Leo found himself back 787Please respect copyright.PENANAvnwRvXRbGm
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 787Please respect copyright.PENANAgCNuf1X7Gw
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after787Please respect copyright.PENANA3Jpj0x8Vcm
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in787Please respect copyright.PENANAtWfGWLkuxO
the room.787Please respect copyright.PENANAylCtRaGYVf
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA7jROvyn7Xn
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA3IhBv1cAtb
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.787Please respect copyright.PENANAxw4fbqkJoM
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAj2Q3rslYda
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."787Please respect copyright.PENANAJtF3eS1COy
Eric raised an eyebrow 787Please respect copyright.PENANAmAKmWVtyKb
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 787Please respect copyright.PENANAb7jOdqL1Vz
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 787Please respect copyright.PENANAMeRc56w2Hk
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.787Please respect copyright.PENANAF7F0bl4A4Q
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAtRuLfVprBL
"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."787Please respect copyright.PENANA0rEvpZz5ML
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.787Please respect copyright.PENANAfF00tWVQoH
"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?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAUxoBsWdiFe
"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."787Please respect copyright.PENANAGjD9u0SEfA
Leo soon turned around, 787Please respect copyright.PENANA3hbrTzEnyS
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt787Please respect copyright.PENANAi6rZnRIuU0
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue787Please respect copyright.PENANAao6BAFtpXA
on top of it.787Please respect copyright.PENANAfU13wIJ4BR
Kim had been crying. She787Please respect copyright.PENANAjERnTp8aOB
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the787Please respect copyright.PENANAOGTciYdMkz
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 787Please respect copyright.PENANATc4dZBWT1m
her tears with another tissue.787Please respect copyright.PENANAxNwfLUOdYT
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."787Please respect copyright.PENANAoKygPf3Ruo
"I'm not going to say 787Please respect copyright.PENANA1XlHB24PBY
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 787Please respect copyright.PENANAcRd7p7rlyw
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."787Please respect copyright.PENANAEOqzZCpIS3
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.787Please respect copyright.PENANAnCSGpI2XLU
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."787Please respect copyright.PENANAhA0znyrvrH
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA2xvauT8j46
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."787Please respect copyright.PENANAKyVYYLK7rw
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAjHnZyCBlM6
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.787Please respect copyright.PENANAzmtBLyZQqI
"Yes, we are."787Please respect copyright.PENANAhl7DlL4WFj
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."787Please respect copyright.PENANAPFLZaYAHt6
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."787Please respect copyright.PENANAoX87lBvjOC
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."787Please respect copyright.PENANA5JiQk1O5JO
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAlkLb8ztmQF
The two ladies agreed 787Please respect copyright.PENANAx6fHFb64Qr
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 787Please respect copyright.PENANA87j0RHJ17y
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 787Please respect copyright.PENANAmTXeMEMHEl
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.787Please respect copyright.PENANAS0tEDNAmTp
"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."787Please respect copyright.PENANAbBbua0TV24
Most people in the 787Please respect copyright.PENANAKZYWN7NsKZ
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 787Please respect copyright.PENANAbgpLzT00yN
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 787Please respect copyright.PENANA48FGNhMALr
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 787Please respect copyright.PENANAGmqjcJSsRL
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 787Please respect copyright.PENANAsfN2zyFX1Z
struggle to put out the first fire.787Please respect copyright.PENANAjBQNj9E5Yp
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.787Please respect copyright.PENANArvWXTnximK
"I would rather suggest 787Please respect copyright.PENANATaWaODeSyT
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his787Please respect copyright.PENANA8TYNHwdcW3
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 787Please respect copyright.PENANANu4FCfgH63
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAo6I4244phG
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.787Please respect copyright.PENANAyagt2Bkatx
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANArU1CSYIIBy
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."787Please respect copyright.PENANAabrgb24x1c
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."787Please respect copyright.PENANAzHTOUiO6Dj
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.787Please respect copyright.PENANAwUPPJ9nXQY
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.787Please respect copyright.PENANAOlSTLGTou7
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.787Please respect copyright.PENANAjzxBiniq1v
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.787Please respect copyright.PENANAYjKShVbaLH
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.787Please respect copyright.PENANAbWNcI4vobT
Everyone slowly left the787Please respect copyright.PENANA4Yd7bx7hjZ
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 787Please respect copyright.PENANAntW02lyDDY
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right787Please respect copyright.PENANAYlNunadMek
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 787Please respect copyright.PENANAMAiWOmT4Vn
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.787Please respect copyright.PENANAVnoKiSNv1K
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANACQ5NwNWalX
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."787Please respect copyright.PENANA0AfZtlaHok
After the loving prayer,787Please respect copyright.PENANAXx92qxbqtP
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed787Please respect copyright.PENANAjhW8iXDDEF
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.787Please respect copyright.PENANAdcpccXHai0
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANAzN4UBLwcfH
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."787Please respect copyright.PENANAMua9HjApsf
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."787Please respect copyright.PENANArzNHdKQ2MX
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."787Please respect copyright.PENANAKmsAK2AD8l
"He really can't get 787Please respect copyright.PENANAB6ra8VO578
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the787Please respect copyright.PENANAmURmFzF0i0
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 787Please respect copyright.PENANAzldHzllEwp
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 787Please respect copyright.PENANAVkKkByGsDQ
eyes in irritation.787Please respect copyright.PENANAf2zD9mre1H
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."787Please respect copyright.PENANAY4hExDOvNu
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.787Please respect copyright.PENANAZxLbSRriJg
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."787Please respect copyright.PENANAbbiEAeDvI3
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.787Please respect copyright.PENANAXDTyp2YhRK
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.787Please respect copyright.PENANAM9GuFVn4wD
"Why me?" Angel asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANAFPiccjgv8Y
"I know you will explain787Please respect copyright.PENANAPf45vkb1Ax
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 787Please respect copyright.PENANAfeoJjCNTTS
of things from now on if mum is busy."787Please respect copyright.PENANALVsLYI90tY
"Like what?" Diana asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANA2iiHMrDMOO
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."787Please respect copyright.PENANAzVNezoeZzE
"That's so nice of you, 787Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3yhjrvrgV
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,787Please respect copyright.PENANAO2NZfZAO7p
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 787Please respect copyright.PENANA0QAsZ8sETi
want to."787Please respect copyright.PENANArkPfIrxvp1
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."787Please respect copyright.PENANADGwgLJNLQe
Angel looked at him and 787Please respect copyright.PENANAvk8QElHThR
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 787Please respect copyright.PENANASRZ8noXSoO
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 787Please respect copyright.PENANAtitiK0tKmL
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.787Please respect copyright.PENANAT3WinE03bP
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."787Please respect copyright.PENANAgkfRZFhN4E
Leo felt like he was 787Please respect copyright.PENANADWMQ78OO1Z
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 787Please respect copyright.PENANAHeSNwmFD79
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.787Please respect copyright.PENANAB3BhmEsKYa
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.787Please respect copyright.PENANAmEx01PV0eI
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.787Please respect copyright.PENANAm6vTbJemEK
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."787Please respect copyright.PENANAFFiRlYkIFk
"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."787Please respect copyright.PENANAa5Rl3BWWXr
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."787Please respect copyright.PENANAMdqa6c9vQy
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.787Please respect copyright.PENANAWW60qaiUiP
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAi3kBxNBFmJ
"It was fine, mum," said787Please respect copyright.PENANACM9mztwyA7
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 787Please respect copyright.PENANAXpxWHUo7MP
conversation was going to turn out.787Please respect copyright.PENANAonnF3hVtk6
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"787Please respect copyright.PENANALJgYayDcR2
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."787Please respect copyright.PENANAStUdZbkFBu
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."787Please respect copyright.PENANAKyBFvyc01F
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.787Please respect copyright.PENANAyRGuiX770F
"Alright," said Mrs 787Please respect copyright.PENANAzPAw5tCTrn
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 787Please respect copyright.PENANAW7u9ZFUtPA
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 787Please respect copyright.PENANAoa67wCVhuE
for you lately?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA1Amg8bTCAH
Angel and Carly both 787Please respect copyright.PENANAOc1Vmx79NM
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 787Please respect copyright.PENANAvEe268mvd2
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 787Please respect copyright.PENANAPjUxavFuRM
already was one herself.787Please respect copyright.PENANAuHcwpSC9HD
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.787Please respect copyright.PENANAMXWH3XKX0m
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANAE7qXEgZNp1
"Running well as usual."787Please respect copyright.PENANAwiowpVbbBn
"I should really pay him787Please respect copyright.PENANAiPkzlj2UTa
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 787Please respect copyright.PENANA6hEQ97POGH
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."787Please respect copyright.PENANAQF2WEYeDPQ
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.787Please respect copyright.PENANAqprDAwuLwZ
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.787Please respect copyright.PENANAp5drZvoVYn
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.787Please respect copyright.PENANAGR9I8wVZ6R
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.787Please respect copyright.PENANAaVsB79sH2U
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."787Please respect copyright.PENANA4jo2IbCoyL
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."787Please respect copyright.PENANAi5jVkHMGMo
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."787Please respect copyright.PENANAQojNkZVjMB
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.787Please respect copyright.PENANAHhIfNxApga
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.787Please respect copyright.PENANA1LPwqvfTvG
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANAPStTmgJXVG
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."787Please respect copyright.PENANA666AC3CR8u
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"787Please respect copyright.PENANAuHPzwofBSU
"I would really like to,787Please respect copyright.PENANAUSb7sic2hy
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 787Please respect copyright.PENANAuoOQFncMZF
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."787Please respect copyright.PENANA6tqTeN6qXv
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."787Please respect copyright.PENANAu3mBD7wtYv
"Mum, most of us here 787Please respect copyright.PENANA2VQ8TkTmFE
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 787Please respect copyright.PENANATvMgV6Dlun
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 787Please respect copyright.PENANATirnkHMFFW
mine."787Please respect copyright.PENANAqlCA9sW57f
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 787Please respect copyright.PENANA3g8ceBTMWB
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others787Please respect copyright.PENANAga7G0S9KAx
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 787Please respect copyright.PENANA2cEdfOgHQw
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 787Please respect copyright.PENANAXHonM8NjNl
moment.787Please respect copyright.PENANAuyRSkwk1jx
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."787Please respect copyright.PENANAFjXVeLXj91
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.787Please respect copyright.PENANAdGRc9EJKpi
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.787Please respect copyright.PENANAV8EFfvBlWr
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:787Please respect copyright.PENANAX5yMSaQNQh
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."787Please respect copyright.PENANAvDFWu5leZE
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."787Please respect copyright.PENANAPLRBvsuMrq
"For now or never?" Leo asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANAjP9BobrKec
"Don't start, son."787Please respect copyright.PENANAfTCYopQJPA
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"787Please respect copyright.PENANA8w4AYUJ8jb
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.787Please respect copyright.PENANAGmCCBZZKCI
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.787Please respect copyright.PENANARx1wLn6apX
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.787Please respect copyright.PENANAY40tZzadQD
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.787Please respect copyright.PENANACYNWnTmJgi
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.787Please respect copyright.PENANAXsxtDZjceu
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."787Please respect copyright.PENANAY9cubFMEZV
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.787Please respect copyright.PENANARmLsY0mknq
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.787Please respect copyright.PENANApYDfItFTmY
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.787Please respect copyright.PENANALlmppdQOTw
"I'll come and help," said Eric.787Please respect copyright.PENANA8wFJ4Cb2w6
"Me too," said Carly.787Please respect copyright.PENANA4eBQaMC39N
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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