Leo found himself back 434Please respect copyright.PENANA6vRLKIoVD3
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 434Please respect copyright.PENANAgF5IUXB8LG
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after434Please respect copyright.PENANA5MQC51ulqJ
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in434Please respect copyright.PENANASWeex6Ot5x
the room.434Please respect copyright.PENANA8gcEk0PSQ6
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAVgsLDbHLja
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"434Please respect copyright.PENANA8IfRlUWdmH
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.434Please respect copyright.PENANAhIDQKkv32k
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAYwZMrulIr5
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."434Please respect copyright.PENANA3XT87J1yB5
Eric raised an eyebrow 434Please respect copyright.PENANAN0mFBV6c5j
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 434Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2WeBiu6fP
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 434Please respect copyright.PENANAUF1nwuyR7O
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.434Please respect copyright.PENANA1hvuMsxzEA
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAzUMazUFNbq
"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."434Please respect copyright.PENANAmVCPeAUXzU
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.434Please respect copyright.PENANADhMPjZ2ecX
"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?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAU8CGcwvEIs
"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."434Please respect copyright.PENANAnolTTp7Vzn
Leo soon turned around, 434Please respect copyright.PENANAJKntmuaQyp
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt434Please respect copyright.PENANAnJq0WAziP1
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue434Please respect copyright.PENANArvcNn1Xrk8
on top of it.434Please respect copyright.PENANAkKBqG0Peso
Kim had been crying. She434Please respect copyright.PENANAGKIzGfkxO2
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the434Please respect copyright.PENANAcG0f67fxNn
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 434Please respect copyright.PENANAMD3oFywv72
her tears with another tissue.434Please respect copyright.PENANAZM9ArMO04h
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."434Please respect copyright.PENANAmQmhh8TZNU
"I'm not going to say 434Please respect copyright.PENANAsturo3OYVE
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 434Please respect copyright.PENANAf1sQrCQiCH
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."434Please respect copyright.PENANANTshZra9rq
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.434Please respect copyright.PENANApJ17F5unKN
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."434Please respect copyright.PENANAqnOwmrECD8
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"434Please respect copyright.PENANA0E0kPIjlEz
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."434Please respect copyright.PENANAnM2MGYbtZk
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAUtwoTwhLHI
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.434Please respect copyright.PENANAZDn0Qk4Zue
"Yes, we are."434Please respect copyright.PENANA5z5gAdWyj6
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."434Please respect copyright.PENANAmrsawXy2Wz
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."434Please respect copyright.PENANA6NJpVKkP8m
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."434Please respect copyright.PENANACEJFtJIrvy
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAOmj0Y188tM
The two ladies agreed 434Please respect copyright.PENANAof73dbegbi
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 434Please respect copyright.PENANAYYlyKwdD7E
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 434Please respect copyright.PENANAeSpFVs7eA8
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.434Please respect copyright.PENANAaouWZmQ1q1
"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."434Please respect copyright.PENANAC3m3mdkXQo
Most people in the 434Please respect copyright.PENANAttcoyaKBk2
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 434Please respect copyright.PENANA0N1XF83Qfe
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 434Please respect copyright.PENANAoPcC1FqAiC
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 434Please respect copyright.PENANAGAmzhYdiEQ
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 434Please respect copyright.PENANAF0NCAZzW1w
struggle to put out the first fire.434Please respect copyright.PENANAxb7Eja8h5d
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.434Please respect copyright.PENANAHO9edLcJFy
"I would rather suggest 434Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8rn2GiPVo
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his434Please respect copyright.PENANAnqqZ4A5c9C
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 434Please respect copyright.PENANASQPxunRCyx
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAWipVveTC9j
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.434Please respect copyright.PENANAdHhdfnYs3K
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANABKCbitsKBU
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."434Please respect copyright.PENANA8fZGzsjDtG
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."434Please respect copyright.PENANAdeKLbS5qAJ
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.434Please respect copyright.PENANAJl6uYJgrld
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.434Please respect copyright.PENANA59IlcmmZlM
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.434Please respect copyright.PENANAkzUjw06y73
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.434Please respect copyright.PENANA3OPRr7wddg
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.434Please respect copyright.PENANAQdA0pCoy5t
Everyone slowly left the434Please respect copyright.PENANA3sx1ZEgj3Y
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 434Please respect copyright.PENANAvciKSLujtr
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right434Please respect copyright.PENANAxD2MefaAYo
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 434Please respect copyright.PENANAa7dRxN6OzC
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.434Please respect copyright.PENANA3vJGhqWVhO
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANABTUYC5NuZb
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."434Please respect copyright.PENANAmGDj2xJGzU
After the loving prayer,434Please respect copyright.PENANAooCKk7gFxn
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed434Please respect copyright.PENANAGLqBUufhK4
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.434Please respect copyright.PENANAyGbG86dzcc
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANA6whjlX5a1q
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."434Please respect copyright.PENANA5fGLOzoVK2
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."434Please respect copyright.PENANAmiCtpJb6Dm
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."434Please respect copyright.PENANADLQxQXTLFN
"He really can't get 434Please respect copyright.PENANADpwAS5tMSa
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the434Please respect copyright.PENANAD8B2VFFeDz
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 434Please respect copyright.PENANAIn8guOtDHX
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 434Please respect copyright.PENANABOB3IhT9Mx
eyes in irritation.434Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9wFmY7doi
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."434Please respect copyright.PENANAvsIACFhkGM
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.434Please respect copyright.PENANAPE49IvOkJs
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."434Please respect copyright.PENANANcns0dENcN
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.434Please respect copyright.PENANA48WrQBznne
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.434Please respect copyright.PENANAsFtEzQbfzh
"Why me?" Angel asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANASYCM8YQIFE
"I know you will explain434Please respect copyright.PENANALo54ycNWZQ
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 434Please respect copyright.PENANAXCtMlFpcfl
of things from now on if mum is busy."434Please respect copyright.PENANA7AYgO6vLuk
"Like what?" Diana asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANAqyie9Ftwax
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."434Please respect copyright.PENANAtpZiqhAGSy
"That's so nice of you, 434Please respect copyright.PENANANQgIYXJKOC
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,434Please respect copyright.PENANAjpJr703YGm
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 434Please respect copyright.PENANApHTjnDGXA2
want to."434Please respect copyright.PENANA3ehqDSCAs3
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."434Please respect copyright.PENANARUpWOfOpwa
Angel looked at him and 434Please respect copyright.PENANAdXK96vmXjm
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 434Please respect copyright.PENANA8IjAva2gj9
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 434Please respect copyright.PENANAaATTdzdDEm
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.434Please respect copyright.PENANAKdAP8KkL1N
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."434Please respect copyright.PENANAJYFfhJebfu
Leo felt like he was 434Please respect copyright.PENANAVyqnKwnuAd
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 434Please respect copyright.PENANAq5sVgmVIcZ
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.434Please respect copyright.PENANA9H6l1Ny3A3
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.434Please respect copyright.PENANALaxxmEffQo
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.434Please respect copyright.PENANAtsQfk57TUN
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."434Please respect copyright.PENANAKIqFStxFva
"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."434Please respect copyright.PENANAZTkYRecOOq
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."434Please respect copyright.PENANAMxFZnaCYgd
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.434Please respect copyright.PENANA4XC0BfyG7e
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAFYAvGpFEh3
"It was fine, mum," said434Please respect copyright.PENANAzdpA2BcHY9
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 434Please respect copyright.PENANAaDbOAp9Juq
conversation was going to turn out.434Please respect copyright.PENANA922l9NdVku
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAxTdV2p12lQ
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."434Please respect copyright.PENANA3EgsK7Msna
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."434Please respect copyright.PENANAfwsQQYzaE8
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.434Please respect copyright.PENANAL1odjRYDJ1
"Alright," said Mrs 434Please respect copyright.PENANAmNGhUrs6hQ
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 434Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2hhmcLfXD
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 434Please respect copyright.PENANA4flHJtucWd
for you lately?"434Please respect copyright.PENANA8PNacx9MFw
Angel and Carly both 434Please respect copyright.PENANABawvc4BIbJ
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 434Please respect copyright.PENANA2wpuv1ahI5
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 434Please respect copyright.PENANAIvaU8DMpQb
already was one herself.434Please respect copyright.PENANA4ARiXQNP46
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.434Please respect copyright.PENANApT2xALnK9o
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANAc3hHtkslOJ
"Running well as usual."434Please respect copyright.PENANAOhKZWjaK1s
"I should really pay him434Please respect copyright.PENANAvndMpxmNBV
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 434Please respect copyright.PENANANbqqNkomkQ
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."434Please respect copyright.PENANA7obwdwIBDU
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.434Please respect copyright.PENANAgdbcU0Cnaq
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.434Please respect copyright.PENANAharLPIvHqV
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.434Please respect copyright.PENANAmdr8Zhwqul
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.434Please respect copyright.PENANAZtObKUuZOa
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."434Please respect copyright.PENANAucCZM4BN9s
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."434Please respect copyright.PENANAJIHCt0QTOk
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."434Please respect copyright.PENANAezkGXNZ6Pe
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.434Please respect copyright.PENANANuW8WaxWvY
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.434Please respect copyright.PENANAmwpPbpLlVY
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANAxrMUnkpNDS
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."434Please respect copyright.PENANAxlh3yBmN1O
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAhAOdbmuhcj
"I would really like to,434Please respect copyright.PENANAaNDb5Yw2S0
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 434Please respect copyright.PENANAlKjn0tt91G
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."434Please respect copyright.PENANA3UrLW3gG5P
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."434Please respect copyright.PENANASpOlYNmqmR
"Mum, most of us here 434Please respect copyright.PENANAdKz9frs7ij
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 434Please respect copyright.PENANABjHauGO5v5
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 434Please respect copyright.PENANA7Cko8FpqET
mine."434Please respect copyright.PENANATTK1Jrcfet
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 434Please respect copyright.PENANAl5VsujlcGu
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others434Please respect copyright.PENANAdo9AuLfO3X
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 434Please respect copyright.PENANAsGys8UHV0o
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 434Please respect copyright.PENANATR6uxkVdoK
moment.434Please respect copyright.PENANA5GtMoRtH8X
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."434Please respect copyright.PENANAx1NXxZsRs5
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.434Please respect copyright.PENANArqu7WEP0d6
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.434Please respect copyright.PENANAlL46FZ1imB
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:434Please respect copyright.PENANAwtu2W5pYY8
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."434Please respect copyright.PENANA8cV3VTUUjm
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."434Please respect copyright.PENANA8W9LqSTVvI
"For now or never?" Leo asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANAIm1Jq2vS1t
"Don't start, son."434Please respect copyright.PENANAKefPbWkmUc
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"434Please respect copyright.PENANAeMpkbQxi9a
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.434Please respect copyright.PENANAPXqIDS33Ox
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.434Please respect copyright.PENANA5C2URWcDZJ
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.434Please respect copyright.PENANAKpnIGtgvFv
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.434Please respect copyright.PENANATRp6c1h2q1
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.434Please respect copyright.PENANAVj2mhmA87H
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."434Please respect copyright.PENANABXm7GLnniY
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.434Please respect copyright.PENANAU4Xu4wrGuG
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.434Please respect copyright.PENANAjvgrrXpLY3
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.434Please respect copyright.PENANAeDvyhA1rt3
"I'll come and help," said Eric.434Please respect copyright.PENANAATO4HupIhX
"Me too," said Carly.434Please respect copyright.PENANAKTP4WWw4CS
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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