Leo found himself back 867Please respect copyright.PENANAstki06i88n
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 867Please respect copyright.PENANAfYTF4Tv86x
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after867Please respect copyright.PENANACjmgEAtS3V
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in867Please respect copyright.PENANABXJ9i2YMAd
the room.867Please respect copyright.PENANATgi94CqA0c
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAGG9LYo2CFX
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"867Please respect copyright.PENANA3Fge1AIiqf
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.867Please respect copyright.PENANAZb1oxGc8Pq
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAUY9baeSjg4
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."867Please respect copyright.PENANAClPKQY10cB
Eric raised an eyebrow 867Please respect copyright.PENANAx4IhlhZBAQ
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 867Please respect copyright.PENANA0m4sJvuZFu
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 867Please respect copyright.PENANAHuQYcSCsNL
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.867Please respect copyright.PENANAbG4RpGqGyO
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAJTEu9S529o
"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."867Please respect copyright.PENANAv7uCNNfrxV
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.867Please respect copyright.PENANAnGmmsm5a1E
"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?"867Please respect copyright.PENANA2K41hCR44t
"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."867Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ8FUo1U7q
Leo soon turned around, 867Please respect copyright.PENANA7aOlSM7WPx
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt867Please respect copyright.PENANAWvLgbHdjg8
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue867Please respect copyright.PENANAA9Wq786rJx
on top of it.867Please respect copyright.PENANABwTmwWRZda
Kim had been crying. She867Please respect copyright.PENANAi4fbcj72fP
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the867Please respect copyright.PENANASLHQrZTOqx
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 867Please respect copyright.PENANAwvdaYvkdpF
her tears with another tissue.867Please respect copyright.PENANATyh7LLiue6
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."867Please respect copyright.PENANAVvQVcBSyoW
"I'm not going to say 867Please respect copyright.PENANAkMxLIZFBus
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 867Please respect copyright.PENANAhdVkEe3fSg
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."867Please respect copyright.PENANA7k96dcN8rx
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.867Please respect copyright.PENANAhaoa9T6ICL
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."867Please respect copyright.PENANAdtvhr3yuz8
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAdELX5VeMNq
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."867Please respect copyright.PENANAp5ZeATcyg7
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"867Please respect copyright.PENANATz5oB6mDX3
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.867Please respect copyright.PENANAzow1Ln5CQg
"Yes, we are."867Please respect copyright.PENANAiq61B9ohK5
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."867Please respect copyright.PENANA7WjLmdUhn9
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."867Please respect copyright.PENANA5InQJim2i0
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."867Please respect copyright.PENANAgIBBgop68J
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAGZSASOttbm
The two ladies agreed 867Please respect copyright.PENANAuYU9V95Zb3
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 867Please respect copyright.PENANAHiHjqWkcVM
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 867Please respect copyright.PENANANmweZvW20M
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.867Please respect copyright.PENANA3BJUqIRQzq
"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."867Please respect copyright.PENANAAWMcGosgLC
Most people in the 867Please respect copyright.PENANAmMeNL5QDMr
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 867Please respect copyright.PENANAY0iXkce0c4
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 867Please respect copyright.PENANAFvXEt5QHYD
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 867Please respect copyright.PENANAfcrndYq7aG
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 867Please respect copyright.PENANArwPaqqztuI
struggle to put out the first fire.867Please respect copyright.PENANAOWX30inNLp
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.867Please respect copyright.PENANA1DqXBuPzvf
"I would rather suggest 867Please respect copyright.PENANAfY1csKvDlx
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his867Please respect copyright.PENANALyVE8QsbDP
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 867Please respect copyright.PENANAYMWwd5EKcI
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAR1GhfQJG1z
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.867Please respect copyright.PENANAtLyfXBcdih
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANA2BlV36AX3B
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."867Please respect copyright.PENANAxOmPG3HBeM
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."867Please respect copyright.PENANAMNrXx7Hyu1
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.867Please respect copyright.PENANAXQZhrKSifd
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.867Please respect copyright.PENANAjPqdcem0Dy
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.867Please respect copyright.PENANALG51X09wnb
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.867Please respect copyright.PENANA1FQsyGGc61
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.867Please respect copyright.PENANAqmXhppkbzb
Everyone slowly left the867Please respect copyright.PENANASg1ZA5PLCk
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 867Please respect copyright.PENANAa71sne09Ao
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right867Please respect copyright.PENANAQHoaR2ITuP
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 867Please respect copyright.PENANAr81omfrQ5b
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.867Please respect copyright.PENANA1znfpqtjYS
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANANXLLiZyl8U
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."867Please respect copyright.PENANAuAih1u34GS
After the loving prayer,867Please respect copyright.PENANAH6tp3wIGmo
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed867Please respect copyright.PENANAsv21ujWEeK
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.867Please respect copyright.PENANAOn2eOnhvID
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANA0tPFMygZVa
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."867Please respect copyright.PENANApJf1eybbX7
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."867Please respect copyright.PENANAxnsPBiVSnk
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."867Please respect copyright.PENANAhf93yljf20
"He really can't get 867Please respect copyright.PENANA1Oo3npRD8X
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the867Please respect copyright.PENANAQsmlqazWxm
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 867Please respect copyright.PENANAOrzsbHHJmc
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 867Please respect copyright.PENANAR0h71YF4xQ
eyes in irritation.867Please respect copyright.PENANAKdCuMO1Tff
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."867Please respect copyright.PENANAUcYgzkp9o3
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.867Please respect copyright.PENANAaF6nYN1WMC
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."867Please respect copyright.PENANAgEWnOn2epl
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.867Please respect copyright.PENANAXY64bD6H4j
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.867Please respect copyright.PENANA9wc6JAKZrC
"Why me?" Angel asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANAfXBY1G4tHC
"I know you will explain867Please respect copyright.PENANAI9ibtJIZ8U
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 867Please respect copyright.PENANAkgCgtCu0Lm
of things from now on if mum is busy."867Please respect copyright.PENANAf2JYr26FZA
"Like what?" Diana asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANAFS6GuwpnzY
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."867Please respect copyright.PENANAjDD5a32NDF
"That's so nice of you, 867Please respect copyright.PENANAE3uXg2pwG6
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,867Please respect copyright.PENANANWrjqRjAsX
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 867Please respect copyright.PENANAK2YQ5m3EyP
want to."867Please respect copyright.PENANAyxIt2nuczY
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."867Please respect copyright.PENANAKdYb7tz09e
Angel looked at him and 867Please respect copyright.PENANA3J7nZIKahS
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 867Please respect copyright.PENANA5lH9Qd7UfH
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 867Please respect copyright.PENANAhhJx4Uxkid
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.867Please respect copyright.PENANAQrDm770vF0
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."867Please respect copyright.PENANAkQzwNT4Ekw
Leo felt like he was 867Please respect copyright.PENANAcswlhTVJJq
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 867Please respect copyright.PENANAtdAdDeinU3
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.867Please respect copyright.PENANABQ6RcGQXXe
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.867Please respect copyright.PENANAMIApWBaatn
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.867Please respect copyright.PENANAQ94eWMsRHp
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."867Please respect copyright.PENANAob4n8ifgvS
"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."867Please respect copyright.PENANAb1SL0MdTyr
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."867Please respect copyright.PENANAObXl6h7Sha
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.867Please respect copyright.PENANAf4ZlfNZpoP
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAwUt5WJymDT
"It was fine, mum," said867Please respect copyright.PENANANxTnvp8yOE
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 867Please respect copyright.PENANADNXdJt4HQ9
conversation was going to turn out.867Please respect copyright.PENANAn0O68iBvwp
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAYy2lSvaGCi
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."867Please respect copyright.PENANACd1HcidZ97
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."867Please respect copyright.PENANALp8wYgOvR1
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.867Please respect copyright.PENANAkRQkhVtNgO
"Alright," said Mrs 867Please respect copyright.PENANAv28qIhEHAL
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 867Please respect copyright.PENANAcqL6F7SCHk
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 867Please respect copyright.PENANA5F1RuRVCXx
for you lately?"867Please respect copyright.PENANAzPrPtcKDSz
Angel and Carly both 867Please respect copyright.PENANAzYFlhiPTD1
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 867Please respect copyright.PENANASWjh5fcgMe
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 867Please respect copyright.PENANAtadfqmspEq
already was one herself.867Please respect copyright.PENANAVlSpqZW5mx
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.867Please respect copyright.PENANATsaUZaII7z
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANAYGis0vlF7P
"Running well as usual."867Please respect copyright.PENANAyPzfhohiyP
"I should really pay him867Please respect copyright.PENANA6flzUXk3jS
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 867Please respect copyright.PENANA0lS23u1Ytz
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."867Please respect copyright.PENANA9RFVtIRTwT
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.867Please respect copyright.PENANAOXUr7CZG4e
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.867Please respect copyright.PENANAlBhvAeACn4
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.867Please respect copyright.PENANAZcRtcdp6Aa
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.867Please respect copyright.PENANAup5ODIAOvR
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."867Please respect copyright.PENANAX9E5e9DMLk
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."867Please respect copyright.PENANADJIsEnDj37
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."867Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ6OfjZzre
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.867Please respect copyright.PENANAfw7DmU1fP6
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.867Please respect copyright.PENANAoXy2dzJ8BP
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANAGU7yqpxRC9
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."867Please respect copyright.PENANAsOWt6e5KDS
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"867Please respect copyright.PENANALp4kdmzPwk
"I would really like to,867Please respect copyright.PENANAnVXBMw0xh4
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 867Please respect copyright.PENANAVJ9vpe4iMa
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."867Please respect copyright.PENANAy2TXRYIi78
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."867Please respect copyright.PENANAu67VfoSJy8
"Mum, most of us here 867Please respect copyright.PENANAWUOU5tRqhy
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 867Please respect copyright.PENANAodMd2OwAJp
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 867Please respect copyright.PENANAucCXVFUCDo
mine."867Please respect copyright.PENANAdweq2MQe4Y
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 867Please respect copyright.PENANAt7MKdlIj8j
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others867Please respect copyright.PENANAq0AluH6Oou
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 867Please respect copyright.PENANA6Tqu1q2yV8
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 867Please respect copyright.PENANAaGWdRAgjJc
moment.867Please respect copyright.PENANAx7qyeQwB4r
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."867Please respect copyright.PENANA0Lr4k4A1lg
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.867Please respect copyright.PENANAfGhvP3d2RY
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.867Please respect copyright.PENANABtaDYWki43
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:867Please respect copyright.PENANA6tfmrwVcIJ
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."867Please respect copyright.PENANAUd6XyKPClv
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."867Please respect copyright.PENANAWalefjWajZ
"For now or never?" Leo asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANAHibDxoe1l8
"Don't start, son."867Please respect copyright.PENANASLAjD6Pi2v
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"867Please respect copyright.PENANABKqKc2ZKlM
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.867Please respect copyright.PENANAmqTqea41xU
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.867Please respect copyright.PENANAQhjs1LGcv9
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.867Please respect copyright.PENANAj9ovFAs6Wd
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.867Please respect copyright.PENANA1GiAgysIM6
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.867Please respect copyright.PENANAnFiCFbwYci
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."867Please respect copyright.PENANAFOQVFce8R9
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.867Please respect copyright.PENANA7oROaR35ge
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.867Please respect copyright.PENANAhGhaK5JJla
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.867Please respect copyright.PENANAWhPcAJzWfu
"I'll come and help," said Eric.867Please respect copyright.PENANAoeoWbCODZH
"Me too," said Carly.867Please respect copyright.PENANAsKpAaeJtZ9
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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