Leo found himself back 464Please respect copyright.PENANAJbTbvlL3Ie
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 464Please respect copyright.PENANAiO7uywuBJB
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after464Please respect copyright.PENANAXuJoK0aBLP
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in464Please respect copyright.PENANAvVFzllPvat
the room.464Please respect copyright.PENANAdeMbRD8GbZ
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"464Please respect copyright.PENANA3Uxx6N0uvk
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAANPTA8RugV
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.464Please respect copyright.PENANAjr16W9wGLE
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAdXVD5Lr50k
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."464Please respect copyright.PENANAgcwoClrHh6
Eric raised an eyebrow 464Please respect copyright.PENANAgDwLKYM2YL
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 464Please respect copyright.PENANAPYC7Q27qiZ
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAWCSrcg4IVu
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.464Please respect copyright.PENANA4syJP1ltgm
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAPz8CtQVFMS
"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."464Please respect copyright.PENANAD00SV2yvVz
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.464Please respect copyright.PENANATDq9xQ4wM4
"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?"464Please respect copyright.PENANANLTiSxUCF4
"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."464Please respect copyright.PENANA9dCVxyz9gW
Leo soon turned around, 464Please respect copyright.PENANAc7alWgT7Bw
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt464Please respect copyright.PENANA8JgYEdtuEu
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue464Please respect copyright.PENANAsce96zkVVF
on top of it.464Please respect copyright.PENANABGWvRd05Nz
Kim had been crying. She464Please respect copyright.PENANA8xHitMB4vp
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the464Please respect copyright.PENANAOANjdQWEp8
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 464Please respect copyright.PENANAacqa49r9ic
her tears with another tissue.464Please respect copyright.PENANASMmiqGviQ9
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."464Please respect copyright.PENANAUeoa1cp88d
"I'm not going to say 464Please respect copyright.PENANABvXBS5B47e
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 464Please respect copyright.PENANAIU0YBVs7XS
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."464Please respect copyright.PENANAHyx1YEf2Dy
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.464Please respect copyright.PENANARXsG8dm0wY
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."464Please respect copyright.PENANAHAY8DXQUVB
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAIbgq9hfRTk
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."464Please respect copyright.PENANAyqbBGvBWhO
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAWSWjUSE9jO
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.464Please respect copyright.PENANAvsT2CtYSdx
"Yes, we are."464Please respect copyright.PENANAa80wyV4lTN
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."464Please respect copyright.PENANACAIhWA3ZJ1
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."464Please respect copyright.PENANAhBsvVXK9fz
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."464Please respect copyright.PENANAkR0GsxZTB4
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAqLn6ub5PfO
The two ladies agreed 464Please respect copyright.PENANAJsqLmaZSem
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 464Please respect copyright.PENANACCpLCDVdCd
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 464Please respect copyright.PENANAVve4rvDIBP
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.464Please respect copyright.PENANAeD8K5PVYtu
"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."464Please respect copyright.PENANAijRjJlbK01
Most people in the 464Please respect copyright.PENANAaUyvcWhbZ6
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 464Please respect copyright.PENANAcnr6wvx7fa
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 464Please respect copyright.PENANAwpV7uP4DkF
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 464Please respect copyright.PENANA2xCA3eoeK2
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 464Please respect copyright.PENANA7cARtZagZN
struggle to put out the first fire.464Please respect copyright.PENANAf0yy15uF3b
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.464Please respect copyright.PENANAlH8wQCyfhg
"I would rather suggest 464Please respect copyright.PENANAt1eXUap6u9
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his464Please respect copyright.PENANAHz1SB3OmHB
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 464Please respect copyright.PENANAv6NLvV3RHk
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAlxzkv42XsO
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.464Please respect copyright.PENANAD2okrJz5Di
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAHZyZ09hY9j
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."464Please respect copyright.PENANAskReAfadXW
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."464Please respect copyright.PENANAwOKOZYDcwf
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.464Please respect copyright.PENANA5d9aE0uPPZ
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.464Please respect copyright.PENANADVqP4Uo96J
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.464Please respect copyright.PENANAqR4ZpeM0Tu
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.464Please respect copyright.PENANApoBUjjORLN
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.464Please respect copyright.PENANABDxxmcIW95
Everyone slowly left the464Please respect copyright.PENANAYZaVrOVYCB
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 464Please respect copyright.PENANAKopV81nCVA
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right464Please respect copyright.PENANAglYNJUV7fs
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 464Please respect copyright.PENANA0U0JdWpUPG
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.464Please respect copyright.PENANA96G5dBx1dr
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANA0YM6nXqxYx
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."464Please respect copyright.PENANAOYQOsX4Di7
After the loving prayer,464Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5Yr5YbvgT
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed464Please respect copyright.PENANAq11BjBXl3S
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.464Please respect copyright.PENANAIlLGnZPlbH
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAF0Clv0T8Oz
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."464Please respect copyright.PENANAwnNJwxxF0q
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."464Please respect copyright.PENANADedLJlG1WD
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."464Please respect copyright.PENANAS4sN0z1uF0
"He really can't get 464Please respect copyright.PENANA1OkafV5yAv
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the464Please respect copyright.PENANAR4kTt2ajVK
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 464Please respect copyright.PENANAo7Q4lkc520
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 464Please respect copyright.PENANAczxb2W9KTa
eyes in irritation.464Please respect copyright.PENANAI1QozV36Q0
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."464Please respect copyright.PENANAGZxKvpXX6B
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.464Please respect copyright.PENANA5cVaPbZfAS
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."464Please respect copyright.PENANAIaI2J1oxRH
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.464Please respect copyright.PENANACUulKzfjrb
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.464Please respect copyright.PENANAprdMzTgyMr
"Why me?" Angel asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAV8NtNIzXF4
"I know you will explain464Please respect copyright.PENANA8ImtxwZWdN
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 464Please respect copyright.PENANAejt77Y7gG4
of things from now on if mum is busy."464Please respect copyright.PENANAFQX7ZcLaqN
"Like what?" Diana asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAJUkemJqB6A
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."464Please respect copyright.PENANA8QC7Jscfwg
"That's so nice of you, 464Please respect copyright.PENANA4P6JLx7ceK
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,464Please respect copyright.PENANA9KwCf35dyc
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 464Please respect copyright.PENANA75o8HTSQPo
want to."464Please respect copyright.PENANAjt8uWUrtqw
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."464Please respect copyright.PENANA1zz4o6Wq9S
Angel looked at him and 464Please respect copyright.PENANAjzgPdUpuZJ
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 464Please respect copyright.PENANAFX3gcaKAcA
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 464Please respect copyright.PENANAqdHLXjsY4Q
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.464Please respect copyright.PENANAEjmuabU2PA
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."464Please respect copyright.PENANAx95xk3vCZb
Leo felt like he was 464Please respect copyright.PENANAlv3e1wY9j4
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 464Please respect copyright.PENANAUqf7QD5aiy
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.464Please respect copyright.PENANAOiORow9mGh
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.464Please respect copyright.PENANA0v4RFYXpQ6
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.464Please respect copyright.PENANASF8fpbBAF9
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."464Please respect copyright.PENANAb8tlHAjHin
"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."464Please respect copyright.PENANArfa70ax54d
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."464Please respect copyright.PENANAqa9uVmtjT6
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.464Please respect copyright.PENANADhHFpJLxGr
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAwJefcZXFKb
"It was fine, mum," said464Please respect copyright.PENANA9N9RogISNJ
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 464Please respect copyright.PENANAWb0w1P5Xkv
conversation was going to turn out.464Please respect copyright.PENANAsCZ1Y61o8r
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAPuc97Zo3qa
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."464Please respect copyright.PENANAHc2FjgilxZ
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."464Please respect copyright.PENANAyf0rymr7wj
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.464Please respect copyright.PENANAqxQh7taqlp
"Alright," said Mrs 464Please respect copyright.PENANAFNhTBOegTD
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 464Please respect copyright.PENANAaqlHw26ii3
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 464Please respect copyright.PENANAOV5R51wHQb
for you lately?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAdgmS4umvqx
Angel and Carly both 464Please respect copyright.PENANAglqfge0hjp
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 464Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6kpEXp3R0
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 464Please respect copyright.PENANAs0P0jpRgBl
already was one herself.464Please respect copyright.PENANA9xVTenHHlb
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.464Please respect copyright.PENANAgEEfZKh1pE
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAm4tR8u5yBW
"Running well as usual."464Please respect copyright.PENANAqCbmJu2BUV
"I should really pay him464Please respect copyright.PENANAzOxdye8UYz
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 464Please respect copyright.PENANA01Ug2KAEoS
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."464Please respect copyright.PENANAUffEGcNeRB
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.464Please respect copyright.PENANAAuojfadRvR
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.464Please respect copyright.PENANAaOSaMcMrOa
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.464Please respect copyright.PENANAx5tLrluJaX
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.464Please respect copyright.PENANAI5q2v1X2Ft
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."464Please respect copyright.PENANAbHHXIoRxds
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."464Please respect copyright.PENANACAZiiH79R0
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."464Please respect copyright.PENANAuFR1c1larf
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.464Please respect copyright.PENANA6MLbUGDdSo
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.464Please respect copyright.PENANA9FMyUF0hJE
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAZEtapeXGB9
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."464Please respect copyright.PENANAoimDGtehhv
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"464Please respect copyright.PENANAIafyajianO
"I would really like to,464Please respect copyright.PENANA4sqSaXrxSU
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 464Please respect copyright.PENANAlObVt5wATu
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."464Please respect copyright.PENANAioGyWYwCUO
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."464Please respect copyright.PENANAesPBgzRyIx
"Mum, most of us here 464Please respect copyright.PENANAqV8ozdLQHO
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 464Please respect copyright.PENANAcOWQOJqRHC
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 464Please respect copyright.PENANAX5ouwYApAS
mine."464Please respect copyright.PENANAIMJEBS5n3I
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 464Please respect copyright.PENANAU6R1bSUluE
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others464Please respect copyright.PENANANRnKOekqBq
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 464Please respect copyright.PENANAWQRWqSYqI9
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 464Please respect copyright.PENANAcyZjCLMM2y
moment.464Please respect copyright.PENANAzHLZT0EmiJ
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."464Please respect copyright.PENANASvJLrHV0MO
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.464Please respect copyright.PENANA4Max5iW0Mp
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.464Please respect copyright.PENANA0kvQZvwQdB
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:464Please respect copyright.PENANAxcDeCiswCW
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."464Please respect copyright.PENANAsaK41Q22NG
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."464Please respect copyright.PENANAX2KbxByVvm
"For now or never?" Leo asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAXgX3YOXVoY
"Don't start, son."464Please respect copyright.PENANAMP5rHhbZ89
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"464Please respect copyright.PENANALnMvtY6Rrx
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.464Please respect copyright.PENANAOdMNayRR9d
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.464Please respect copyright.PENANAGM91grKMOl
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.464Please respect copyright.PENANAFyijDuex6I
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.464Please respect copyright.PENANAKb9mC6LZqV
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.464Please respect copyright.PENANARGG9ZJ0tfE
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."464Please respect copyright.PENANA8bp4plbEvS
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.464Please respect copyright.PENANAnuoJLEZy7Z
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.464Please respect copyright.PENANAlz9G7a2Og2
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.464Please respect copyright.PENANAfy4RjuAZGZ
"I'll come and help," said Eric.464Please respect copyright.PENANAiXf8UW3scY
"Me too," said Carly.464Please respect copyright.PENANA2HYkkFGF4s
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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