Leo found himself back 890Please respect copyright.PENANAudjqJNbfVQ
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 890Please respect copyright.PENANAh0V1ktrItE
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after890Please respect copyright.PENANA8ttPVqwE0g
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in890Please respect copyright.PENANA07NKoqrxBC
the room.890Please respect copyright.PENANAsQMJSARz4M
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAvtp5CAfMw4
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAcVfBU9GOGO
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.890Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7SgMxSeQd
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAJlSVrGlJjd
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."890Please respect copyright.PENANAnAaJB3ozXa
Eric raised an eyebrow 890Please respect copyright.PENANA1anRZhEtSN
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 890Please respect copyright.PENANANt1Cg4KGYs
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 890Please respect copyright.PENANA1AV1NEG1nG
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.890Please respect copyright.PENANAEZP3PEtwR5
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"890Please respect copyright.PENANA8BeOKBr3bt
"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."890Please respect copyright.PENANAADQa8CcoLj
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.890Please respect copyright.PENANAHPr5zM0ITj
"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?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAnwFAOmFXdZ
"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."890Please respect copyright.PENANAEeKS9fhVyK
Leo soon turned around, 890Please respect copyright.PENANAYpRq6u6sf3
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt890Please respect copyright.PENANATiZkfIdbGB
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue890Please respect copyright.PENANAqiR2iIkzRs
on top of it.890Please respect copyright.PENANAScwm0ymwfY
Kim had been crying. She890Please respect copyright.PENANAzjCB3AV3Db
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the890Please respect copyright.PENANAABy3NG2tXZ
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 890Please respect copyright.PENANAf7cdoAUVJN
her tears with another tissue.890Please respect copyright.PENANAQpyp7Skhms
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."890Please respect copyright.PENANAP3a4akGUPE
"I'm not going to say 890Please respect copyright.PENANA2buBDEHKxA
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 890Please respect copyright.PENANAgpiF1R3mdO
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."890Please respect copyright.PENANAyWX5WKGvCK
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.890Please respect copyright.PENANAFfA9p5ZePY
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."890Please respect copyright.PENANA5OXdUH6m8x
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAbLS86M5alP
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."890Please respect copyright.PENANAN7KQszLhL6
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAm2uthErmzf
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.890Please respect copyright.PENANAX6KRM5xGAL
"Yes, we are."890Please respect copyright.PENANATmUxLfy2IT
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."890Please respect copyright.PENANA259eJ3gQin
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."890Please respect copyright.PENANAcgJxEYZjK8
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."890Please respect copyright.PENANAZPGb8aTmpm
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAsNbnH3Oea8
The two ladies agreed 890Please respect copyright.PENANAy56u0Xydie
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 890Please respect copyright.PENANAhG9RcOjTCb
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 890Please respect copyright.PENANAgp33FGsGxI
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.890Please respect copyright.PENANAdOvqAf8Kof
"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."890Please respect copyright.PENANAJRILmJzWoc
Most people in the 890Please respect copyright.PENANAOhVulKLz0z
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 890Please respect copyright.PENANAKgXDMGRA53
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 890Please respect copyright.PENANA0oDfJ1sXKw
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 890Please respect copyright.PENANAG38BhHi36e
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 890Please respect copyright.PENANAVhkTtDzhrR
struggle to put out the first fire.890Please respect copyright.PENANAjqLvQZ18Xd
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.890Please respect copyright.PENANAyh9690Hk4l
"I would rather suggest 890Please respect copyright.PENANAsAXFiBuAZQ
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his890Please respect copyright.PENANA96gih9DxZ1
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 890Please respect copyright.PENANAZGeBxN8T1X
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAlmbyYWPLyY
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.890Please respect copyright.PENANA09TMDy5XfH
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAN69KNfVyo1
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."890Please respect copyright.PENANAy8zAax0Wi8
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."890Please respect copyright.PENANASQtY0v2zXl
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.890Please respect copyright.PENANA2wXA4Z2Cyv
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.890Please respect copyright.PENANAp4WLyQkcDH
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.890Please respect copyright.PENANAwAEmFbYl9W
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.890Please respect copyright.PENANAvr0RyHd9zJ
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.890Please respect copyright.PENANAnp3R3hf5KC
Everyone slowly left the890Please respect copyright.PENANAEEJkVfzLIm
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 890Please respect copyright.PENANAlkifWtIJXa
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right890Please respect copyright.PENANAP8u9htVJVh
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 890Please respect copyright.PENANAx9uOmhuwwu
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.890Please respect copyright.PENANAb5BKiQFDrT
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAuq9pDFvnDI
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."890Please respect copyright.PENANAK1Rpi2ZZoI
After the loving prayer,890Please respect copyright.PENANANaP8Wd1ILb
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed890Please respect copyright.PENANArHkjx15209
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.890Please respect copyright.PENANAudGymoBX5A
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAwJTU1e62Bl
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."890Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZEXRTigfI
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."890Please respect copyright.PENANAWdtPIWua0i
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."890Please respect copyright.PENANADVPyqcmhKN
"He really can't get 890Please respect copyright.PENANAg19aWBzFeG
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the890Please respect copyright.PENANAyxxM6cCxy0
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 890Please respect copyright.PENANArUOAO1Nwte
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 890Please respect copyright.PENANASLxooouZX0
eyes in irritation.890Please respect copyright.PENANA7qCMlNNqJD
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."890Please respect copyright.PENANAXlcAuhJqUB
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.890Please respect copyright.PENANAimCAkUUU8a
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."890Please respect copyright.PENANA1MNcYnrijL
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.890Please respect copyright.PENANABJ6xuoVyQz
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.890Please respect copyright.PENANA8iMtzffCnf
"Why me?" Angel asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANA0q82pOgEkT
"I know you will explain890Please respect copyright.PENANAOCyjWKhDYM
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 890Please respect copyright.PENANAmrvfdA4qDR
of things from now on if mum is busy."890Please respect copyright.PENANABkjfwE3f4z
"Like what?" Diana asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAUr1amKfPJN
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."890Please respect copyright.PENANAKaJVpsLJ5A
"That's so nice of you, 890Please respect copyright.PENANACZjmUwpsdC
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,890Please respect copyright.PENANApIFAC71ip3
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 890Please respect copyright.PENANAjWHcIVjXUq
want to."890Please respect copyright.PENANAEfok5pvQdZ
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."890Please respect copyright.PENANAAWwO50OlmD
Angel looked at him and 890Please respect copyright.PENANAVyW8uQkEs7
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 890Please respect copyright.PENANAwCw3MaedHd
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 890Please respect copyright.PENANAfKXJuJFVEG
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.890Please respect copyright.PENANAKsX6VqsnQe
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."890Please respect copyright.PENANAKfZN6Oxeox
Leo felt like he was 890Please respect copyright.PENANApTIpSfLPfR
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 890Please respect copyright.PENANAVHqDk3vrmd
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.890Please respect copyright.PENANA1YueEloGDK
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.890Please respect copyright.PENANAkrAqgSL9vK
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.890Please respect copyright.PENANAauPxR0VzJY
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."890Please respect copyright.PENANAAIdxGqgoUL
"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."890Please respect copyright.PENANApYLU2AmgdI
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."890Please respect copyright.PENANAXoV86YuLMy
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.890Please respect copyright.PENANAYvxQUc9Jo4
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"890Please respect copyright.PENANAVrv7b1hk3R
"It was fine, mum," said890Please respect copyright.PENANAu0tp2GdUxF
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 890Please respect copyright.PENANAiObWGpPczZ
conversation was going to turn out.890Please respect copyright.PENANAPUJMDRz1qP
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"890Please respect copyright.PENANATZ2PKDDecY
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."890Please respect copyright.PENANA0C22bNUDeY
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."890Please respect copyright.PENANA3zgauLJMyM
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.890Please respect copyright.PENANAvxtZmIZ9Fu
"Alright," said Mrs 890Please respect copyright.PENANAoMpipF1Exz
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 890Please respect copyright.PENANAcuLS7zRPly
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 890Please respect copyright.PENANAV9M5Ca8h0z
for you lately?"890Please respect copyright.PENANACgERB3jTcg
Angel and Carly both 890Please respect copyright.PENANALvaTA9EYy1
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 890Please respect copyright.PENANA1Lbs1Q8h1I
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 890Please respect copyright.PENANACBqCryqBie
already was one herself.890Please respect copyright.PENANAOnM2m3SobG
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.890Please respect copyright.PENANABag3fMumQs
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAm26kG2MxMI
"Running well as usual."890Please respect copyright.PENANAMYvOycNKDU
"I should really pay him890Please respect copyright.PENANAWuJjABrhAN
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 890Please respect copyright.PENANAMROthG6o6S
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."890Please respect copyright.PENANA08cR6Zc89U
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.890Please respect copyright.PENANAGRk9ZoMm30
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.890Please respect copyright.PENANAM3F8cIA0BB
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.890Please respect copyright.PENANA0WHQvwSE56
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.890Please respect copyright.PENANA9AEWx2RK4O
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."890Please respect copyright.PENANA4ARgSEClFM
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."890Please respect copyright.PENANA1duJFpCUH4
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."890Please respect copyright.PENANAywdoBTWhr7
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.890Please respect copyright.PENANAtfuwCI3aYB
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.890Please respect copyright.PENANAigPIA4119P
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAalwfN4TmYO
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."890Please respect copyright.PENANAYqd5wvkoqk
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"890Please respect copyright.PENANA19k1t6INnA
"I would really like to,890Please respect copyright.PENANAN3qsxf4tA6
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 890Please respect copyright.PENANA8Vx7nmVOY8
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."890Please respect copyright.PENANAy3G0lpLSlw
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."890Please respect copyright.PENANA7SYaaejnkn
"Mum, most of us here 890Please respect copyright.PENANATew2wNkM2E
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 890Please respect copyright.PENANAAfvbFjO1NQ
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 890Please respect copyright.PENANAl01jzxFnI0
mine."890Please respect copyright.PENANASGAe41L6J2
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 890Please respect copyright.PENANAMrpLQmk33R
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others890Please respect copyright.PENANAKsXjRquBhs
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 890Please respect copyright.PENANAHJeoWUI4ft
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 890Please respect copyright.PENANAQbUWbW1mjw
moment.890Please respect copyright.PENANATn2j2PLjsS
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."890Please respect copyright.PENANA8TJEAVLPuL
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.890Please respect copyright.PENANAvRtRXQeRUC
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.890Please respect copyright.PENANAVWwBQgnNNx
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:890Please respect copyright.PENANAcq01L7OjB7
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."890Please respect copyright.PENANA8R3xWcgaEq
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."890Please respect copyright.PENANAj9yD2nH6Cd
"For now or never?" Leo asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANArEbEdLIaKp
"Don't start, son."890Please respect copyright.PENANAZHq8QDZBpF
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"890Please respect copyright.PENANATc9uuyutLd
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.890Please respect copyright.PENANAjjZ3jalVQD
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.890Please respect copyright.PENANAxs6OBtjKcq
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.890Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0zZQqY1k6
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.890Please respect copyright.PENANARZbkSs4PJ0
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.890Please respect copyright.PENANAKp6LGaByA0
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."890Please respect copyright.PENANAYKQSLoVhoX
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.890Please respect copyright.PENANA4JiCchY5lq
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.890Please respect copyright.PENANAsi2LMu83zt
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.890Please respect copyright.PENANAQNG7dEqiRJ
"I'll come and help," said Eric.890Please respect copyright.PENANA6Tz4qLKWf0
"Me too," said Carly.890Please respect copyright.PENANAW30LxMxqes
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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