Leo found himself back 813Please respect copyright.PENANAN1K6m1CEZD
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 813Please respect copyright.PENANA7ttv7pzjvG
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after813Please respect copyright.PENANA2T6J9HBEc3
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in813Please respect copyright.PENANA2xMq8mX9iK
the room.813Please respect copyright.PENANAsOuoDomFrU
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAOQjGn5Zez1
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAbchvEMNYhp
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.813Please respect copyright.PENANAorOovbbFp3
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAGnJzZJJo9M
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."813Please respect copyright.PENANA0wKuuG0LeK
Eric raised an eyebrow 813Please respect copyright.PENANAiufwMGBba2
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 813Please respect copyright.PENANAQB1tUDA061
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 813Please respect copyright.PENANANrus0VIsDg
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.813Please respect copyright.PENANAIRchAnP7sW
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAdA720H0tG4
"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."813Please respect copyright.PENANAizM62m69r3
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.813Please respect copyright.PENANAbwvr709Bnr
"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?"813Please respect copyright.PENANACXZwdprrBR
"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."813Please respect copyright.PENANAdEsbWCanzh
Leo soon turned around, 813Please respect copyright.PENANA7fdv1ipP8J
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt813Please respect copyright.PENANAelf8Ahj7Ro
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue813Please respect copyright.PENANABtWz9giPwn
on top of it.813Please respect copyright.PENANArsMCpU0uPS
Kim had been crying. She813Please respect copyright.PENANA2jiB01zEae
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the813Please respect copyright.PENANAMPMVq9Ro8B
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 813Please respect copyright.PENANAtAiXjkwTO9
her tears with another tissue.813Please respect copyright.PENANANjsJTx0Hsy
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."813Please respect copyright.PENANAeaT9kZflu7
"I'm not going to say 813Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZTIcXrZFj
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 813Please respect copyright.PENANA08JDxXBsHs
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."813Please respect copyright.PENANAFnxSUYUcEj
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.813Please respect copyright.PENANAW2KyEpMdbw
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."813Please respect copyright.PENANAhvSJ8Ohv4R
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAnHLFeDfutl
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."813Please respect copyright.PENANAqpkkRXA2n1
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAiKRFX2OQRs
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.813Please respect copyright.PENANA8ETddJ7rLL
"Yes, we are."813Please respect copyright.PENANA74HvKccte0
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."813Please respect copyright.PENANAkVoSM1di92
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."813Please respect copyright.PENANAOEJ9QEdgmv
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."813Please respect copyright.PENANAfBqNAQaYUq
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"813Please respect copyright.PENANALsW2LtyY47
The two ladies agreed 813Please respect copyright.PENANAzMlTZ7aZ4V
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 813Please respect copyright.PENANAESXGp5Ird7
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 813Please respect copyright.PENANAym6B9ERbeA
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.813Please respect copyright.PENANAZoWikIWkYX
"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."813Please respect copyright.PENANA82GcEkAhUV
Most people in the 813Please respect copyright.PENANAsVwrNipJ9I
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 813Please respect copyright.PENANAZRt85IGLBp
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 813Please respect copyright.PENANAHOo8ACxVxI
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 813Please respect copyright.PENANAOhz7JyV0c8
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 813Please respect copyright.PENANAu1BSNegsTW
struggle to put out the first fire.813Please respect copyright.PENANA6lqcQiUgy9
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.813Please respect copyright.PENANAUIBHlenEPh
"I would rather suggest 813Please respect copyright.PENANAPHQUDXK2pO
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his813Please respect copyright.PENANA7TDzJdENNU
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 813Please respect copyright.PENANA6SVFy7pQbp
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAsgUFKHQrnQ
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.813Please respect copyright.PENANAzcasPDxqTv
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANAQDa3ivkbla
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."813Please respect copyright.PENANAh2OokQbrya
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."813Please respect copyright.PENANAi0YYDhXekM
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.813Please respect copyright.PENANADX3UaZa79O
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.813Please respect copyright.PENANAKDhgGlcVyq
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.813Please respect copyright.PENANAWjxXOFOSrD
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.813Please respect copyright.PENANAqRnsHbt6AU
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.813Please respect copyright.PENANAQalVJpxUTV
Everyone slowly left the813Please respect copyright.PENANA5gdjuNCJ2I
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 813Please respect copyright.PENANAGuzQyAQExW
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right813Please respect copyright.PENANAOy5g3Q6L0a
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 813Please respect copyright.PENANAja2uQeD4pL
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.813Please respect copyright.PENANAu92tWLIhOM
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANAZRmFD12Z3O
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."813Please respect copyright.PENANAs5a3Td8x8Z
After the loving prayer,813Please respect copyright.PENANAr9TtkHjFuG
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed813Please respect copyright.PENANAuM3hxBJH41
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.813Please respect copyright.PENANAFineVzk93i
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANAIRTorxxLZO
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."813Please respect copyright.PENANAiN9ZuvCIPe
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."813Please respect copyright.PENANACFTOVYxWW8
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."813Please respect copyright.PENANAtfeq97StTm
"He really can't get 813Please respect copyright.PENANAue0anjiGaf
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the813Please respect copyright.PENANA7sqx4frW0E
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 813Please respect copyright.PENANA0Chvralcer
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 813Please respect copyright.PENANAJKwHAEsaiv
eyes in irritation.813Please respect copyright.PENANAGhD7gQSlSL
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."813Please respect copyright.PENANAvwQvK1cfwO
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.813Please respect copyright.PENANAuEI0lcA4Z1
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."813Please respect copyright.PENANAehSlG9kHpL
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.813Please respect copyright.PENANADZbI9dYikU
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.813Please respect copyright.PENANAXmlbKQcz7X
"Why me?" Angel asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANASh1mCatzok
"I know you will explain813Please respect copyright.PENANAUnwh0zkAr4
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 813Please respect copyright.PENANAepkWYJKRbw
of things from now on if mum is busy."813Please respect copyright.PENANAridMSxWooV
"Like what?" Diana asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANAiv5JxXag7m
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."813Please respect copyright.PENANAf0hyWXUyrb
"That's so nice of you, 813Please respect copyright.PENANAQSaGAOSlMq
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,813Please respect copyright.PENANApIqXGrjafT
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 813Please respect copyright.PENANArNhTcfz9oK
want to."813Please respect copyright.PENANAFOfnH6r5yz
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."813Please respect copyright.PENANA7y6dGwwWj7
Angel looked at him and 813Please respect copyright.PENANAPFuXoEAJFo
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 813Please respect copyright.PENANA5tQyf4Q9KV
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 813Please respect copyright.PENANA3jysrkoaAw
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.813Please respect copyright.PENANAvXvHWLC6RS
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."813Please respect copyright.PENANA31CFVWELz2
Leo felt like he was 813Please respect copyright.PENANAPbFGriMhMv
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 813Please respect copyright.PENANAoAwBa47fhJ
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.813Please respect copyright.PENANAwEihRb4q8D
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.813Please respect copyright.PENANAOexWdMFJDc
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.813Please respect copyright.PENANAPU350p8Weg
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."813Please respect copyright.PENANA0sL2iso1ae
"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."813Please respect copyright.PENANAbJGJf9XJAQ
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."813Please respect copyright.PENANAv1xPD3dmOc
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.813Please respect copyright.PENANACR6NdAPmje
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAoSrXBbnc9K
"It was fine, mum," said813Please respect copyright.PENANAbHlCzvuF5s
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 813Please respect copyright.PENANAQwLDqcnxwK
conversation was going to turn out.813Please respect copyright.PENANAP9iUeK2Ig0
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAbD0NkLdiX6
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."813Please respect copyright.PENANAD4YFJ1QlGV
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."813Please respect copyright.PENANAfYkgSxQZ3G
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.813Please respect copyright.PENANAsRjJIHyiYL
"Alright," said Mrs 813Please respect copyright.PENANAr2fIR89nLW
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 813Please respect copyright.PENANAEmTFSiJ9iG
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 813Please respect copyright.PENANAlvFeRrNHG9
for you lately?"813Please respect copyright.PENANACphmAKvZT0
Angel and Carly both 813Please respect copyright.PENANAnQAWLn4ufS
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 813Please respect copyright.PENANAEjuNXnjseQ
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 813Please respect copyright.PENANA5bS2QdkodW
already was one herself.813Please respect copyright.PENANAZB2OXJVqrj
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.813Please respect copyright.PENANAuNOOMTcLZY
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANAwzKrnGx4xA
"Running well as usual."813Please respect copyright.PENANA9GNA9ZhH6J
"I should really pay him813Please respect copyright.PENANA78787rklIH
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 813Please respect copyright.PENANAVaDfGh69CO
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."813Please respect copyright.PENANABrc2rwwutz
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.813Please respect copyright.PENANAIkdurbXYgw
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.813Please respect copyright.PENANA7hHuHhIWK6
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.813Please respect copyright.PENANAfcHCwcNO2R
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.813Please respect copyright.PENANAPfvBYuJ8rS
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."813Please respect copyright.PENANAxR3OnVmLMa
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."813Please respect copyright.PENANAXhEFRTlTWC
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."813Please respect copyright.PENANAtUImiFohIz
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.813Please respect copyright.PENANAI5ZPNTyHik
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.813Please respect copyright.PENANABxZJZ1Ovwm
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANA8qrNEzFqMc
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."813Please respect copyright.PENANAMHkiApp3aE
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAspKt2IE0lL
"I would really like to,813Please respect copyright.PENANAaYHkuYPsE6
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 813Please respect copyright.PENANA32NZ3X0N6H
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."813Please respect copyright.PENANAFiYBhKbNG9
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."813Please respect copyright.PENANAQCwdIlTqdv
"Mum, most of us here 813Please respect copyright.PENANACJnTn2yr6o
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 813Please respect copyright.PENANAABR1xMIlSt
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 813Please respect copyright.PENANA34OA57rI4J
mine."813Please respect copyright.PENANAsFdBHU2dzb
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 813Please respect copyright.PENANAjhr7CRzp6h
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others813Please respect copyright.PENANAT83x6hdIP1
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 813Please respect copyright.PENANA0WAnN9DNJa
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 813Please respect copyright.PENANAX38CY4KiSv
moment.813Please respect copyright.PENANAAkdMRI1mro
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."813Please respect copyright.PENANAIDO9x4cRX0
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.813Please respect copyright.PENANAUQi4HH4OHU
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.813Please respect copyright.PENANAPyQWz98ess
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:813Please respect copyright.PENANA4RhFoXgVFy
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."813Please respect copyright.PENANADIluW6yfA3
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."813Please respect copyright.PENANAFlN1TjUWzW
"For now or never?" Leo asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANAWzvcBQMylU
"Don't start, son."813Please respect copyright.PENANAOSPfPWx6cX
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"813Please respect copyright.PENANAowKkl6zB5j
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.813Please respect copyright.PENANAdPH42sQ59N
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.813Please respect copyright.PENANA1YoNuxEr3F
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.813Please respect copyright.PENANALKG6oVKENa
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.813Please respect copyright.PENANAnIvlncSJs2
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.813Please respect copyright.PENANAkJGQlR6dKV
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."813Please respect copyright.PENANAAtIQFlYWL8
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.813Please respect copyright.PENANAt6luyXODjv
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.813Please respect copyright.PENANAPhZstAbsqB
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.813Please respect copyright.PENANAQGsLxsHw2N
"I'll come and help," said Eric.813Please respect copyright.PENANA0wJBc0YSAI
"Me too," said Carly.813Please respect copyright.PENANA5qp7PLmlMS
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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