Leo found himself back 897Please respect copyright.PENANAWhNtcAhGG5
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 897Please respect copyright.PENANAOBaOoXrqqA
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after897Please respect copyright.PENANAZOvWrDXczd
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in897Please respect copyright.PENANAEHTwboLv5q
the room.897Please respect copyright.PENANAokpSgpsu7j
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"897Please respect copyright.PENANA4AEVLG3st1
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAzwPpcHj0Rl
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.897Please respect copyright.PENANAK8IiLKHSgA
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"897Please respect copyright.PENANALfoqOW4vUI
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."897Please respect copyright.PENANAyCJbIiiqeV
Eric raised an eyebrow 897Please respect copyright.PENANAWF0dwfUM4o
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 897Please respect copyright.PENANA6iEsHDkD8e
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 897Please respect copyright.PENANAbMZaog4I9I
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.897Please respect copyright.PENANALpbKmm1g3W
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"897Please respect copyright.PENANATAsAAzxh92
"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."897Please respect copyright.PENANAqV2UTwUWTG
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.897Please respect copyright.PENANAicRf3mIiNh
"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?"897Please respect copyright.PENANACKNLJ4d59q
"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."897Please respect copyright.PENANAtEgxqNfRaH
Leo soon turned around, 897Please respect copyright.PENANAygROTUy846
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt897Please respect copyright.PENANAkNc3rIQXHz
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue897Please respect copyright.PENANA5fWPbQstdg
on top of it.897Please respect copyright.PENANAQl5P7764f3
Kim had been crying. She897Please respect copyright.PENANAYlEIEV314l
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the897Please respect copyright.PENANACMp1Vu3y0L
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 897Please respect copyright.PENANAU0fUBypobo
her tears with another tissue.897Please respect copyright.PENANAY03TOzDUua
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."897Please respect copyright.PENANAO1s1Oc0n5N
"I'm not going to say 897Please respect copyright.PENANAoEhjv2fTAL
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 897Please respect copyright.PENANA6JTxujWfUu
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."897Please respect copyright.PENANA5FVqL9skAW
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.897Please respect copyright.PENANATiwZCud2y4
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."897Please respect copyright.PENANAZSPQ8Sz0nD
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAvjQCAvSea0
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."897Please respect copyright.PENANAzMdcOdR4De
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAn7GegSjdJO
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.897Please respect copyright.PENANAyWkPp2XbjJ
"Yes, we are."897Please respect copyright.PENANARP3TOf6jQz
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."897Please respect copyright.PENANAaO6PgmYkyj
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."897Please respect copyright.PENANA3ngA8d1FHh
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."897Please respect copyright.PENANAvjxINL5ZND
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"897Please respect copyright.PENANA5eLj3pYbdN
The two ladies agreed 897Please respect copyright.PENANAdUGEqz6rar
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 897Please respect copyright.PENANAFINGh6mTIE
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 897Please respect copyright.PENANAY0EoRcoS0D
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.897Please respect copyright.PENANARNkpnrz1UU
"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."897Please respect copyright.PENANAzz2mAJeTJF
Most people in the 897Please respect copyright.PENANApa74uPklW1
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 897Please respect copyright.PENANA7Rk8noKYsZ
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 897Please respect copyright.PENANALbb2POGz0f
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 897Please respect copyright.PENANArlSzb2Celq
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 897Please respect copyright.PENANAa4c9K0olcS
struggle to put out the first fire.897Please respect copyright.PENANA2coVGP9KsR
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.897Please respect copyright.PENANAs1pxUFbPQc
"I would rather suggest 897Please respect copyright.PENANA71DEpVhsyx
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his897Please respect copyright.PENANAXSGvLPqY5C
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 897Please respect copyright.PENANAsFvoKepW8O
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAtZTzsAdCps
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.897Please respect copyright.PENANAYQhQcq6Gev
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANA2DOeIGoSUP
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."897Please respect copyright.PENANAjYUIBhwSmg
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."897Please respect copyright.PENANAKuAwyiNzDp
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.897Please respect copyright.PENANAAU7UPa69lV
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.897Please respect copyright.PENANAj43Kds6GNU
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.897Please respect copyright.PENANAxryBvt1cyt
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.897Please respect copyright.PENANArHPPIT3zBg
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.897Please respect copyright.PENANA0BI3CgTIRS
Everyone slowly left the897Please respect copyright.PENANA1MXoLkYQmo
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 897Please respect copyright.PENANAX4kgBJEDFu
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right897Please respect copyright.PENANArH8AHOTsYM
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 897Please respect copyright.PENANAImP6s1KXxa
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.897Please respect copyright.PENANAyWcF4jo8Rm
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAzWAOrGf5dW
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."897Please respect copyright.PENANAa37HarjVaC
After the loving prayer,897Please respect copyright.PENANAVgbHCGp3pT
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed897Please respect copyright.PENANACWulVtZq4N
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.897Please respect copyright.PENANAthY6Pcr6Jn
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAiDVviqpfLG
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."897Please respect copyright.PENANA6TZzdhotzS
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."897Please respect copyright.PENANA7dpDubA947
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."897Please respect copyright.PENANAnKz9yukS1A
"He really can't get 897Please respect copyright.PENANA3YLIhWiPx8
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the897Please respect copyright.PENANA9nrqDlKgkC
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 897Please respect copyright.PENANAh43ckZQ9oO
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 897Please respect copyright.PENANAuIbF6BxXgA
eyes in irritation.897Please respect copyright.PENANA3nSrYq7gZ0
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."897Please respect copyright.PENANArgBqJ9YUyK
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.897Please respect copyright.PENANA553Cx0NhxK
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."897Please respect copyright.PENANALOWDUbUchO
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.897Please respect copyright.PENANAlqL69Klp1d
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.897Please respect copyright.PENANA6UWJMttBcI
"Why me?" Angel asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAx8KHil7fpe
"I know you will explain897Please respect copyright.PENANAaTmFMWUDoQ
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 897Please respect copyright.PENANAaZc9yPbBbn
of things from now on if mum is busy."897Please respect copyright.PENANAhnSQGdoJWm
"Like what?" Diana asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAHIrEeLFKSu
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."897Please respect copyright.PENANAxxo5bM7umg
"That's so nice of you, 897Please respect copyright.PENANAMFAfzG3url
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,897Please respect copyright.PENANAiQIGndZz3E
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 897Please respect copyright.PENANAHIfCJvM8Qv
want to."897Please respect copyright.PENANADP05uaOJLQ
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."897Please respect copyright.PENANAnxSDb226js
Angel looked at him and 897Please respect copyright.PENANA5BY9mRGkN0
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 897Please respect copyright.PENANAghENaVbNah
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 897Please respect copyright.PENANA0nvXiB4syB
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.897Please respect copyright.PENANAq1IiKj50tI
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."897Please respect copyright.PENANA2emaeUFZJ2
Leo felt like he was 897Please respect copyright.PENANAMLZ7MChN3z
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 897Please respect copyright.PENANAKywt2rb5KE
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.897Please respect copyright.PENANA1fNV3oTvYz
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.897Please respect copyright.PENANAXmjIyoaRnm
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.897Please respect copyright.PENANA93bGwVX6gK
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."897Please respect copyright.PENANACHPLC7BHcB
"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."897Please respect copyright.PENANAe3q4dUneVp
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."897Please respect copyright.PENANAGv2mL56oq3
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.897Please respect copyright.PENANAqIQWLxgU8C
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"897Please respect copyright.PENANANPnBw0ODW5
"It was fine, mum," said897Please respect copyright.PENANAVhKjeW1bP7
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 897Please respect copyright.PENANAe9kmlwgyiJ
conversation was going to turn out.897Please respect copyright.PENANAeoBVFQV3x0
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAE89rWPXQmt
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."897Please respect copyright.PENANAhOQXK1S2V1
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."897Please respect copyright.PENANAeURPqeeTyZ
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.897Please respect copyright.PENANAVajUR1G48u
"Alright," said Mrs 897Please respect copyright.PENANAfuh7eknEJV
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 897Please respect copyright.PENANAoJfyAsIABf
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 897Please respect copyright.PENANAZlcKsebdcj
for you lately?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAOd9TCixj8l
Angel and Carly both 897Please respect copyright.PENANAFpNG573Sl0
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 897Please respect copyright.PENANACtCoBH0BwD
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 897Please respect copyright.PENANAQWBpVs36vb
already was one herself.897Please respect copyright.PENANATi4S3YnRz4
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.897Please respect copyright.PENANAs6w76SEEnv
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAcV6tzqJWFU
"Running well as usual."897Please respect copyright.PENANAKNOyw5rSSH
"I should really pay him897Please respect copyright.PENANAoE6xmifCqb
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 897Please respect copyright.PENANAcAGgLIhDZK
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."897Please respect copyright.PENANAkyNCuxr5UX
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.897Please respect copyright.PENANAeIJSau55aw
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.897Please respect copyright.PENANAjoR5dM6Y4w
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.897Please respect copyright.PENANAJbuXaRcTCW
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.897Please respect copyright.PENANAR5oxYEjeYm
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."897Please respect copyright.PENANAHI9zLQiNl9
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."897Please respect copyright.PENANAbUjNPyi9ez
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."897Please respect copyright.PENANAE1jObWwbQO
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.897Please respect copyright.PENANAXtxazopzLQ
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.897Please respect copyright.PENANAx8pBPrSCuT
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAQZGQtXYA1i
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."897Please respect copyright.PENANAiFZknMdOwe
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAlzbUUQxa4c
"I would really like to,897Please respect copyright.PENANACvLQVuyXQg
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 897Please respect copyright.PENANAU6Yy6VvnkL
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."897Please respect copyright.PENANAQVePvqi7UE
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."897Please respect copyright.PENANAtFN6ENJS3n
"Mum, most of us here 897Please respect copyright.PENANAP20ycwhWmC
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 897Please respect copyright.PENANAACbw3WOHHr
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 897Please respect copyright.PENANAILvEYJgSvX
mine."897Please respect copyright.PENANA8vauTlU6Eu
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 897Please respect copyright.PENANAiEX8GXOUj5
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others897Please respect copyright.PENANAJkwIrMDdF7
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 897Please respect copyright.PENANAnQvAsl5uhS
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 897Please respect copyright.PENANA75TbTyCayb
moment.897Please respect copyright.PENANAYLrXyuRKJS
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."897Please respect copyright.PENANA7nyedwBrPN
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.897Please respect copyright.PENANA584TFIcOQ0
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.897Please respect copyright.PENANAKYQ7d5wUx3
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:897Please respect copyright.PENANAvvASgxXzIA
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."897Please respect copyright.PENANAhw0f0gXMaH
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."897Please respect copyright.PENANAQopuReB5h0
"For now or never?" Leo asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAxwQQYZKWss
"Don't start, son."897Please respect copyright.PENANAnzBImIW3am
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"897Please respect copyright.PENANAYBzGD9lToM
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.897Please respect copyright.PENANApIGUeTSpYn
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.897Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZLdq4DE6G
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.897Please respect copyright.PENANAUpLE6a7GWP
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.897Please respect copyright.PENANANkElCl8rv7
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.897Please respect copyright.PENANARMuvPscbcG
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."897Please respect copyright.PENANAJou1035lzv
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.897Please respect copyright.PENANACS1UcGIGM3
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.897Please respect copyright.PENANARVNhHH2YU9
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.897Please respect copyright.PENANAeEZP5a23ro
"I'll come and help," said Eric.897Please respect copyright.PENANA498lwMXMEj
"Me too," said Carly.897Please respect copyright.PENANARWs4sVbrTJ
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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