Leo found himself back 474Please respect copyright.PENANAlUorK2SBQp
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 474Please respect copyright.PENANA9JAjwhz7mO
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after474Please respect copyright.PENANAAg48e5S8bl
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in474Please respect copyright.PENANAK22bx7M5FS
the room.474Please respect copyright.PENANAYGEKNxOrTv
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAeGQKpzNyDO
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAMMYBNf9vSy
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.474Please respect copyright.PENANAF3Sc96Oll2
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAMUbMzAG8vZ
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."474Please respect copyright.PENANATGYHMPgBZX
Eric raised an eyebrow 474Please respect copyright.PENANA1SiGWPY3mv
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 474Please respect copyright.PENANAaowflZVma4
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 474Please respect copyright.PENANAAkVS1Otisa
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.474Please respect copyright.PENANAgYZcI8dBDF
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"474Please respect copyright.PENANA6fyZbe8GcX
"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."474Please respect copyright.PENANAjCnxaTegXV
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.474Please respect copyright.PENANAzbp3lMHox6
"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?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAqRvYvdvBwM
"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."474Please respect copyright.PENANACtFFmxvCbO
Leo soon turned around, 474Please respect copyright.PENANA89Lpr80Bdx
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt474Please respect copyright.PENANAZRvwQSioAX
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue474Please respect copyright.PENANAUK7KnX91Xk
on top of it.474Please respect copyright.PENANAyOAzRosY2O
Kim had been crying. She474Please respect copyright.PENANAiFFMvL6d6m
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the474Please respect copyright.PENANA3bEpqPOCqO
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 474Please respect copyright.PENANAcPmzpCbHtf
her tears with another tissue.474Please respect copyright.PENANAScnhqqAdVq
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."474Please respect copyright.PENANACojXSpf7UP
"I'm not going to say 474Please respect copyright.PENANALi5DPONxWM
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 474Please respect copyright.PENANAYxgRI2X9X4
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."474Please respect copyright.PENANAFeG3kv0yCa
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.474Please respect copyright.PENANAnTJswozyN3
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."474Please respect copyright.PENANAEWaJgGq2jh
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAUQxtViZZmh
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."474Please respect copyright.PENANAEyAuOtAgWu
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAWJQPFuNDzq
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.474Please respect copyright.PENANAy6MvZKFmdk
"Yes, we are."474Please respect copyright.PENANA37c0mUTGS1
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."474Please respect copyright.PENANAPCFB25UNaZ
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."474Please respect copyright.PENANAqGPA4tSNyz
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."474Please respect copyright.PENANAVRdw4rclNQ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"474Please respect copyright.PENANA2zPvUhpjrk
The two ladies agreed 474Please respect copyright.PENANATNpn25IRxm
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 474Please respect copyright.PENANAsYWjhZlfbD
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 474Please respect copyright.PENANAUqmVWv701w
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.474Please respect copyright.PENANAyF1VN0H6dO
"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."474Please respect copyright.PENANA8xbTL3bKig
Most people in the 474Please respect copyright.PENANAKDUxWTHS4y
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 474Please respect copyright.PENANAy5gx08c234
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 474Please respect copyright.PENANAFnqHBnPLLB
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 474Please respect copyright.PENANAbWOgNBsZGN
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 474Please respect copyright.PENANAH90z0h6m0R
struggle to put out the first fire.474Please respect copyright.PENANAJr6Azxfnjz
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.474Please respect copyright.PENANAAHytm66FN5
"I would rather suggest 474Please respect copyright.PENANAfyoe0Qbyqw
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his474Please respect copyright.PENANARCRoed05Wn
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 474Please respect copyright.PENANA1F4Aa9DhvL
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAHj6C5olxvK
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.474Please respect copyright.PENANAj6dmKCVrAB
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAAcqsoSyNzp
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."474Please respect copyright.PENANA62MTzC4vMQ
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."474Please respect copyright.PENANAsuKqcTOu5H
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.474Please respect copyright.PENANATYbUL1kwgD
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.474Please respect copyright.PENANAebkxN3MM8k
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.474Please respect copyright.PENANAT16kyZgvwb
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.474Please respect copyright.PENANAijkTPqznSX
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.474Please respect copyright.PENANAIIwP0YY0qW
Everyone slowly left the474Please respect copyright.PENANA6hCgDuqHOK
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 474Please respect copyright.PENANAUQFq6rXn9c
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right474Please respect copyright.PENANA2SmwBFl4Cx
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 474Please respect copyright.PENANAvClIqJn7bB
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.474Please respect copyright.PENANA7B1zdHM7tO
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAvYZUeBLFnF
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."474Please respect copyright.PENANANiyF0hsuJo
After the loving prayer,474Please respect copyright.PENANAm3ZC9j2btg
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed474Please respect copyright.PENANAbHU0CfrslV
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.474Please respect copyright.PENANAJxmPRkzGuU
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAlaq8uQYp7M
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."474Please respect copyright.PENANArMx5P0Wfip
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."474Please respect copyright.PENANAG7UbLP9YOk
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."474Please respect copyright.PENANAsmsmntDPVC
"He really can't get 474Please respect copyright.PENANAHwlmLc3HtJ
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the474Please respect copyright.PENANAX5goJwtJKz
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 474Please respect copyright.PENANAsBAKQUlQZ0
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 474Please respect copyright.PENANAE0q0Ybzytw
eyes in irritation.474Please respect copyright.PENANAnisWnB8hpZ
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."474Please respect copyright.PENANABdGEtdCF4V
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.474Please respect copyright.PENANAkwQZRysW8q
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."474Please respect copyright.PENANAIxCULxPnHe
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.474Please respect copyright.PENANAD9GDkcDvCm
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.474Please respect copyright.PENANAuILz1aQtT6
"Why me?" Angel asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAfVPgNSOSfM
"I know you will explain474Please respect copyright.PENANAqHlufxgvpM
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 474Please respect copyright.PENANAdnMvTfdDl2
of things from now on if mum is busy."474Please respect copyright.PENANAJWLNbN1IwA
"Like what?" Diana asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAS5cOv44NAo
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."474Please respect copyright.PENANALoSk1B1hiN
"That's so nice of you, 474Please respect copyright.PENANA7NVE7nzgc7
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,474Please respect copyright.PENANA9ik0UveK6n
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 474Please respect copyright.PENANAnQEDQXQia0
want to."474Please respect copyright.PENANAGdfupMKAIH
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."474Please respect copyright.PENANA8R0JxCLyQ5
Angel looked at him and 474Please respect copyright.PENANAXyw5QT65pG
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 474Please respect copyright.PENANAOIWAfbhmp9
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 474Please respect copyright.PENANAT0Y1IhONSM
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.474Please respect copyright.PENANA4JjrczGFXA
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."474Please respect copyright.PENANAb31lgLGocQ
Leo felt like he was 474Please respect copyright.PENANAUZk6SxMcYy
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 474Please respect copyright.PENANABuKLIekqGt
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.474Please respect copyright.PENANAf7lBlR2OWE
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.474Please respect copyright.PENANAkEaSGV1vXA
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.474Please respect copyright.PENANAzuC5mmyOqA
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."474Please respect copyright.PENANAvWZ3rjHynZ
"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."474Please respect copyright.PENANAJpOpyHGYsu
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."474Please respect copyright.PENANAsUC04QPrzL
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.474Please respect copyright.PENANAGCBEbbv7J3
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAMEOR6l50EH
"It was fine, mum," said474Please respect copyright.PENANAe73AAjPXDS
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 474Please respect copyright.PENANAS2ZIfC5yNK
conversation was going to turn out.474Please respect copyright.PENANARzZEpxoyM6
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAJgcNRRRrJC
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."474Please respect copyright.PENANAIqjeoG034w
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."474Please respect copyright.PENANAZfXjU05Jl1
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.474Please respect copyright.PENANAhlTeTZpAih
"Alright," said Mrs 474Please respect copyright.PENANAoDj2fZmCt7
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 474Please respect copyright.PENANAEmdptYs4fl
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 474Please respect copyright.PENANAooIsfc8poD
for you lately?"474Please respect copyright.PENANA4PKMBj3gXM
Angel and Carly both 474Please respect copyright.PENANA0QSjU88bOr
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 474Please respect copyright.PENANANuNq9Buq09
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 474Please respect copyright.PENANA2INtfoy8fp
already was one herself.474Please respect copyright.PENANAyn5lZtIOLn
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.474Please respect copyright.PENANAgn7lmr6hwK
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAyXJmuguqcI
"Running well as usual."474Please respect copyright.PENANAmFr13VqETh
"I should really pay him474Please respect copyright.PENANA4GSZz1PjYz
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 474Please respect copyright.PENANAxbvO8hU7up
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."474Please respect copyright.PENANAjB8U6M09Y4
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.474Please respect copyright.PENANAArqVfT7vhm
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.474Please respect copyright.PENANASz7jQZGXxA
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.474Please respect copyright.PENANAUL3yGIw5M0
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.474Please respect copyright.PENANAWLmKUIU89e
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."474Please respect copyright.PENANA19GKlb6kpA
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."474Please respect copyright.PENANAV15J5eqLts
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."474Please respect copyright.PENANAxUGdnM0h9a
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.474Please respect copyright.PENANAb5bglpCDg7
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.474Please respect copyright.PENANA9J87t16gpq
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAOGg3tLGXSj
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."474Please respect copyright.PENANAV0KyDdZSil
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAruiGByD7Ol
"I would really like to,474Please respect copyright.PENANAswbnjMQPoR
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 474Please respect copyright.PENANA5O6OCg4SJf
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."474Please respect copyright.PENANAlrEWA8bVgP
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."474Please respect copyright.PENANA6v8TfQsYCe
"Mum, most of us here 474Please respect copyright.PENANA8eqZuC3rCt
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 474Please respect copyright.PENANAGbW6PW8ksi
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 474Please respect copyright.PENANAi1slvXbAMs
mine."474Please respect copyright.PENANA9VOamLyOSY
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 474Please respect copyright.PENANA6MKdNWAw2o
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others474Please respect copyright.PENANAMIb6LpXSDs
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 474Please respect copyright.PENANANd7TWELxHC
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 474Please respect copyright.PENANApPfd3c24G7
moment.474Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y31reoZgI
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."474Please respect copyright.PENANATsIxfe78ha
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.474Please respect copyright.PENANANEl63AjZsZ
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.474Please respect copyright.PENANA5jfVR367ZT
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:474Please respect copyright.PENANASuBKpCeb10
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."474Please respect copyright.PENANA8eXav5xjj8
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."474Please respect copyright.PENANAlry3KoTumO
"For now or never?" Leo asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANA06u9DvXjP5
"Don't start, son."474Please respect copyright.PENANAUJG4O7rZVX
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"474Please respect copyright.PENANAoOxxPVavIA
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.474Please respect copyright.PENANAes2IzxC7r6
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.474Please respect copyright.PENANAWEe47KHvBR
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.474Please respect copyright.PENANAGy7hU9ohKR
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.474Please respect copyright.PENANA6W0BjISTIs
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.474Please respect copyright.PENANAlhv98kFIzk
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."474Please respect copyright.PENANAWXoK09obNH
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.474Please respect copyright.PENANAbDG8ziUmny
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.474Please respect copyright.PENANABXRahNmnUm
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.474Please respect copyright.PENANASR5TgfUp30
"I'll come and help," said Eric.474Please respect copyright.PENANAqrxgJkTukx
"Me too," said Carly.474Please respect copyright.PENANAASo7nnElLY
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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