Leo found himself back 475Please respect copyright.PENANAapJf8zYvD9
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 475Please respect copyright.PENANAxWvdZ8RrDl
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after475Please respect copyright.PENANAfWFpmL2pv3
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in475Please respect copyright.PENANAkDf5GbxjIn
the room.475Please respect copyright.PENANAltxTXjuMZw
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAHvsFfV16uw
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAK2oELXSv8F
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.475Please respect copyright.PENANAPcUuApKan1
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"475Please respect copyright.PENANA3mRF1IOxHi
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."475Please respect copyright.PENANA0GbU0UW13z
Eric raised an eyebrow 475Please respect copyright.PENANANAt8nwR2kS
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 475Please respect copyright.PENANAlWyuXVp28T
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 475Please respect copyright.PENANAjRIh37y9V0
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.475Please respect copyright.PENANA2bUydKjlub
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"475Please respect copyright.PENANApNxNLSzbwB
"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."475Please respect copyright.PENANA89SvlpGMXe
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.475Please respect copyright.PENANAEma5e5DVEb
"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?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAJvF4I0Hkoe
"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."475Please respect copyright.PENANACewFVuyVtl
Leo soon turned around, 475Please respect copyright.PENANAk37sOTRZDN
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt475Please respect copyright.PENANAOdDL78oPN8
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue475Please respect copyright.PENANAkZyLb8ZCYT
on top of it.475Please respect copyright.PENANA47wYOFpn0x
Kim had been crying. She475Please respect copyright.PENANAtNqGiWSQj9
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the475Please respect copyright.PENANACZe9icFpof
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 475Please respect copyright.PENANArARnMgy0sm
her tears with another tissue.475Please respect copyright.PENANA7gHFqQe5s3
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."475Please respect copyright.PENANAsCtsICJkdL
"I'm not going to say 475Please respect copyright.PENANABpVgVpfw2V
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 475Please respect copyright.PENANAKbP0EhllLe
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."475Please respect copyright.PENANAmHWu0Ow9Ni
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.475Please respect copyright.PENANAacalyzN05b
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."475Please respect copyright.PENANAx0aCe5p8h0
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAOUtU3LLyq0
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."475Please respect copyright.PENANAXCWiUy4no3
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"475Please respect copyright.PENANA7Sk0JEYzhz
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.475Please respect copyright.PENANAvlPmpnYbcL
"Yes, we are."475Please respect copyright.PENANAKHKUwL44Xb
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."475Please respect copyright.PENANAfRFXM5f7Qu
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."475Please respect copyright.PENANAShwzJDvWbm
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."475Please respect copyright.PENANAcrtz9lZ1oQ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"475Please respect copyright.PENANA0soAe74fe4
The two ladies agreed 475Please respect copyright.PENANAWPyUlP2cIB
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 475Please respect copyright.PENANAopUvNKhCtc
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 475Please respect copyright.PENANAqNdWAY7eUz
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.475Please respect copyright.PENANAlBTTaBVq1e
"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."475Please respect copyright.PENANAoXYHyTfqqt
Most people in the 475Please respect copyright.PENANAosb9VyThix
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 475Please respect copyright.PENANAv9dCdKDH4V
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 475Please respect copyright.PENANAuMQvYiKDKz
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 475Please respect copyright.PENANA0tO7oXvU20
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 475Please respect copyright.PENANAaBK1fnyW92
struggle to put out the first fire.475Please respect copyright.PENANAGm1w8sByz6
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.475Please respect copyright.PENANArGobSDFISO
"I would rather suggest 475Please respect copyright.PENANA34vjgEpNax
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his475Please respect copyright.PENANAKXBBBpHLjV
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 475Please respect copyright.PENANAAvd4wRbglu
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAvFwCshnICQ
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.475Please respect copyright.PENANA6LnBmJ1iTH
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAfer6v6Gbgg
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."475Please respect copyright.PENANAi9B8aonzoH
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."475Please respect copyright.PENANASUr46HnogV
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.475Please respect copyright.PENANAdJcy13LZ8E
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.475Please respect copyright.PENANA6wgbQnEFEt
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.475Please respect copyright.PENANAiVLBFspzIO
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.475Please respect copyright.PENANAPSkwRRG0lg
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.475Please respect copyright.PENANAEN2POgOozR
Everyone slowly left the475Please respect copyright.PENANAqhcVKC7x7B
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 475Please respect copyright.PENANAsT5FgBIil2
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right475Please respect copyright.PENANAbvOmHhZ0ZU
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 475Please respect copyright.PENANAkj6rLJqnPL
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.475Please respect copyright.PENANAUPQCM3vKGm
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAomU5KGaN8a
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."475Please respect copyright.PENANAIMGw7u0gaZ
After the loving prayer,475Please respect copyright.PENANA8eWbtMOpUb
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed475Please respect copyright.PENANANzhhiFOwGl
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.475Please respect copyright.PENANAUoakfVh4OU
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAYFDtcSzT0v
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."475Please respect copyright.PENANALva7eVcomY
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."475Please respect copyright.PENANAN8IS4vtU3C
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."475Please respect copyright.PENANAPYeaRxFTjL
"He really can't get 475Please respect copyright.PENANAoHj0ld5tAz
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the475Please respect copyright.PENANAlfhimbkaAA
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 475Please respect copyright.PENANANK3nZqGPIh
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 475Please respect copyright.PENANA5OAYqjhl9m
eyes in irritation.475Please respect copyright.PENANAHdcDETOIC8
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."475Please respect copyright.PENANAAtVmshUkfv
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.475Please respect copyright.PENANApRV0IF9PKB
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."475Please respect copyright.PENANAMBnQao5eGr
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.475Please respect copyright.PENANApJWyKR9RWa
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.475Please respect copyright.PENANALIpJ3HgaRS
"Why me?" Angel asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANALKobBjbqwQ
"I know you will explain475Please respect copyright.PENANAY6C7hCHAr9
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 475Please respect copyright.PENANA4ECtQHc88c
of things from now on if mum is busy."475Please respect copyright.PENANAz6uqaldNUR
"Like what?" Diana asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAILd0LD6ubP
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."475Please respect copyright.PENANAlgG5aZjvvB
"That's so nice of you, 475Please respect copyright.PENANAofSReVmlR3
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,475Please respect copyright.PENANA0EkIdp28P1
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 475Please respect copyright.PENANAm5BTqvo2s1
want to."475Please respect copyright.PENANACVLJ18TYIz
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."475Please respect copyright.PENANA66fsKw6Nr1
Angel looked at him and 475Please respect copyright.PENANAyJGeYQSZDB
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 475Please respect copyright.PENANA21D71TvqsL
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 475Please respect copyright.PENANAw4zNNhsyKZ
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.475Please respect copyright.PENANAgQAJviHPqc
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."475Please respect copyright.PENANA3nX2SdfvEm
Leo felt like he was 475Please respect copyright.PENANAhCMTIRJFse
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 475Please respect copyright.PENANA3b6pWNsGBZ
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.475Please respect copyright.PENANAqHmiykuJK4
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.475Please respect copyright.PENANAPd6t2UxO6D
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.475Please respect copyright.PENANA5gZuPv4Tn5
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."475Please respect copyright.PENANAdGnoG9RAwf
"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."475Please respect copyright.PENANAq57HEZDm9E
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."475Please respect copyright.PENANA3o5dABRARM
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.475Please respect copyright.PENANAlH3cROTK13
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAbzAvED7Stb
"It was fine, mum," said475Please respect copyright.PENANAWFL2x4LvgB
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 475Please respect copyright.PENANA32ElDsEmGk
conversation was going to turn out.475Please respect copyright.PENANAe3nhcftexI
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAI8ZIjbsXQi
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."475Please respect copyright.PENANAfBFHh3St01
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."475Please respect copyright.PENANAKjDwyFtWTE
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.475Please respect copyright.PENANA38mElSMOLf
"Alright," said Mrs 475Please respect copyright.PENANAewSALi8ZiS
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 475Please respect copyright.PENANAQtw7z70jY3
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 475Please respect copyright.PENANAhbVRECCrGW
for you lately?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAE0VJJPuXye
Angel and Carly both 475Please respect copyright.PENANA5xYTLv7GVe
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 475Please respect copyright.PENANAkCXzQngnxG
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 475Please respect copyright.PENANAKY7Za4JMDL
already was one herself.475Please respect copyright.PENANAc5iulE2X1n
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.475Please respect copyright.PENANAa7Y1fICrz6
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAYJwlGJbzgV
"Running well as usual."475Please respect copyright.PENANAeISi9K6SDO
"I should really pay him475Please respect copyright.PENANAnYRdKUqEbu
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 475Please respect copyright.PENANASBtKou2NCY
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."475Please respect copyright.PENANAspJ4r2nUvI
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.475Please respect copyright.PENANAfKzBKigQZs
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.475Please respect copyright.PENANArLMgydBk4o
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.475Please respect copyright.PENANA9dVn8B7iju
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.475Please respect copyright.PENANAji9tEHOTXz
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."475Please respect copyright.PENANAD3bgzHmjXI
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."475Please respect copyright.PENANALxURxAQdDX
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."475Please respect copyright.PENANAot6GSP8gSd
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.475Please respect copyright.PENANA7snO1kwBol
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.475Please respect copyright.PENANAKHtwHFVlIv
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAyXphTPTnPY
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."475Please respect copyright.PENANAYF0OGBMQTA
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"475Please respect copyright.PENANAxh0xS7rpYJ
"I would really like to,475Please respect copyright.PENANA7ToesruMMq
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 475Please respect copyright.PENANApd1BEbMVfZ
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."475Please respect copyright.PENANA7UiEYy1b8N
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."475Please respect copyright.PENANAMhpgYoIaCS
"Mum, most of us here 475Please respect copyright.PENANAot6ebv8c2A
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 475Please respect copyright.PENANApbVzqdl0dP
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 475Please respect copyright.PENANAQ15JfAzjr3
mine."475Please respect copyright.PENANAbyFJA6bbOO
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 475Please respect copyright.PENANAsITUj73JV4
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others475Please respect copyright.PENANApX7WaROupp
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 475Please respect copyright.PENANAsrv4hJoq24
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 475Please respect copyright.PENANAYFvZN7qYr8
moment.475Please respect copyright.PENANAKjL7OMiTne
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."475Please respect copyright.PENANACSxd7pq2HC
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.475Please respect copyright.PENANAqKBqml7WlA
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.475Please respect copyright.PENANAVaOcsEyyKe
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:475Please respect copyright.PENANAnAuikHilTW
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."475Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZZ0l97iSS
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."475Please respect copyright.PENANAprivo8WlcM
"For now or never?" Leo asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAFVjHV99N4e
"Don't start, son."475Please respect copyright.PENANAlVDnz79eka
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"475Please respect copyright.PENANA5R6SXZIBGw
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.475Please respect copyright.PENANAyPtTcvcWfB
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.475Please respect copyright.PENANAgHpgTzuwc6
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.475Please respect copyright.PENANAtj8hosmIjJ
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.475Please respect copyright.PENANAqmaypdfoMg
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.475Please respect copyright.PENANAmMf2gakHSX
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."475Please respect copyright.PENANAN1JpUNvhMW
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.475Please respect copyright.PENANAkgwSPSWUzw
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.475Please respect copyright.PENANA7C4jHIatWF
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.475Please respect copyright.PENANAhXQa58R9XH
"I'll come and help," said Eric.475Please respect copyright.PENANANQiNRlsQ7V
"Me too," said Carly.475Please respect copyright.PENANAG6AYYc9q6e
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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