Leo found himself back 695Please respect copyright.PENANAsKf7RFYv6U
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 695Please respect copyright.PENANAEUWQry7zMW
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after695Please respect copyright.PENANAgNqUesGwbt
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in695Please respect copyright.PENANAR10SU5x52D
the room.695Please respect copyright.PENANApkz0ChHoJ5
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"695Please respect copyright.PENANA9SqLwl2EdU
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAgbyab1cDWf
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.695Please respect copyright.PENANAKkICLJyFfB
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAFmkcuV3Xqf
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."695Please respect copyright.PENANAHaIVeiz9Hf
Eric raised an eyebrow 695Please respect copyright.PENANAQC4fIBz0zK
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 695Please respect copyright.PENANA8YhxsUOCKM
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 695Please respect copyright.PENANA7upLPiEwBV
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.695Please respect copyright.PENANAfCut7QZGjs
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAiYadLbNfjd
"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."695Please respect copyright.PENANAEWWbu8z7qC
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.695Please respect copyright.PENANAbH0KRSkdaQ
"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?"695Please respect copyright.PENANACpHn93baMb
"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."695Please respect copyright.PENANAkLsqAXYlR3
Leo soon turned around, 695Please respect copyright.PENANA3aTYAftJEh
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt695Please respect copyright.PENANAnNfMlEPhpn
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue695Please respect copyright.PENANAvvhnToJrCl
on top of it.695Please respect copyright.PENANAHKkLlmE5M8
Kim had been crying. She695Please respect copyright.PENANACUyHp9dATG
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the695Please respect copyright.PENANAK0cgNAlEVx
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 695Please respect copyright.PENANA3a77gozuwz
her tears with another tissue.695Please respect copyright.PENANAWAyBOJWAFZ
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."695Please respect copyright.PENANACLRObGhg9h
"I'm not going to say 695Please respect copyright.PENANAAe2bs5XOtl
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 695Please respect copyright.PENANAxAhe8yFdSs
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."695Please respect copyright.PENANA78tfleggUd
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.695Please respect copyright.PENANA1WIWHkJPeA
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."695Please respect copyright.PENANAbNBEO7doF7
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAQTLOmlEVxS
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."695Please respect copyright.PENANAk3vsu3ZQfV
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAzD4FrVwXs9
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.695Please respect copyright.PENANAoX62sAnTMQ
"Yes, we are."695Please respect copyright.PENANACirXWDUiJm
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."695Please respect copyright.PENANAxxvcahVvvd
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."695Please respect copyright.PENANAhABeXrht8X
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."695Please respect copyright.PENANAmV0bEvoFm9
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAmGCwVti5mU
The two ladies agreed 695Please respect copyright.PENANA83rDwUrzLO
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 695Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6mnQFPha6
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 695Please respect copyright.PENANAJTKEnr5SUb
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.695Please respect copyright.PENANAi9arWnnAbB
"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."695Please respect copyright.PENANACf5brwhIGk
Most people in the 695Please respect copyright.PENANAp55CTH0dGZ
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 695Please respect copyright.PENANAX2AYrm8Oj7
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 695Please respect copyright.PENANAAPjIiy4j0q
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 695Please respect copyright.PENANAfjZhbYJTlv
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 695Please respect copyright.PENANAoDiBBsgXR0
struggle to put out the first fire.695Please respect copyright.PENANAgvmSE672IP
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.695Please respect copyright.PENANAvI6dMbW0fK
"I would rather suggest 695Please respect copyright.PENANATXdYr4U6FR
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his695Please respect copyright.PENANAQveBMHQV3K
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 695Please respect copyright.PENANA5a31zBmOb5
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAdWWFta8Olv
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.695Please respect copyright.PENANAczHcJe2amL
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAFwlsJUtYoV
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."695Please respect copyright.PENANAubtSOgotN4
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."695Please respect copyright.PENANAtx8CEVnZ1g
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.695Please respect copyright.PENANAsUnZkXfXkj
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.695Please respect copyright.PENANAZE60uhXgdD
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.695Please respect copyright.PENANAnVMsN2oy8B
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.695Please respect copyright.PENANALbYEYb5igq
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.695Please respect copyright.PENANAUMaTGD1lJV
Everyone slowly left the695Please respect copyright.PENANAtxRouFPGpD
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 695Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8RjHO2B5E
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right695Please respect copyright.PENANAs0kBDKOc1z
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 695Please respect copyright.PENANAmZX3jmwgus
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.695Please respect copyright.PENANAnOzeWM5R94
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1YuGYOBZi
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."695Please respect copyright.PENANAyXspM7ksnQ
After the loving prayer,695Please respect copyright.PENANAIAMosZ2zVe
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed695Please respect copyright.PENANAgt5c6NktTn
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.695Please respect copyright.PENANAdovTDZCRrp
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAqMCLdqaiDX
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."695Please respect copyright.PENANAOr2Au66RGT
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."695Please respect copyright.PENANA9G1GfhKO5h
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."695Please respect copyright.PENANAEFqe5yOklw
"He really can't get 695Please respect copyright.PENANAGbKVLCxXl7
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the695Please respect copyright.PENANA3XAUGhpcjN
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 695Please respect copyright.PENANAUgEe4PzsJI
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 695Please respect copyright.PENANAq1a6Y7v7je
eyes in irritation.695Please respect copyright.PENANAE7iG8MCd6k
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."695Please respect copyright.PENANAWT2DKBlRL7
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.695Please respect copyright.PENANAGBZ65KfdNb
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."695Please respect copyright.PENANAWKxZIp3CZ5
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.695Please respect copyright.PENANAEstR4yCNuF
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.695Please respect copyright.PENANAsyuzVZIut0
"Why me?" Angel asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAzZKAkQYBMk
"I know you will explain695Please respect copyright.PENANAOCDv0vz9Vo
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 695Please respect copyright.PENANAVOsQ31uvLG
of things from now on if mum is busy."695Please respect copyright.PENANATB9MhpR6BY
"Like what?" Diana asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAa4iXj3CaCP
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."695Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1P5rt2jgr
"That's so nice of you, 695Please respect copyright.PENANAWgKd7sYaMS
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,695Please respect copyright.PENANAPiwmI38Q6p
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 695Please respect copyright.PENANAMeWLZZRG3n
want to."695Please respect copyright.PENANAhCy7Jc1oLo
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."695Please respect copyright.PENANAYO7T2iCrCV
Angel looked at him and 695Please respect copyright.PENANATpbk2ryA4h
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 695Please respect copyright.PENANAAG74mD8nJ7
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 695Please respect copyright.PENANAyBJbipn5Mz
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.695Please respect copyright.PENANAbNdLcWMm6l
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."695Please respect copyright.PENANA5gmgAsOXgT
Leo felt like he was 695Please respect copyright.PENANA4AFsUas8Gn
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 695Please respect copyright.PENANATWuJUGr7WT
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.695Please respect copyright.PENANASIBLjOz8BQ
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.695Please respect copyright.PENANAomoD4vjpuK
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.695Please respect copyright.PENANAfDemmfst4z
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."695Please respect copyright.PENANAuLOYIpPRsA
"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."695Please respect copyright.PENANAoEGK6LQM5E
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."695Please respect copyright.PENANAaK8BvJjYqf
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.695Please respect copyright.PENANAx041rxqxoB
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"695Please respect copyright.PENANA2yPVr9yFLy
"It was fine, mum," said695Please respect copyright.PENANARMavEuJOGu
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 695Please respect copyright.PENANAAfsApRfifQ
conversation was going to turn out.695Please respect copyright.PENANA1BfaNkKAGp
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"695Please respect copyright.PENANATcQCdepO9o
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."695Please respect copyright.PENANAupIuGGaU5J
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."695Please respect copyright.PENANA2TyvUkBUfG
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.695Please respect copyright.PENANAXwpoNH5A3Z
"Alright," said Mrs 695Please respect copyright.PENANActzE6tBYxM
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 695Please respect copyright.PENANAuwTrqE0ce7
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 695Please respect copyright.PENANA6oCpvZdUPQ
for you lately?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAmbhr87Cq73
Angel and Carly both 695Please respect copyright.PENANAJiJ8HD8pOs
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 695Please respect copyright.PENANAKWPz3zgcGi
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 695Please respect copyright.PENANAmMEps9iZ13
already was one herself.695Please respect copyright.PENANA5orJqDOLsB
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.695Please respect copyright.PENANACzmG7ZTtOQ
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAZqYrff1TG5
"Running well as usual."695Please respect copyright.PENANAjoUUuKAUHG
"I should really pay him695Please respect copyright.PENANALGzcoUcUx5
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 695Please respect copyright.PENANA0zIVp20GIF
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."695Please respect copyright.PENANAR1Bcv75cDE
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.695Please respect copyright.PENANAcpAmdevma2
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.695Please respect copyright.PENANA1b4EZ7Zxuh
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.695Please respect copyright.PENANA2cxgnZAy5S
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.695Please respect copyright.PENANAyVuK5fLuly
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."695Please respect copyright.PENANAz1hMOvIMEY
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."695Please respect copyright.PENANAIztuk5LSVa
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."695Please respect copyright.PENANA3fi1eRDjaM
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.695Please respect copyright.PENANAP3S1c0shYL
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.695Please respect copyright.PENANArDzjBNjkl4
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAxvTw3HbM7J
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."695Please respect copyright.PENANAqftaG8zBJ7
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAo3c8pmwP9T
"I would really like to,695Please respect copyright.PENANAcNL2ffV4VK
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 695Please respect copyright.PENANAW3546tHBQ8
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."695Please respect copyright.PENANAELfvrPD1m2
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."695Please respect copyright.PENANA2VQqSHpIUW
"Mum, most of us here 695Please respect copyright.PENANA9KK2LrMygD
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 695Please respect copyright.PENANAA3KNoja2Wd
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 695Please respect copyright.PENANAArERZx4hwV
mine."695Please respect copyright.PENANAXjhEa8esnL
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 695Please respect copyright.PENANAw94AMCUeZc
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others695Please respect copyright.PENANAPSnTsC5gdP
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 695Please respect copyright.PENANA4LIm7nWvQs
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 695Please respect copyright.PENANA16USnNzwx8
moment.695Please respect copyright.PENANAdkqTr0wJBP
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."695Please respect copyright.PENANAp4FykTWPKx
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.695Please respect copyright.PENANAZFdZM3myxY
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.695Please respect copyright.PENANA2dGEdspd8R
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:695Please respect copyright.PENANA7824lnbKBP
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."695Please respect copyright.PENANAONnCZP99i3
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."695Please respect copyright.PENANAIRtJ13gyfE
"For now or never?" Leo asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAwcgSMLWnQW
"Don't start, son."695Please respect copyright.PENANAsBxBo2KQ9H
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"695Please respect copyright.PENANAo0o1p440nY
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.695Please respect copyright.PENANAycXafc9Ho6
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.695Please respect copyright.PENANAReBp9DWEj2
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.695Please respect copyright.PENANAm2r8tnPJnw
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.695Please respect copyright.PENANABNGrqsQMn0
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.695Please respect copyright.PENANAHGurHhZ8LE
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."695Please respect copyright.PENANAfRGKXTkA5K
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.695Please respect copyright.PENANAUli1qr3j65
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.695Please respect copyright.PENANAFrOsP4c2Vt
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.695Please respect copyright.PENANAYOmL477z9O
"I'll come and help," said Eric.695Please respect copyright.PENANAWXAd35XXJS
"Me too," said Carly.695Please respect copyright.PENANAfNQ43LEQwr
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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