Leo found himself back 742Please respect copyright.PENANARWjDVIsSpw
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 742Please respect copyright.PENANAQrW3y1nqIp
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after742Please respect copyright.PENANAs0KJFpjlFJ
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in742Please respect copyright.PENANAQqjkVca3oj
the room.742Please respect copyright.PENANACtt9mYfd1B
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAlv22jeq22T
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"742Please respect copyright.PENANASby0gq2g1D
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.742Please respect copyright.PENANAvGpb2MTpVY
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAdd2RbgI7Tt
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."742Please respect copyright.PENANA2UHEBajp0X
Eric raised an eyebrow 742Please respect copyright.PENANA4u8nOjz3nJ
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 742Please respect copyright.PENANAflclAAffDc
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 742Please respect copyright.PENANAod6Bvw7Mjb
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.742Please respect copyright.PENANAS0bd2s3fJX
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAuz8fbxaFAc
"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."742Please respect copyright.PENANAdlUimAkLay
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.742Please respect copyright.PENANAz7jroERtmY
"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?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ0xGqyTxz
"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."742Please respect copyright.PENANAQjzbvGoOJ7
Leo soon turned around, 742Please respect copyright.PENANAhXPCElDcuB
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt742Please respect copyright.PENANAxU6lgXo8Yw
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue742Please respect copyright.PENANA73YkkNZddE
on top of it.742Please respect copyright.PENANAqBT0o8xMAd
Kim had been crying. She742Please respect copyright.PENANAKgyn7h5sGu
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the742Please respect copyright.PENANAoSvVX8BRZi
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 742Please respect copyright.PENANAGTvva0PvLi
her tears with another tissue.742Please respect copyright.PENANASuby3hfm5b
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."742Please respect copyright.PENANAV8Y3Ki6GrF
"I'm not going to say 742Please respect copyright.PENANAWb7InFQ747
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 742Please respect copyright.PENANAhfZrv7mkNI
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."742Please respect copyright.PENANAYmCFHZBJy2
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.742Please respect copyright.PENANAA2gZtS0QPV
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."742Please respect copyright.PENANAmtTZ12OoPV
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAHLiKaYROMZ
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."742Please respect copyright.PENANAL6eebsZ3av
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"742Please respect copyright.PENANA2W8bvGXPwr
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.742Please respect copyright.PENANAbOhJMXo3Ev
"Yes, we are."742Please respect copyright.PENANA6BGXDL5UsR
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."742Please respect copyright.PENANAu8sLrmktBW
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."742Please respect copyright.PENANAC1DJzhBmzF
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."742Please respect copyright.PENANAdib1b9hcqM
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAu0k1JD4fHf
The two ladies agreed 742Please respect copyright.PENANAxM8lmCDMrI
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 742Please respect copyright.PENANAsHL6qjVp2A
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 742Please respect copyright.PENANAW9LY7HW0Gk
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.742Please respect copyright.PENANAeTSqAxKkP7
"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."742Please respect copyright.PENANAuRc8JJkUYQ
Most people in the 742Please respect copyright.PENANAM1Z9wAu7Ke
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 742Please respect copyright.PENANAwR116FHdjO
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 742Please respect copyright.PENANA1JDmEOkkUP
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 742Please respect copyright.PENANApibgDvNAcG
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 742Please respect copyright.PENANAHZrZXGRYO0
struggle to put out the first fire.742Please respect copyright.PENANAqMDC7NzD2h
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.742Please respect copyright.PENANA04P3nnmCu4
"I would rather suggest 742Please respect copyright.PENANAqS5HLj9KjD
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his742Please respect copyright.PENANAamKd7gxuGs
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 742Please respect copyright.PENANAzuMDjWli1h
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"742Please respect copyright.PENANANMSBLtWOEp
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.742Please respect copyright.PENANAz3rcckbo9H
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANAfP2UUeBxDx
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."742Please respect copyright.PENANAXjWknETkW3
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."742Please respect copyright.PENANAmPue2LMEa9
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.742Please respect copyright.PENANAMENboPdRa3
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.742Please respect copyright.PENANAToZtMgfhHN
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.742Please respect copyright.PENANAkLXxgqGCVm
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.742Please respect copyright.PENANAe0r4eQ2hxv
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.742Please respect copyright.PENANA1Bh75bdiF6
Everyone slowly left the742Please respect copyright.PENANAQkoa5tIWhF
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 742Please respect copyright.PENANAq6pEC2z27C
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right742Please respect copyright.PENANA6tN2udQjdh
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 742Please respect copyright.PENANAbHpsOGl676
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.742Please respect copyright.PENANAocKwSLY1mj
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANA40GhFI6nFc
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."742Please respect copyright.PENANAmbirrPdEAH
After the loving prayer,742Please respect copyright.PENANA70XH6uQivw
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed742Please respect copyright.PENANAEcNECQlxQe
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.742Please respect copyright.PENANAaI9Tg6nMhh
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANAKEqFVPEkV9
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."742Please respect copyright.PENANA8gaw4cRUfY
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."742Please respect copyright.PENANA1RO9t24JGg
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."742Please respect copyright.PENANADZ2EVbmwN7
"He really can't get 742Please respect copyright.PENANAafNWdNUyIL
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the742Please respect copyright.PENANApU0B75rgJf
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 742Please respect copyright.PENANAiah9DNYPRB
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 742Please respect copyright.PENANAR4Miii1trP
eyes in irritation.742Please respect copyright.PENANAidHfSe1WaA
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."742Please respect copyright.PENANAztVgBwwYa6
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.742Please respect copyright.PENANAg87SXgf6PP
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."742Please respect copyright.PENANAIdfcfShxDp
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.742Please respect copyright.PENANAQSqVPx0R1V
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.742Please respect copyright.PENANA2vtfJ67Aei
"Why me?" Angel asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANARcoMIbbhfV
"I know you will explain742Please respect copyright.PENANA0S7p1d5Rwf
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 742Please respect copyright.PENANAF1ZAI72kbX
of things from now on if mum is busy."742Please respect copyright.PENANA90MpgjFKI9
"Like what?" Diana asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANA8CIGrAR3p2
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."742Please respect copyright.PENANABBkF1QTxuY
"That's so nice of you, 742Please respect copyright.PENANAlC7ag9pEor
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,742Please respect copyright.PENANAY5bIuQIyWo
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 742Please respect copyright.PENANAVgj2ovS5xY
want to."742Please respect copyright.PENANAViNqPJGBqA
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."742Please respect copyright.PENANAqdyx5OPvvq
Angel looked at him and 742Please respect copyright.PENANAn2J4C9KRpo
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 742Please respect copyright.PENANATyTJoEa4tO
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 742Please respect copyright.PENANA6kO2o9fvsJ
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.742Please respect copyright.PENANAKJUgAL4uIP
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."742Please respect copyright.PENANAqFkkPqRzv1
Leo felt like he was 742Please respect copyright.PENANAWEjFywl1fi
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 742Please respect copyright.PENANAvbMbhL4A4C
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.742Please respect copyright.PENANAoEhovqCb98
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.742Please respect copyright.PENANADIjYqZC0gR
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.742Please respect copyright.PENANAoAkk5aC2HJ
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."742Please respect copyright.PENANAxT7eCF8D4d
"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."742Please respect copyright.PENANAwn6HIehosM
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."742Please respect copyright.PENANAcDMjf7K0bV
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.742Please respect copyright.PENANAakvCkKIuQo
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAAcxNFgyHDO
"It was fine, mum," said742Please respect copyright.PENANA7Yokz0qMyQ
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 742Please respect copyright.PENANAA4KNYh5otr
conversation was going to turn out.742Please respect copyright.PENANAPWL4yjKQK9
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"742Please respect copyright.PENANAP6WTOW502i
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."742Please respect copyright.PENANASKbmTFuKnB
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."742Please respect copyright.PENANADrstdcyAmA
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.742Please respect copyright.PENANAq3JWkXWOTh
"Alright," said Mrs 742Please respect copyright.PENANAuYPBBtJ7Qx
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 742Please respect copyright.PENANAw22MDG7JI5
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 742Please respect copyright.PENANAru59gKtA1Q
for you lately?"742Please respect copyright.PENANA2W4xfEBnG7
Angel and Carly both 742Please respect copyright.PENANAEeW6J4FPIM
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 742Please respect copyright.PENANAC9J7S9RrkM
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 742Please respect copyright.PENANAY2oXMnddcp
already was one herself.742Please respect copyright.PENANAGfT2xK7FZv
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.742Please respect copyright.PENANAhBW7yIOn9U
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANAs3OhdlYKMl
"Running well as usual."742Please respect copyright.PENANARv5Jc16YCk
"I should really pay him742Please respect copyright.PENANAV9TOmrTtRY
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 742Please respect copyright.PENANATRwAlT0Pjq
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."742Please respect copyright.PENANAXzXF8FfPOk
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.742Please respect copyright.PENANA9LEJKoKd9o
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.742Please respect copyright.PENANAsuuTbdRYsB
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.742Please respect copyright.PENANAt2CnmvmwJv
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.742Please respect copyright.PENANADIj389LgJ5
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."742Please respect copyright.PENANAwro4NvrZ5j
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."742Please respect copyright.PENANAUkzEgyqU6P
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."742Please respect copyright.PENANAWbpiJlIXuj
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.742Please respect copyright.PENANA2W74i6xLHv
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.742Please respect copyright.PENANA2U7APiVVN3
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANAB5qSAPIvsu
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."742Please respect copyright.PENANAIIiaIlu9xi
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"742Please respect copyright.PENANA5exiBZTdmA
"I would really like to,742Please respect copyright.PENANA2n5tLQK6Qs
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 742Please respect copyright.PENANAhedoNHOKSn
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."742Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4Qv1K6Sxw
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."742Please respect copyright.PENANAROFvktfrEh
"Mum, most of us here 742Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q1WBOkrMr
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 742Please respect copyright.PENANAL56WxMkwn8
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 742Please respect copyright.PENANAtO1LB1HBgN
mine."742Please respect copyright.PENANAbfM5jDidyF
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 742Please respect copyright.PENANACV2isd9UOl
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others742Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2o9eLWUOn
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 742Please respect copyright.PENANAUrqrYanx1K
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 742Please respect copyright.PENANAT9S3gvQMC4
moment.742Please respect copyright.PENANAgeMErjaQVC
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."742Please respect copyright.PENANAsUnLpnR18n
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.742Please respect copyright.PENANAYXSXQAdjjL
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.742Please respect copyright.PENANAzz4b0RrWpo
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:742Please respect copyright.PENANAF5o61SfYTq
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."742Please respect copyright.PENANAkQORxNEZnt
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."742Please respect copyright.PENANAvSggFjqLjz
"For now or never?" Leo asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANA8kyet886MK
"Don't start, son."742Please respect copyright.PENANA8gu7yNfWtu
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"742Please respect copyright.PENANA1zqJhyxIyP
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.742Please respect copyright.PENANAcLMQXqQtXh
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.742Please respect copyright.PENANA8Mt7kJIMCw
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.742Please respect copyright.PENANA7IzsAL5pMb
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.742Please respect copyright.PENANAGGXTjHwLvw
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.742Please respect copyright.PENANAbFtSVgkISI
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."742Please respect copyright.PENANAr7EedyoHbJ
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.742Please respect copyright.PENANAM4pk4mEY94
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.742Please respect copyright.PENANAhjLY7GEzWQ
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.742Please respect copyright.PENANAu2t2FR9gUp
"I'll come and help," said Eric.742Please respect copyright.PENANAvk3pF2JGFo
"Me too," said Carly.742Please respect copyright.PENANAfLtWuJeNqS
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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