Leo found himself back 444Please respect copyright.PENANAJTCb6ZCPX9
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 444Please respect copyright.PENANAvfIG8kmVxG
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after444Please respect copyright.PENANAX468ZW45F1
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in444Please respect copyright.PENANAA3L5XMFasH
the room.444Please respect copyright.PENANAUhD8AUlguJ
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAdWVl13MDx7
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAxp2B1fbJJQ
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.444Please respect copyright.PENANAgxCigVaBWU
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAT0FvfEBNC3
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."444Please respect copyright.PENANAucTEN49o36
Eric raised an eyebrow 444Please respect copyright.PENANAg7kVYICK0G
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 444Please respect copyright.PENANAAkRrpQnvOP
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 444Please respect copyright.PENANA4XBaYuYo7Z
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.444Please respect copyright.PENANA0b9Y7lgzuu
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"444Please respect copyright.PENANADPi8QwB4KV
"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."444Please respect copyright.PENANAOYt8b37Id9
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.444Please respect copyright.PENANAAmLR20WW2Q
"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?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAYpzsCKOPDI
"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."444Please respect copyright.PENANA39cjAhgnPA
Leo soon turned around, 444Please respect copyright.PENANASIhJ9iMYC9
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt444Please respect copyright.PENANAbNEMEvk4tz
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue444Please respect copyright.PENANAR4G8tZsPkW
on top of it.444Please respect copyright.PENANAh1p5NBhd3m
Kim had been crying. She444Please respect copyright.PENANANPc08W5A0o
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the444Please respect copyright.PENANANZBptyqouI
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 444Please respect copyright.PENANAyDlNEExXJo
her tears with another tissue.444Please respect copyright.PENANA9NauRVNq35
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."444Please respect copyright.PENANA98oxBqU9k4
"I'm not going to say 444Please respect copyright.PENANAdbNFsLiusi
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 444Please respect copyright.PENANAx1Sj4BqLEJ
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."444Please respect copyright.PENANASMMoCF2WZk
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.444Please respect copyright.PENANAPVAFz5aZpE
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."444Please respect copyright.PENANA9d302UsBvI
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAH4Y0i1jJvZ
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."444Please respect copyright.PENANA1eelwja40d
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"444Please respect copyright.PENANA3XQs6gp9xq
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.444Please respect copyright.PENANAsMV8diQTSh
"Yes, we are."444Please respect copyright.PENANA5aW1dYXdq6
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."444Please respect copyright.PENANACtechuaGJB
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."444Please respect copyright.PENANAzJDcuOnvpO
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."444Please respect copyright.PENANACzg8UlGF4o
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAZBl06rLe5x
The two ladies agreed 444Please respect copyright.PENANAyBGLg1cMPC
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 444Please respect copyright.PENANAaJrw6NVDoi
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 444Please respect copyright.PENANAwYSOR3iknf
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.444Please respect copyright.PENANADza4jzW1tW
"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."444Please respect copyright.PENANAvq42MuMhCI
Most people in the 444Please respect copyright.PENANAzlZOf6p7Ra
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 444Please respect copyright.PENANAXhzzNUwckW
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 444Please respect copyright.PENANAua6PZubkv2
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 444Please respect copyright.PENANAuFNVdMbRQi
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 444Please respect copyright.PENANA87V3Zkx1w7
struggle to put out the first fire.444Please respect copyright.PENANAvclkNGM4y3
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.444Please respect copyright.PENANAz2NS14kY81
"I would rather suggest 444Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ur7Erg7GP
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his444Please respect copyright.PENANA4YCEKbnrRb
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 444Please respect copyright.PENANAtUFAwzLelY
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAF5nc7HdpUt
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.444Please respect copyright.PENANAtoos6wfqxU
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAPFFVthK8x8
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."444Please respect copyright.PENANALbS4dme6Bb
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."444Please respect copyright.PENANA6Do6mx514z
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.444Please respect copyright.PENANAI4PkUluKo2
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.444Please respect copyright.PENANAepdTLMYAQe
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.444Please respect copyright.PENANAS1rXi8VvHy
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.444Please respect copyright.PENANAvExs0Mzq5A
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.444Please respect copyright.PENANAEqEZKz56Gw
Everyone slowly left the444Please respect copyright.PENANArQhzq2uGEL
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 444Please respect copyright.PENANADm1XxyHhvu
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right444Please respect copyright.PENANAW8ofKTq0ot
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 444Please respect copyright.PENANAeio9nnDsCc
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.444Please respect copyright.PENANA6giY9o2yNU
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAJd0DI7hpnP
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."444Please respect copyright.PENANAWS8S1R7M8T
After the loving prayer,444Please respect copyright.PENANAetIPBRI1x8
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed444Please respect copyright.PENANAKeptcSXVce
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.444Please respect copyright.PENANAUSewlrMCf9
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANALX51bdoPSz
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."444Please respect copyright.PENANAESmGNHoUbi
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."444Please respect copyright.PENANAJnjyRqUDhC
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."444Please respect copyright.PENANATn63tpRWir
"He really can't get 444Please respect copyright.PENANAncABfVwl9e
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the444Please respect copyright.PENANA7ayWpnS2gh
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 444Please respect copyright.PENANAW1FHnsdRU7
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 444Please respect copyright.PENANA4wdcOc59a9
eyes in irritation.444Please respect copyright.PENANA1dPTZDXxmL
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."444Please respect copyright.PENANABPwMovLplO
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.444Please respect copyright.PENANAnkyPekEItE
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."444Please respect copyright.PENANAPQOvwknM5X
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.444Please respect copyright.PENANAZXV0iniAjk
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.444Please respect copyright.PENANAg4ovuvWRJ5
"Why me?" Angel asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAO1Jjk9Ilrv
"I know you will explain444Please respect copyright.PENANA4PFrKuB7aa
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 444Please respect copyright.PENANAh3SjfsV8CB
of things from now on if mum is busy."444Please respect copyright.PENANAbpDRGuwQ7Z
"Like what?" Diana asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAr7i6lJyi7T
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."444Please respect copyright.PENANAe0cNsH1EqC
"That's so nice of you, 444Please respect copyright.PENANAjKu9PZAZiF
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,444Please respect copyright.PENANACa08tVf6fm
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 444Please respect copyright.PENANAchFdf5SOdg
want to."444Please respect copyright.PENANAFYlyJgqcgZ
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."444Please respect copyright.PENANAe4VoSFsPeE
Angel looked at him and 444Please respect copyright.PENANAkKYI4IOY8K
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 444Please respect copyright.PENANA07qegaplcw
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 444Please respect copyright.PENANABYXyVhyRVG
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.444Please respect copyright.PENANAYLbzk79rXG
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."444Please respect copyright.PENANAW9bqFMGKqD
Leo felt like he was 444Please respect copyright.PENANAAGQUVyDzNy
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 444Please respect copyright.PENANAt4Lw6sjLBM
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.444Please respect copyright.PENANAFnzI9w6hLi
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.444Please respect copyright.PENANAwgPdEdWjjh
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.444Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mh2VL3iyJ
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."444Please respect copyright.PENANAPl0wllOnNc
"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."444Please respect copyright.PENANA5TGXVuvkRn
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."444Please respect copyright.PENANA4m61xHfyx8
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.444Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ig5TKAzhD
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAA1bvVySO5A
"It was fine, mum," said444Please respect copyright.PENANAERopFtH6jm
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 444Please respect copyright.PENANAH7s4BdxZki
conversation was going to turn out.444Please respect copyright.PENANAQJUZqyrQnM
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAi8g525IpNL
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."444Please respect copyright.PENANAxfCS37CdQ6
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."444Please respect copyright.PENANArPdmVKgQqi
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.444Please respect copyright.PENANAaQDeYaMnEz
"Alright," said Mrs 444Please respect copyright.PENANAlHcWpc9Lq7
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 444Please respect copyright.PENANAH2gWyJ2zGH
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 444Please respect copyright.PENANAhfgk2iVcnA
for you lately?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAqvMw7ACibW
Angel and Carly both 444Please respect copyright.PENANAhIAmNcIS4y
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 444Please respect copyright.PENANA9hpO1LF9AP
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 444Please respect copyright.PENANAXG2dA5ls8t
already was one herself.444Please respect copyright.PENANAC8vIee3Gio
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.444Please respect copyright.PENANAuugUO0Pzop
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAJrdt4klECN
"Running well as usual."444Please respect copyright.PENANACqqNK9IqZg
"I should really pay him444Please respect copyright.PENANAhYlmL6mUwq
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 444Please respect copyright.PENANArZ6nkbBjVp
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."444Please respect copyright.PENANAQemyUpS5fm
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.444Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6irDGhlqx
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.444Please respect copyright.PENANAxta8MgTzny
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.444Please respect copyright.PENANARvfrLawexb
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.444Please respect copyright.PENANAZpHbFnTSlG
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."444Please respect copyright.PENANArRNYW7FIhT
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."444Please respect copyright.PENANAvHLngwyboG
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."444Please respect copyright.PENANArMKq87GsKP
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.444Please respect copyright.PENANAOx64Tgc0fi
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.444Please respect copyright.PENANAYNeMvQinQx
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAFv2n3gixKs
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."444Please respect copyright.PENANAFMCOkfHhP0
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAKmQjq8Otbi
"I would really like to,444Please respect copyright.PENANADNLRjj4Djp
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 444Please respect copyright.PENANA2JgGGpmSMe
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."444Please respect copyright.PENANAin27d5RrYt
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."444Please respect copyright.PENANA1p0bQFUR5P
"Mum, most of us here 444Please respect copyright.PENANAywjbez1jdp
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 444Please respect copyright.PENANA56zcXqp65d
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 444Please respect copyright.PENANAKjGVZXToEF
mine."444Please respect copyright.PENANAxR4VfkrAun
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 444Please respect copyright.PENANASjPwjWop1w
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others444Please respect copyright.PENANAXmGR8xEA7U
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 444Please respect copyright.PENANAziTaVChib7
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 444Please respect copyright.PENANAPRcmXkkbMG
moment.444Please respect copyright.PENANAS3My2zdytu
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."444Please respect copyright.PENANAfGO5XKDm0h
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.444Please respect copyright.PENANAWUayFo4JrJ
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.444Please respect copyright.PENANANkBSsoIM2B
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:444Please respect copyright.PENANAUxnSkkypXb
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."444Please respect copyright.PENANAZqMNt3iisN
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."444Please respect copyright.PENANAkK1LW68BLI
"For now or never?" Leo asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANABJ9GmmmUZ8
"Don't start, son."444Please respect copyright.PENANAcDb78mw99A
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"444Please respect copyright.PENANAuSEN16M7g9
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.444Please respect copyright.PENANAsTuzyH8NqS
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.444Please respect copyright.PENANAD3wytcwmbM
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.444Please respect copyright.PENANAW9hjFWXGtg
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.444Please respect copyright.PENANAwLlubDcjY3
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.444Please respect copyright.PENANAhAfmfBUK83
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."444Please respect copyright.PENANAq8Uzu3UDTl
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.444Please respect copyright.PENANAEPI2U0yz7w
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.444Please respect copyright.PENANA7KfhubpPwZ
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.444Please respect copyright.PENANAQD4xmBWyOt
"I'll come and help," said Eric.444Please respect copyright.PENANAUNXiNmANcu
"Me too," said Carly.444Please respect copyright.PENANA1cciChxMD4
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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