I should really pay him836Please respect copyright.PENANAawxktgI88U
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 836Please respect copyright.PENANAgFtoUhXNrn
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."836Please respect copyright.PENANAfqWHnHZZgw
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.836Please respect copyright.PENANAPvl4KQr8rW
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.836Please respect copyright.PENANAonFyfrPhQh
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.836Please respect copyright.PENANAMyJiqmSpZr
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.836Please respect copyright.PENANAXMe5V2HESx
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."836Please respect copyright.PENANAzGGML3qO0S
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."836Please respect copyright.PENANAHKjbo3YLJQ
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."836Please respect copyright.PENANAwBAMCPg62s
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.836Please respect copyright.PENANAFlz46BEMvJ
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.836Please respect copyright.PENANAHRCCQz0nsX
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAFCzHkHsSfC
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."836Please respect copyright.PENANAgp5VHrQeAp
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"836Please respect copyright.PENANA3GDGuMTlYN
"I would really like to,836Please respect copyright.PENANAvUxrus05hG
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 836Please respect copyright.PENANAbyUZyMK49x
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."836Please respect copyright.PENANAino4srDdN3
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."836Please respect copyright.PENANAQT2lWdrtdS
"Mum, most of us here 836Please respect copyright.PENANA0ihh1T689y
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 836Please respect copyright.PENANAh0dUvpxJdY
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 836Please respect copyright.PENANAzKdALwSqBh
mine."836Please respect copyright.PENANAvTN3wlxCox
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 836Please respect copyright.PENANAPT0CoWzfMY
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others836Please respect copyright.PENANACAIlI8Q9pJ
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 836Please respect copyright.PENANASG7AiS2q16
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 836Please respect copyright.PENANAgpVTnl7vFh
moment.836Please respect copyright.PENANAFc0jX1ujrU
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."836Please respect copyright.PENANABMZPtJgcHd
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.836Please respect copyright.PENANALDS5Rq0GUS
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.836Please respect copyright.PENANAhWXzVDYDPX
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:836Please respect copyright.PENANAF1JZyptaow
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."836Please respect copyright.PENANAMrr5fAL22J
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."836Please respect copyright.PENANAvsVLmL4t80
"For now or never?" Leo asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANAz0G22SLZZZ
"Don't start, son."836Please respect copyright.PENANAcN63AgRaQw
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"836Please respect copyright.PENANAm5dPuOKJk5
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.836Please respect copyright.PENANAbbJr3w6WZp
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.836Please respect copyright.PENANAxMbNJEdzpn
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.836Please respect copyright.PENANArpwFh4gLqr
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.836Please respect copyright.PENANA8485kbql2H
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.836Please respect copyright.PENANA6DlVR6nw0c
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."836Please respect copyright.PENANAgIjwmtYP1M
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.836Please respect copyright.PENANAscCCP6REoJ
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.836Please respect copyright.PENANAVDZVyPL957
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.836Please respect copyright.PENANAlNQEmgnhFf
"I'll come and help," said Eric.836Please respect copyright.PENANAe7Dnrkd7cc
"Me too," said Carly.836Please respect copyright.PENANAotXeArJpo8
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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