Leo found himself back 769Please respect copyright.PENANA4xOGRJcnOz
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 769Please respect copyright.PENANAtRSGYCtVZg
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after769Please respect copyright.PENANAtYPD3KSmi6
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in769Please respect copyright.PENANAlfXJwtPu2M
the room.769Please respect copyright.PENANA6BmEdlojC2
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAFI8G6fGgKa
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAwp7Tnluf4w
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.769Please respect copyright.PENANAisziimyGpE
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAYhOyYbVby8
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."769Please respect copyright.PENANA9qkNFbFEHQ
Eric raised an eyebrow 769Please respect copyright.PENANA38JDPLXAZz
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 769Please respect copyright.PENANAGoqkVjzwHm
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 769Please respect copyright.PENANAkVViVcDaoa
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.769Please respect copyright.PENANAz9y5c5xUcP
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAlhpQC7kdbA
"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."769Please respect copyright.PENANAw6ZkWCg2Qx
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.769Please respect copyright.PENANAJVHIZm659s
"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?"769Please respect copyright.PENANASkc0s4jgai
"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."769Please respect copyright.PENANAVuE1HP0qMA
Leo soon turned around, 769Please respect copyright.PENANAQYvHXFgqcJ
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt769Please respect copyright.PENANAcNSxglsnt4
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue769Please respect copyright.PENANAnZv1tdSdUN
on top of it.769Please respect copyright.PENANAGGREa0RPBJ
Kim had been crying. She769Please respect copyright.PENANAji5iV2DzUs
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the769Please respect copyright.PENANAh0zDPzADaD
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 769Please respect copyright.PENANAa4CO2jKmkj
her tears with another tissue.769Please respect copyright.PENANAUgzJWpLOTO
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."769Please respect copyright.PENANA5k8wJtyliV
"I'm not going to say 769Please respect copyright.PENANAxNxmQRxK0W
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 769Please respect copyright.PENANAZDReLXdQOl
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."769Please respect copyright.PENANAZfy4s2mhLK
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.769Please respect copyright.PENANA2MVh5HxTYH
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."769Please respect copyright.PENANAfByu1j6XDf
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAuXS9Fo42iG
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."769Please respect copyright.PENANA88bpS8HKVb
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAmWWvGJiFAC
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.769Please respect copyright.PENANAMju2dCDYuy
"Yes, we are."769Please respect copyright.PENANA7EACCe84QC
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."769Please respect copyright.PENANAnLNMuXNLbZ
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."769Please respect copyright.PENANAaQ7scqUnOn
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."769Please respect copyright.PENANA0LqIhUG8JD
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAbfoecLy7ww
The two ladies agreed 769Please respect copyright.PENANAkFvK4fhJJ4
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 769Please respect copyright.PENANAn5BUDoQeRL
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 769Please respect copyright.PENANALJDo2hVsQe
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.769Please respect copyright.PENANAnosQpNIFp8
"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."769Please respect copyright.PENANA77kg9HJFIV
Most people in the 769Please respect copyright.PENANAuQvq0IDl2e
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 769Please respect copyright.PENANAG0lNiIVkDy
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 769Please respect copyright.PENANAp04xuaGV3H
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 769Please respect copyright.PENANA3k7uePy9X2
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 769Please respect copyright.PENANAWgSbRRmr21
struggle to put out the first fire.769Please respect copyright.PENANAqaKbsxNupe
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.769Please respect copyright.PENANA5mwqiPeKvM
"I would rather suggest 769Please respect copyright.PENANAEuH8WEAuiy
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his769Please respect copyright.PENANAcwSTc6Xl2u
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 769Please respect copyright.PENANAPt5VQRAzGk
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAzLlGerZnnN
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.769Please respect copyright.PENANAcRyZWEm1RC
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAzDJ31s35f1
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."769Please respect copyright.PENANAE0LsoZLslL
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."769Please respect copyright.PENANA5WbMpH9V1R
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.769Please respect copyright.PENANASLDr89luqp
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.769Please respect copyright.PENANAoKCnQ4PT2h
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.769Please respect copyright.PENANACUK2k9JCmj
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.769Please respect copyright.PENANAw9qYfsM40x
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.769Please respect copyright.PENANANwboDclQ2L
Everyone slowly left the769Please respect copyright.PENANAp8WZnOaBPE
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 769Please respect copyright.PENANAgSFMmNuvV6
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right769Please respect copyright.PENANANgEW2ueiv1
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 769Please respect copyright.PENANAwSE539sbaO
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.769Please respect copyright.PENANALaSbfyzyDd
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAKe8VHZ3dMm
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."769Please respect copyright.PENANAbT1HBgjEfv
After the loving prayer,769Please respect copyright.PENANATzLi8aXmCz
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed769Please respect copyright.PENANAximbH3jqzb
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.769Please respect copyright.PENANAl9M4GLx6Co
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAV0XYjDPlpk
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."769Please respect copyright.PENANArFK7afMtfz
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."769Please respect copyright.PENANAf0UZaDSQUp
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."769Please respect copyright.PENANAdVlFOYfrp3
"He really can't get 769Please respect copyright.PENANAXEJkgk4yNw
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the769Please respect copyright.PENANA01vr4PesWi
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 769Please respect copyright.PENANAMeZ9LYeYVJ
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 769Please respect copyright.PENANA74xskkinlK
eyes in irritation.769Please respect copyright.PENANA7cI6Asco7R
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."769Please respect copyright.PENANAm1dEptQjaj
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.769Please respect copyright.PENANAIebTXMibyz
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."769Please respect copyright.PENANAc9D6CTQ0AB
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.769Please respect copyright.PENANA0Sg7CnTV46
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.769Please respect copyright.PENANADGqMLRy6TO
"Why me?" Angel asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAEn3AgbJ2kj
"I know you will explain769Please respect copyright.PENANA4xK92E6TWz
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 769Please respect copyright.PENANAgEmfZHoZ6u
of things from now on if mum is busy."769Please respect copyright.PENANA7iZMpakVAS
"Like what?" Diana asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAIsuOxJ0z0j
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."769Please respect copyright.PENANAEtObUthM4c
"That's so nice of you, 769Please respect copyright.PENANAgk4Pe5fczx
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,769Please respect copyright.PENANAx6Yqf1dpUC
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 769Please respect copyright.PENANAKIKBVoJWab
want to."769Please respect copyright.PENANAo4Mfyb52bw
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."769Please respect copyright.PENANAam22jS2d5p
Angel looked at him and 769Please respect copyright.PENANADariRWbnN5
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 769Please respect copyright.PENANArne8egxqnR
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 769Please respect copyright.PENANADuesovhWxr
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.769Please respect copyright.PENANA6i1BEcsTx5
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."769Please respect copyright.PENANAYOjM3zyy9L
Leo felt like he was 769Please respect copyright.PENANAyFWj6dRa3U
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 769Please respect copyright.PENANAX1meuTZRSq
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.769Please respect copyright.PENANA77c9BRO1IY
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.769Please respect copyright.PENANADlBl8jzuxm
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.769Please respect copyright.PENANAPo8xRIwgIr
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."769Please respect copyright.PENANAMfFU4pUuZg
"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."769Please respect copyright.PENANA7lyvSLZQxi
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."769Please respect copyright.PENANAJU0ai9mfCE
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.769Please respect copyright.PENANA9UfYcYJmXQ
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAN7r4OPRpyN
"It was fine, mum," said769Please respect copyright.PENANAr84dhQWxvN
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 769Please respect copyright.PENANADjyvqQUi8L
conversation was going to turn out.769Please respect copyright.PENANAqntusQPRro
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"769Please respect copyright.PENANA4HlypgO7QT
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."769Please respect copyright.PENANAbg4CWlTHoz
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."769Please respect copyright.PENANAzshnAK7Jqc
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.769Please respect copyright.PENANA4hJUsZLtxg
"Alright," said Mrs 769Please respect copyright.PENANAFE3hfy8YFZ
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 769Please respect copyright.PENANANtwUqa2lUS
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 769Please respect copyright.PENANA0hCEi7GVro
for you lately?"769Please respect copyright.PENANA39bqIxsn4R
Angel and Carly both 769Please respect copyright.PENANAc5UfoHWkzL
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 769Please respect copyright.PENANArjkWxhWZCr
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 769Please respect copyright.PENANA98TLvvnMlY
already was one herself.769Please respect copyright.PENANA5KE6tlCal1
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.769Please respect copyright.PENANAkEOu8RvWFA
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANABTERjKIBL9
"Running well as usual."769Please respect copyright.PENANAviEEOUpFIG
"I should really pay him769Please respect copyright.PENANAvn8nFwNwOj
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 769Please respect copyright.PENANA04crgUYUti
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."769Please respect copyright.PENANAdPIqd9bjWu
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.769Please respect copyright.PENANAe0mT4KBl4B
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.769Please respect copyright.PENANAkPDc0YlAyF
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.769Please respect copyright.PENANALQ9jShwNnV
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.769Please respect copyright.PENANAEsrUFgbE7T
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."769Please respect copyright.PENANAcYtfUIizxT
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."769Please respect copyright.PENANAnkbf3hs7CC
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."769Please respect copyright.PENANAFIl7BPwoP6
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.769Please respect copyright.PENANApHPh7DFtO6
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.769Please respect copyright.PENANAi8YQ3Ksyoj
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAA5D3HJtSgH
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."769Please respect copyright.PENANAGuiZAtqEws
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"769Please respect copyright.PENANAfYvI7O6Pq9
"I would really like to,769Please respect copyright.PENANAnDmN4k5Lig
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 769Please respect copyright.PENANAR2sAHkzHDQ
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."769Please respect copyright.PENANAwGOcNqT1Ir
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."769Please respect copyright.PENANAiOBfykEX9Y
"Mum, most of us here 769Please respect copyright.PENANA5m84FQlZup
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 769Please respect copyright.PENANAOOMek6HCVl
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 769Please respect copyright.PENANAjqX6h6yHgT
mine."769Please respect copyright.PENANA8o9ZN0D8Xl
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 769Please respect copyright.PENANAsSzNm6uUaf
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others769Please respect copyright.PENANAA1jIw5L0u0
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 769Please respect copyright.PENANAQf5XIsgg4p
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 769Please respect copyright.PENANAihaZYAioEG
moment.769Please respect copyright.PENANAAREvF77AvH
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."769Please respect copyright.PENANAP7gJRMgSyv
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.769Please respect copyright.PENANAgW80hvNXvZ
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.769Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ii72IhIY4
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:769Please respect copyright.PENANA4r8MGO9SOn
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."769Please respect copyright.PENANAfVhQPcIeFa
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."769Please respect copyright.PENANAa6MHLH2KHl
"For now or never?" Leo asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAGXJvpVsa2q
"Don't start, son."769Please respect copyright.PENANAeoCAvR7C9W
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"769Please respect copyright.PENANA4lf9SgVkEN
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.769Please respect copyright.PENANAR3DvyUdqwP
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.769Please respect copyright.PENANADDVWMAdrtj
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.769Please respect copyright.PENANAuSCkSoovW8
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.769Please respect copyright.PENANAKoeej6e7eI
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.769Please respect copyright.PENANAuTvTyfZd5e
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."769Please respect copyright.PENANAek7GxUDaVU
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.769Please respect copyright.PENANAXJR3B4TQ4n
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.769Please respect copyright.PENANA1xiVVeorXp
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.769Please respect copyright.PENANA8gcHMLcnsm
"I'll come and help," said Eric.769Please respect copyright.PENANArbxRpPihq7
"Me too," said Carly.769Please respect copyright.PENANAkPon5JKVOo
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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