Leo found himself back 438Please respect copyright.PENANAc51xhVP6Js
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 438Please respect copyright.PENANAsxVIhRdCsz
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after438Please respect copyright.PENANAEwsmXyCimt
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in438Please respect copyright.PENANAkz65RrALa5
the room.438Please respect copyright.PENANAXzh1Eut7f7
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAsWywMR4UHA
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAp6YgSCdqAg
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.438Please respect copyright.PENANAVvjWcKuMJl
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAErk6AY0R83
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."438Please respect copyright.PENANALSUcEAnr8c
Eric raised an eyebrow 438Please respect copyright.PENANAe3J0a5NlkW
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 438Please respect copyright.PENANAmgwByiBk0a
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAtSVXY7Uvbh
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.438Please respect copyright.PENANAiPVnnqOxmU
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAJsM5MXYlpz
"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."438Please respect copyright.PENANAt49aVVaa9Q
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.438Please respect copyright.PENANADUtCNtIzpY
"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?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAoOuxy78pzH
"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."438Please respect copyright.PENANAJY3tGHOxCg
Leo soon turned around, 438Please respect copyright.PENANAL8oeECerVn
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt438Please respect copyright.PENANAPeaUw1qc3t
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue438Please respect copyright.PENANAHAwVc8wr4C
on top of it.438Please respect copyright.PENANA1JYKLG5Mhq
Kim had been crying. She438Please respect copyright.PENANApMBTKqqt0u
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the438Please respect copyright.PENANAHM9WX6p4sF
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 438Please respect copyright.PENANAApkwPZneDZ
her tears with another tissue.438Please respect copyright.PENANAgqkc7arkrb
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."438Please respect copyright.PENANAREP0k2Zsfs
"I'm not going to say 438Please respect copyright.PENANAlzPZJWFKn1
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 438Please respect copyright.PENANAcmjx2psEPb
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."438Please respect copyright.PENANAZXTiVMzmhO
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.438Please respect copyright.PENANAZFUY8Hf7eQ
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."438Please respect copyright.PENANAVe7uwq4ZEb
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAo8tUmLpP8w
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."438Please respect copyright.PENANAcdTM2lh77V
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAE8ShAdSaUU
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.438Please respect copyright.PENANAQQaKnYkMvh
"Yes, we are."438Please respect copyright.PENANACK3a4GoarL
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."438Please respect copyright.PENANAIv5CIWX0dm
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."438Please respect copyright.PENANABDsv3tVc3d
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."438Please respect copyright.PENANAn8DcZq8q0n
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAVaeDsawKjr
The two ladies agreed 438Please respect copyright.PENANAEuug6ILdA2
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 438Please respect copyright.PENANACTzyTeRUMt
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 438Please respect copyright.PENANAcUigxA1PA0
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.438Please respect copyright.PENANAPd4O0fIygu
"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."438Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZkPqRn7nK
Most people in the 438Please respect copyright.PENANAI2nDriRiyG
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 438Please respect copyright.PENANAksJ3lyIJgs
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 438Please respect copyright.PENANATlcthONfb1
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 438Please respect copyright.PENANAul2bKRkTjR
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 438Please respect copyright.PENANApMwESK9cAw
struggle to put out the first fire.438Please respect copyright.PENANAehz2vOFlzu
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.438Please respect copyright.PENANAGkCcpi8rSb
"I would rather suggest 438Please respect copyright.PENANAX10zj5YL2y
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his438Please respect copyright.PENANAy3IDyZlpmk
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 438Please respect copyright.PENANAvRgNe56i64
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAnhE18ulhDc
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.438Please respect copyright.PENANABegZj59oL5
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAJvuPz4zZM5
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."438Please respect copyright.PENANAM3fLCcz9cJ
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."438Please respect copyright.PENANAdEVPRSUgq4
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.438Please respect copyright.PENANAfdqSZuIqcv
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.438Please respect copyright.PENANA6izzDm60wb
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.438Please respect copyright.PENANAdm6JDtOs4T
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.438Please respect copyright.PENANA6DCYuRULwU
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.438Please respect copyright.PENANATDCnnFKnXp
Everyone slowly left the438Please respect copyright.PENANArPxkh7qj4Q
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 438Please respect copyright.PENANAXvEYzuNT1Y
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right438Please respect copyright.PENANAR6kGN5Es0T
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 438Please respect copyright.PENANAk52wRDz0VA
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.438Please respect copyright.PENANADagUGjXMch
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAeSGpTPjSIy
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."438Please respect copyright.PENANAJlHnfYRMsR
After the loving prayer,438Please respect copyright.PENANA41UcQJ8NoA
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed438Please respect copyright.PENANAB81ibZEghG
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.438Please respect copyright.PENANAGbbOMEIQZF
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAqui1AppTpG
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."438Please respect copyright.PENANAIBoF97T9oR
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."438Please respect copyright.PENANAUhynL5UfmO
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."438Please respect copyright.PENANAAzhEZxVPyw
"He really can't get 438Please respect copyright.PENANARUitI1wouc
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the438Please respect copyright.PENANA7K2hwem61R
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 438Please respect copyright.PENANAR3zroF9Ozv
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 438Please respect copyright.PENANAtvbdLY4gIm
eyes in irritation.438Please respect copyright.PENANASPD8C8zR8i
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."438Please respect copyright.PENANAvomiKhAblz
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.438Please respect copyright.PENANAzgi1umVfRx
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."438Please respect copyright.PENANAFNHauf9lOX
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.438Please respect copyright.PENANA0Q1Skgyd8n
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.438Please respect copyright.PENANAlNfpBzcYy3
"Why me?" Angel asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAoOdnY61q7o
"I know you will explain438Please respect copyright.PENANAyxUFfrsN2r
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 438Please respect copyright.PENANAchO6dK8ou7
of things from now on if mum is busy."438Please respect copyright.PENANAVRtk95kxSr
"Like what?" Diana asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANA5KItVfKDmm
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."438Please respect copyright.PENANAODS5uxgOAF
"That's so nice of you, 438Please respect copyright.PENANAFp6FcyJVwZ
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,438Please respect copyright.PENANApUiD6SHDVR
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 438Please respect copyright.PENANA80uRovsmAP
want to."438Please respect copyright.PENANAAaqa4djmGU
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."438Please respect copyright.PENANA6rCrsf9Wnk
Angel looked at him and 438Please respect copyright.PENANAOnDWVXxfR7
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 438Please respect copyright.PENANAzqZRwOyePa
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 438Please respect copyright.PENANAwjY88n2PdM
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.438Please respect copyright.PENANATcbSOxGFHt
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."438Please respect copyright.PENANAbTLilOm5vu
Leo felt like he was 438Please respect copyright.PENANA1SZG2IgDQj
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 438Please respect copyright.PENANAt15VJygRTG
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.438Please respect copyright.PENANA5DCGBUAq57
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.438Please respect copyright.PENANARiJ55hMVGP
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.438Please respect copyright.PENANA0R7ZZIhTXN
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."438Please respect copyright.PENANAOOVigEbhg7
"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."438Please respect copyright.PENANA79rOGA2wdp
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."438Please respect copyright.PENANAB8jJxw0o6e
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.438Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ib6lbcid8
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAF45zAp4Gaw
"It was fine, mum," said438Please respect copyright.PENANAZaEnHdhtXe
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 438Please respect copyright.PENANAAIp1GpvQ6p
conversation was going to turn out.438Please respect copyright.PENANA4eKexiTmaS
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAAD8LpE3AQW
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."438Please respect copyright.PENANAeYcHAweZGx
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."438Please respect copyright.PENANAUjFR4nRIPH
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.438Please respect copyright.PENANAchxmFSLN5F
"Alright," said Mrs 438Please respect copyright.PENANAA8HYSnr6lP
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 438Please respect copyright.PENANA1on4PMvk7s
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 438Please respect copyright.PENANAVH4UocC01o
for you lately?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAf8jEmQDvkW
Angel and Carly both 438Please respect copyright.PENANAlE7d8uRHr9
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 438Please respect copyright.PENANASb1Uex4Gcw
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 438Please respect copyright.PENANAXMDkzwWAmW
already was one herself.438Please respect copyright.PENANAtN4p8cLiIb
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.438Please respect copyright.PENANA5TDlG56kbJ
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANALMgzVJwkvx
"Running well as usual."438Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ea4zD6AmI
"I should really pay him438Please respect copyright.PENANAUTWj0cJCbA
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAYBIYMcntqP
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."438Please respect copyright.PENANAMdUAbvxzYb
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.438Please respect copyright.PENANAGORn3MnTN1
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.438Please respect copyright.PENANA4CP5I75ZL4
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.438Please respect copyright.PENANA42jBf34mZ2
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.438Please respect copyright.PENANA5kFSSvHeEu
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."438Please respect copyright.PENANAioM37Yiz3S
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."438Please respect copyright.PENANAub4bmdky2p
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."438Please respect copyright.PENANAcpk8OBMqxM
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.438Please respect copyright.PENANA9aBD57TDjy
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.438Please respect copyright.PENANAVE7fnBUWrB
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAJAGljBUGXJ
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."438Please respect copyright.PENANAuAfYJhpgxp
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAUss9fsE5FR
"I would really like to,438Please respect copyright.PENANAY66woCKa5r
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 438Please respect copyright.PENANAfzs50tLH0D
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."438Please respect copyright.PENANAWOEeC3IpKi
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."438Please respect copyright.PENANAIyNOPaSlDM
"Mum, most of us here 438Please respect copyright.PENANA1w07U5MHVK
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 438Please respect copyright.PENANAddrxhCdl4m
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 438Please respect copyright.PENANAxPdboqX5Hr
mine."438Please respect copyright.PENANAdiWZLQY4N2
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAwbHSrKWcSv
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others438Please respect copyright.PENANAdx6CVMdRLa
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 438Please respect copyright.PENANAeF7n2VzPEP
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 438Please respect copyright.PENANAUB6Wht0Gp7
moment.438Please respect copyright.PENANASK7kIa1TnS
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."438Please respect copyright.PENANAs5MoaYm6ri
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.438Please respect copyright.PENANA6WYC4nSVm2
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.438Please respect copyright.PENANAqiHbD0gWNe
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:438Please respect copyright.PENANAwjmOzzyqnF
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."438Please respect copyright.PENANAcbl2FlRvrz
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."438Please respect copyright.PENANACS4bUKc62C
"For now or never?" Leo asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAn42nfSXf3T
"Don't start, son."438Please respect copyright.PENANAaHofs7gGJL
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAIo9FG18yvT
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.438Please respect copyright.PENANAR6PbprKXxG
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.438Please respect copyright.PENANAF00narA57O
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.438Please respect copyright.PENANAxm2d5iuJAk
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.438Please respect copyright.PENANAzoNJXOnJes
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.438Please respect copyright.PENANAQM9aCLnYxf
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."438Please respect copyright.PENANAYafMWgtvUZ
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.438Please respect copyright.PENANAiXQmegW2l8
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.438Please respect copyright.PENANAj2EsUPVyGH
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.438Please respect copyright.PENANADDd4UNLp5r
"I'll come and help," said Eric.438Please respect copyright.PENANAwx89H91rLp
"Me too," said Carly.438Please respect copyright.PENANAOrBO5W3irr
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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