Leo found himself back 473Please respect copyright.PENANAel8gwOSlI2
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 473Please respect copyright.PENANAYu5FX2vts3
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after473Please respect copyright.PENANASYiTI3BfEu
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in473Please respect copyright.PENANAWRy0bNboYO
the room.473Please respect copyright.PENANAW23DStaQnL
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"473Please respect copyright.PENANA3XYNgMVtU4
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"473Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y0vsuDL6Y
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.473Please respect copyright.PENANAHocbhLAFpq
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAv0ZUTRvaLU
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."473Please respect copyright.PENANAHFZ9mF0Ovb
Eric raised an eyebrow 473Please respect copyright.PENANAoKJOhuCkce
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 473Please respect copyright.PENANAlwkSuKIjtg
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 473Please respect copyright.PENANAotrYfcInlp
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.473Please respect copyright.PENANAtbrjmEzCgT
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAGDUSVse6RS
"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."473Please respect copyright.PENANAhn6QB48zme
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.473Please respect copyright.PENANAEajA3a2bLV
"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?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAccJ2jlgXnk
"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."473Please respect copyright.PENANAhOjf2Kpgml
Leo soon turned around, 473Please respect copyright.PENANA0qDiHqcvj3
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt473Please respect copyright.PENANAuPrlnMYKLN
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue473Please respect copyright.PENANAgF531Ccvn2
on top of it.473Please respect copyright.PENANA1LRljtZxq7
Kim had been crying. She473Please respect copyright.PENANAhgkMIUTwTj
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the473Please respect copyright.PENANAwcmer9ZhUS
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 473Please respect copyright.PENANAxGJJ4Wt8Gl
her tears with another tissue.473Please respect copyright.PENANAOMSi2bP4md
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."473Please respect copyright.PENANA3pbU3USMlB
"I'm not going to say 473Please respect copyright.PENANAGfLfhgyrfD
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 473Please respect copyright.PENANAPaM9EKpEDe
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."473Please respect copyright.PENANANTkPAlvbqM
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.473Please respect copyright.PENANAtGjxXdBNLz
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."473Please respect copyright.PENANAht1Zq2aocn
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"473Please respect copyright.PENANA6SLJhyV0x9
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."473Please respect copyright.PENANA5BATM6pr0R
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAzDq4sePah2
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.473Please respect copyright.PENANAAGEWsGOEGe
"Yes, we are."473Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4sbRrEr1Y
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."473Please respect copyright.PENANAqnF3BrPfJO
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."473Please respect copyright.PENANAUmk5VOqYf1
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."473Please respect copyright.PENANAlZZUWpl5B6
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAiDwQhXS0OS
The two ladies agreed 473Please respect copyright.PENANAFYJpvBBwf4
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 473Please respect copyright.PENANAVND1lNnAQH
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 473Please respect copyright.PENANAZHcsjO5TCk
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.473Please respect copyright.PENANAM4AOWf6BUY
"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."473Please respect copyright.PENANAXYxFM2yyZO
Most people in the 473Please respect copyright.PENANAfNTsYROOEo
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 473Please respect copyright.PENANA0NyD0DdijA
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 473Please respect copyright.PENANAgjLWhUEDAu
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 473Please respect copyright.PENANAbyfKEOIPQu
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 473Please respect copyright.PENANAjXWbCR4qRM
struggle to put out the first fire.473Please respect copyright.PENANAZLehbFzM99
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.473Please respect copyright.PENANA8xCh29ONET
"I would rather suggest 473Please respect copyright.PENANAmGanDqL230
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his473Please respect copyright.PENANA35N09SSDYz
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 473Please respect copyright.PENANAk605dxRg9O
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAUPSyxb1Vjv
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.473Please respect copyright.PENANAxuoxXldctj
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANA3hYgPeqjPK
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."473Please respect copyright.PENANAs7gJ2ur9dj
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."473Please respect copyright.PENANAtLFTu55Zrg
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.473Please respect copyright.PENANAjWxznWi2U1
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.473Please respect copyright.PENANALnyytSkeH4
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.473Please respect copyright.PENANACiZl3sIaGb
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.473Please respect copyright.PENANAi1DD1G0YnX
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.473Please respect copyright.PENANA6bTeaTxyJm
Everyone slowly left the473Please respect copyright.PENANAWYzYEvLEti
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 473Please respect copyright.PENANAoLdwrIklnZ
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right473Please respect copyright.PENANAlJqpf0A0b0
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 473Please respect copyright.PENANARx0390EJEy
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.473Please respect copyright.PENANAZTJNZXdkDd
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANAKPFIyU9i2K
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."473Please respect copyright.PENANAuu4a9rTLqX
After the loving prayer,473Please respect copyright.PENANAqD6ZsON52T
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed473Please respect copyright.PENANAcGECyv0OW9
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.473Please respect copyright.PENANAeMlZ2ypeNg
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANA3iEQfJwpAR
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."473Please respect copyright.PENANAIakB4OY1gE
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."473Please respect copyright.PENANAilYRyroLyL
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."473Please respect copyright.PENANAtsVjoBdz4V
"He really can't get 473Please respect copyright.PENANAyMDqFHoO46
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the473Please respect copyright.PENANAkbxT6WbpwK
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 473Please respect copyright.PENANAoXHAc0ntZm
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 473Please respect copyright.PENANAjDrC83ZzSb
eyes in irritation.473Please respect copyright.PENANAY7XEsaL8he
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."473Please respect copyright.PENANAvU5dA74iqW
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.473Please respect copyright.PENANA1xL7glI1gh
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."473Please respect copyright.PENANAuRxoloujWM
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.473Please respect copyright.PENANAm0eiLgbyaD
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.473Please respect copyright.PENANAtRutexWfBx
"Why me?" Angel asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANA3qSdsFA8bv
"I know you will explain473Please respect copyright.PENANAKj35ZOQ9DH
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 473Please respect copyright.PENANAfUTSn5Ushl
of things from now on if mum is busy."473Please respect copyright.PENANAdEIWb07k7R
"Like what?" Diana asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANA7SVYm2Ai5x
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."473Please respect copyright.PENANATf8wicgG0Z
"That's so nice of you, 473Please respect copyright.PENANAv3i24VakOf
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,473Please respect copyright.PENANAb8TZtMXZDU
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 473Please respect copyright.PENANAXkyfscrsEW
want to."473Please respect copyright.PENANAfmkThBkMlF
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."473Please respect copyright.PENANAi1J9AsqWPy
Angel looked at him and 473Please respect copyright.PENANA6DVjUzrPcD
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 473Please respect copyright.PENANA3uIdVsoLAf
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 473Please respect copyright.PENANA92vTwUIalP
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.473Please respect copyright.PENANAxuo33FoUJF
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."473Please respect copyright.PENANAH8MoHh9dPo
Leo felt like he was 473Please respect copyright.PENANAE9Teukk88B
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 473Please respect copyright.PENANA5RmPbKmVnE
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.473Please respect copyright.PENANATtut0Nrq70
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.473Please respect copyright.PENANA5wcm9t9mZ9
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.473Please respect copyright.PENANAVBkrsQal8k
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."473Please respect copyright.PENANAqZikMIMvri
"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."473Please respect copyright.PENANAHtZAkNggS9
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."473Please respect copyright.PENANAvyRs98Aw3s
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.473Please respect copyright.PENANAbICmqk6M2w
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAkcld2LWBUM
"It was fine, mum," said473Please respect copyright.PENANAhck8YKpWKi
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 473Please respect copyright.PENANAhZx4HxyS0h
conversation was going to turn out.473Please respect copyright.PENANAqKhJeoElpM
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"473Please respect copyright.PENANA0F5UCtT1BR
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."473Please respect copyright.PENANAUYA9LvLUQo
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."473Please respect copyright.PENANARo7RgvMF4Y
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.473Please respect copyright.PENANANvnvUS8R4m
"Alright," said Mrs 473Please respect copyright.PENANAsXc908DG7a
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 473Please respect copyright.PENANAu1V7RfX2Ku
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 473Please respect copyright.PENANAUhVoCkSguO
for you lately?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAjdFYK5TL9a
Angel and Carly both 473Please respect copyright.PENANA5uvkTYYymV
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 473Please respect copyright.PENANAnAysJRaFIj
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 473Please respect copyright.PENANADcARFDVMCt
already was one herself.473Please respect copyright.PENANAcR2Wq798fh
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.473Please respect copyright.PENANAJkQwy7oeRX
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANAumLLIyro3S
"Running well as usual."473Please respect copyright.PENANA8JEkvarlNR
"I should really pay him473Please respect copyright.PENANAOptTCrDQGW
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 473Please respect copyright.PENANAryMLtq2cr8
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."473Please respect copyright.PENANAn2LpDVlGnX
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.473Please respect copyright.PENANAKWGllEWNqP
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.473Please respect copyright.PENANAUwKTmhfC30
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.473Please respect copyright.PENANAd8ZW455d6Y
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.473Please respect copyright.PENANATGQsV4fOvi
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."473Please respect copyright.PENANA7lQBTr9zUS
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."473Please respect copyright.PENANAkgLSNRrDy3
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."473Please respect copyright.PENANAZoOXVbIMJc
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.473Please respect copyright.PENANANwavVSEBXU
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.473Please respect copyright.PENANAPBz3YCXxGE
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANAWSuK5V7RiY
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."473Please respect copyright.PENANAl91oJ1kByP
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"473Please respect copyright.PENANAC8G2xl5bnM
"I would really like to,473Please respect copyright.PENANAnvDVcoUluW
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 473Please respect copyright.PENANAYNBjf2f5A8
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."473Please respect copyright.PENANAoUN9DOZiLd
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."473Please respect copyright.PENANA3KTuOFyn7l
"Mum, most of us here 473Please respect copyright.PENANA6ojqkVjwzm
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 473Please respect copyright.PENANA86yQ6AcdvP
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 473Please respect copyright.PENANA7ViMsFqdQI
mine."473Please respect copyright.PENANAikjl2jITBP
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 473Please respect copyright.PENANAmNMCxUnUCT
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others473Please respect copyright.PENANAmJP2MTTNTo
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 473Please respect copyright.PENANABBrguC2G18
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 473Please respect copyright.PENANA1T7wmp9Dx9
moment.473Please respect copyright.PENANA64K9mNS3Xs
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."473Please respect copyright.PENANAf7oHyQzWzY
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.473Please respect copyright.PENANA6jnAznfb9g
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.473Please respect copyright.PENANAEvAw0H2wNx
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:473Please respect copyright.PENANAVnxwyjYKaW
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."473Please respect copyright.PENANALHy212bI6k
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."473Please respect copyright.PENANA36w7sPxjvz
"For now or never?" Leo asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANAgxZc7QCqcO
"Don't start, son."473Please respect copyright.PENANA9HugmRlTXu
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"473Please respect copyright.PENANA4qDqZs3Avl
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.473Please respect copyright.PENANAjNEqMcjjql
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.473Please respect copyright.PENANAHH2sRz2chr
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANAMWHMJWdfti
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.473Please respect copyright.PENANAeIFEDZRbIk
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.473Please respect copyright.PENANAUQni3Cj1t1
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."473Please respect copyright.PENANAZXopPmbvCP
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.473Please respect copyright.PENANAgsZ7bTC0Zv
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.473Please respect copyright.PENANA5MCcA5Bg1u
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.473Please respect copyright.PENANAN0zN4Hs1h5
"I'll come and help," said Eric.473Please respect copyright.PENANAdAUgJxBFlI
"Me too," said Carly.473Please respect copyright.PENANAjPZ7LObws9
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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