Leo found himself back 741Please respect copyright.PENANARSNemEDCSS
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 741Please respect copyright.PENANACGBwON5eAd
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after741Please respect copyright.PENANASSq0FivX9n
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in741Please respect copyright.PENANADsOObeDflq
the room.741Please respect copyright.PENANA4898Y43TMW
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAXwascjHcvU
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"741Please respect copyright.PENANATgSOefyojO
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.741Please respect copyright.PENANAaToyittDfP
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAGiVaxf8sey
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."741Please respect copyright.PENANAZTuPErZS37
Eric raised an eyebrow 741Please respect copyright.PENANAPwnV8wdHjx
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 741Please respect copyright.PENANAeyb6BcSLOB
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 741Please respect copyright.PENANAn7IbBD7FVD
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.741Please respect copyright.PENANANapsp3pBVv
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAXrJIUZcoQC
"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."741Please respect copyright.PENANAOeHH0lLFgI
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.741Please respect copyright.PENANAKety8JsRSA
"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?"741Please respect copyright.PENANArFNiehpln0
"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."741Please respect copyright.PENANAqgZY8YXoNe
Leo soon turned around, 741Please respect copyright.PENANA2Q9EVe5Wdt
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt741Please respect copyright.PENANAPaz9TtYpJE
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue741Please respect copyright.PENANABVt1phfvPf
on top of it.741Please respect copyright.PENANAwi3uLDjc68
Kim had been crying. She741Please respect copyright.PENANAwcGH0npYSn
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the741Please respect copyright.PENANAS6fCXFqQqz
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 741Please respect copyright.PENANAs1IwlNvXJR
her tears with another tissue.741Please respect copyright.PENANAy1nd3NcWWn
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."741Please respect copyright.PENANAJBMRAdBpHQ
"I'm not going to say 741Please respect copyright.PENANABWCAixsL5W
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 741Please respect copyright.PENANATinhMbEU4h
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."741Please respect copyright.PENANAjhKORyRtmD
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.741Please respect copyright.PENANAwzSlTUFAyi
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."741Please respect copyright.PENANAm4CkF7dyty
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAHc9GqZgnoY
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."741Please respect copyright.PENANATHEaWnEvq6
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAxTmhTvvPhA
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.741Please respect copyright.PENANAsOmAJSIqHY
"Yes, we are."741Please respect copyright.PENANAaxjHvTSrzY
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."741Please respect copyright.PENANAtphHxuQpZo
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."741Please respect copyright.PENANA7LJ1gFQ0EI
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."741Please respect copyright.PENANAANx4TL9sm0
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAtdbdNSpwyC
The two ladies agreed 741Please respect copyright.PENANAbJsJofHL11
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 741Please respect copyright.PENANAdn9MznFpbD
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 741Please respect copyright.PENANAd76GkREQ8d
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.741Please respect copyright.PENANAd35LiWXpAW
"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."741Please respect copyright.PENANAJsVkojvaAk
Most people in the 741Please respect copyright.PENANAzrMtfIJ3rw
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 741Please respect copyright.PENANAiNmk9w0TQz
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 741Please respect copyright.PENANARbitV6cDG8
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 741Please respect copyright.PENANAS0WHubMSnM
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 741Please respect copyright.PENANA3yuRSzxjKi
struggle to put out the first fire.741Please respect copyright.PENANAOypiyZrTb0
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.741Please respect copyright.PENANAX6eKUyvnp6
"I would rather suggest 741Please respect copyright.PENANA7DCMpnU1fh
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his741Please respect copyright.PENANAAGcXikySa8
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 741Please respect copyright.PENANAQ21SBMEn23
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ8uMk8cuF
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.741Please respect copyright.PENANAfsvjSfr0NT
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAlyKRPHasfO
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."741Please respect copyright.PENANAnqJbp7S1H7
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."741Please respect copyright.PENANAhz08rGMAEs
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.741Please respect copyright.PENANAs9r95Dxqe1
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.741Please respect copyright.PENANAG3byll2lh7
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.741Please respect copyright.PENANALPFtqDYaW5
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.741Please respect copyright.PENANA2ubHCPeRL1
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.741Please respect copyright.PENANAh3Ryry90jr
Everyone slowly left the741Please respect copyright.PENANAYVTM6Yo93S
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 741Please respect copyright.PENANA3rGNoHVoIV
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right741Please respect copyright.PENANAigiUJddHkI
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 741Please respect copyright.PENANANlmuTnIAd9
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.741Please respect copyright.PENANAGUKAyUwLe0
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAQifrokIlZt
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."741Please respect copyright.PENANAOBddiQ9sxV
After the loving prayer,741Please respect copyright.PENANAqde79RJ6nc
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed741Please respect copyright.PENANAoMCOsfTZ8l
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.741Please respect copyright.PENANAUVKPY2vjCX
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAd7quDkVhze
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."741Please respect copyright.PENANAEUzloqiAxB
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."741Please respect copyright.PENANAXKmA2Hjyxe
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."741Please respect copyright.PENANAj8jfJGNMma
"He really can't get 741Please respect copyright.PENANAEqpH3uQ31X
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the741Please respect copyright.PENANAmZh7Py5GaT
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 741Please respect copyright.PENANAxIGZKBu1rc
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 741Please respect copyright.PENANAswDieLBeMs
eyes in irritation.741Please respect copyright.PENANATZ0SYBBwpb
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."741Please respect copyright.PENANAM4Z7XVmcfZ
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.741Please respect copyright.PENANAjcKboURbg2
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."741Please respect copyright.PENANAH7GIYRE8cU
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.741Please respect copyright.PENANAucY4BCcQNe
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.741Please respect copyright.PENANACnL6ulpsPb
"Why me?" Angel asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANA8bBuQLJPyz
"I know you will explain741Please respect copyright.PENANAasEGiKoQZ8
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 741Please respect copyright.PENANAlBn7JiUmmw
of things from now on if mum is busy."741Please respect copyright.PENANApzvHFFUrCU
"Like what?" Diana asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAuzCffVAWRM
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."741Please respect copyright.PENANAEHhVnBkhPc
"That's so nice of you, 741Please respect copyright.PENANAHYqTVyYnR1
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,741Please respect copyright.PENANAU6HBm6Fk7M
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 741Please respect copyright.PENANA9aOJ4azqGk
want to."741Please respect copyright.PENANAHy4HdoiS1X
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."741Please respect copyright.PENANASKrpCXz4oA
Angel looked at him and 741Please respect copyright.PENANA2jqs8YdR1k
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 741Please respect copyright.PENANAVx7pD97obU
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 741Please respect copyright.PENANAotgYQCHVNe
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.741Please respect copyright.PENANAFDLhED6QZc
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."741Please respect copyright.PENANALbVkQogJwh
Leo felt like he was 741Please respect copyright.PENANABZYksyE9NM
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 741Please respect copyright.PENANAvHG4QyptyO
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.741Please respect copyright.PENANAEjeAfqxlv1
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.741Please respect copyright.PENANAXNJCbPA4N0
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.741Please respect copyright.PENANA4gYefcxBoh
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."741Please respect copyright.PENANAMQ0nRhE76V
"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."741Please respect copyright.PENANAr1VLw4c28d
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."741Please respect copyright.PENANAJBP5TQsqIO
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.741Please respect copyright.PENANAV8ql6pUuBW
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAF1WoMylMB0
"It was fine, mum," said741Please respect copyright.PENANAVfywSdCI9l
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 741Please respect copyright.PENANAOWsbrXMd01
conversation was going to turn out.741Please respect copyright.PENANAvkbCdeuBDW
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAnki5eGxcDT
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."741Please respect copyright.PENANASNk8pguCbK
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."741Please respect copyright.PENANA80FubqNNQ8
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.741Please respect copyright.PENANAeJlAQrdakk
"Alright," said Mrs 741Please respect copyright.PENANAQeiicYjDJ1
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 741Please respect copyright.PENANAhej5e4XQM5
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 741Please respect copyright.PENANAxUgH512bHL
for you lately?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAwqNfOA8qmN
Angel and Carly both 741Please respect copyright.PENANAmu7pgQVC6f
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 741Please respect copyright.PENANAM88Ael0Mmf
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 741Please respect copyright.PENANA1iG7AYoxEn
already was one herself.741Please respect copyright.PENANA18kVrjgjea
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.741Please respect copyright.PENANAtn5a8jMhae
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAX1QB2Laz54
"Running well as usual."741Please respect copyright.PENANATh0ljzg1Px
"I should really pay him741Please respect copyright.PENANAXidQCuc3K1
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 741Please respect copyright.PENANAFA3Jj0zOxl
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."741Please respect copyright.PENANAGz3ujOG0UF
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.741Please respect copyright.PENANAJA8bpunJ0U
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.741Please respect copyright.PENANAHsas8wtRRv
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.741Please respect copyright.PENANAKDoD3C05V1
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.741Please respect copyright.PENANAsxXgcXVRGt
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."741Please respect copyright.PENANA3NaXqaB9g0
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."741Please respect copyright.PENANADy8Uc8TDSi
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."741Please respect copyright.PENANA4YxL1wtwZ1
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.741Please respect copyright.PENANAclaHCv7j2L
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.741Please respect copyright.PENANAnf144VOx9u
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAZFFnbk0mFp
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."741Please respect copyright.PENANAPPc0YM7bsJ
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAdZFuLaB2wZ
"I would really like to,741Please respect copyright.PENANAaxfcXch0xg
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 741Please respect copyright.PENANAtIrR8XvLPL
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."741Please respect copyright.PENANApk2NMBRE5y
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."741Please respect copyright.PENANAPlZw0HXUaW
"Mum, most of us here 741Please respect copyright.PENANAtg7dTJRLdP
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 741Please respect copyright.PENANA3Sr0VblFzr
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 741Please respect copyright.PENANA4jd2eZfR7W
mine."741Please respect copyright.PENANAPzWTzST3gB
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 741Please respect copyright.PENANAM2Nb0SgSxS
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others741Please respect copyright.PENANA86Okdq0xWU
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 741Please respect copyright.PENANAFuBdrxgpiQ
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 741Please respect copyright.PENANA2IWgRWhHT5
moment.741Please respect copyright.PENANAs4EUus6rl7
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."741Please respect copyright.PENANAE2fgRFpIw5
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.741Please respect copyright.PENANAfWMUCA2eRi
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.741Please respect copyright.PENANAL05JL7zNA1
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:741Please respect copyright.PENANAJPUctaFSkn
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."741Please respect copyright.PENANAUXcEzyNk4k
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."741Please respect copyright.PENANAByAAyQgb2O
"For now or never?" Leo asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANAxcDWqTfwuj
"Don't start, son."741Please respect copyright.PENANA55ICZqTHHJ
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"741Please respect copyright.PENANAWFV5tZBRVj
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.741Please respect copyright.PENANAtjXaawYSOw
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.741Please respect copyright.PENANAxP3kqIVpwa
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.741Please respect copyright.PENANA09yjBNmlPl
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.741Please respect copyright.PENANABFmZqHYBrl
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.741Please respect copyright.PENANASc6C0hC0G4
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."741Please respect copyright.PENANAe4DgnuMNSa
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.741Please respect copyright.PENANAEbtmrZKclK
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.741Please respect copyright.PENANAfXJy7OcsKS
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.741Please respect copyright.PENANANtxrhK7MXZ
"I'll come and help," said Eric.741Please respect copyright.PENANAjukCJAA9Ue
"Me too," said Carly.741Please respect copyright.PENANA2NC5sFWoOy
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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