Leo found himself back 814Please respect copyright.PENANArI1KhDxBhS
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 814Please respect copyright.PENANA70f55BWPkg
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after814Please respect copyright.PENANAcHc61XQG5M
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in814Please respect copyright.PENANAfyDV8QqvQI
the room.814Please respect copyright.PENANAz9UJy7Oapq
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"814Please respect copyright.PENANARdkzUt5ta6
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAHenSDy1ZDr
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.814Please respect copyright.PENANAFWLAMpOxrF
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAQAEQzJLEs4
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."814Please respect copyright.PENANA7aPC1GgeQu
Eric raised an eyebrow 814Please respect copyright.PENANAuZoENDuDy6
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 814Please respect copyright.PENANALBXvrR9BJm
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 814Please respect copyright.PENANA5xH1svHXFR
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.814Please respect copyright.PENANAu3v9jneyYd
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAJLbgGJXCdZ
"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."814Please respect copyright.PENANAfREHBXuUAO
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.814Please respect copyright.PENANAOi3b7RzEas
"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?"814Please respect copyright.PENANA1GOVNvSj5R
"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."814Please respect copyright.PENANANrOPTSQtmw
Leo soon turned around, 814Please respect copyright.PENANAM7Nu0yCfSa
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt814Please respect copyright.PENANA0QrvPlhdp6
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue814Please respect copyright.PENANABXSpXlvQhO
on top of it.814Please respect copyright.PENANAFvwZA2sa5y
Kim had been crying. She814Please respect copyright.PENANAaXdTZtOO2W
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the814Please respect copyright.PENANAEHtk92jNmA
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 814Please respect copyright.PENANAgNObdyWzN8
her tears with another tissue.814Please respect copyright.PENANA1y37Dli9A9
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."814Please respect copyright.PENANAQSagCOudrQ
"I'm not going to say 814Please respect copyright.PENANA073Zy6SkGO
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 814Please respect copyright.PENANAFwHkKXM2MU
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."814Please respect copyright.PENANAir0k25ETU8
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.814Please respect copyright.PENANAsiPAP6qaLH
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."814Please respect copyright.PENANADfdmhZxTz9
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAGM513sk0WC
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."814Please respect copyright.PENANASAGPybg0Gn
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAW47JwkRwJ7
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.814Please respect copyright.PENANA4p8erO0iEx
"Yes, we are."814Please respect copyright.PENANAGOZFuQyttR
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."814Please respect copyright.PENANACmEHtiGgg6
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."814Please respect copyright.PENANApdWhJSqcT0
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."814Please respect copyright.PENANAcPuKzW3zkZ
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAwOWpPIqmVa
The two ladies agreed 814Please respect copyright.PENANA1jwEsNI24t
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 814Please respect copyright.PENANA7AJQDXQDY8
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 814Please respect copyright.PENANA4sXbswWY9n
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.814Please respect copyright.PENANA5rkrj7nI0I
"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."814Please respect copyright.PENANAujyLw5KAgn
Most people in the 814Please respect copyright.PENANABcy4lggvm3
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 814Please respect copyright.PENANA2WME8R9y2q
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 814Please respect copyright.PENANAOlCxTcoJ7L
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 814Please respect copyright.PENANAw6jH9TJsas
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 814Please respect copyright.PENANA8TW1toE6CJ
struggle to put out the first fire.814Please respect copyright.PENANAaTN9lkdaOk
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.814Please respect copyright.PENANAOaPLIXJZw7
"I would rather suggest 814Please respect copyright.PENANADlWMe6p0Tl
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his814Please respect copyright.PENANACiDiUteSeY
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 814Please respect copyright.PENANABDZNapZZkW
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAduZZ2cVv5v
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.814Please respect copyright.PENANAyqdM0kZ8Np
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANAn5Oq74iRXm
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."814Please respect copyright.PENANAoPdfpxiYmB
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."814Please respect copyright.PENANA0YccNtFPBh
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.814Please respect copyright.PENANAmytCdvZrtV
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.814Please respect copyright.PENANAhhmXhKYbkH
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.814Please respect copyright.PENANAwaDxEbYgOp
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.814Please respect copyright.PENANA5lX6BG1np2
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.814Please respect copyright.PENANA0RjR6uKAT6
Everyone slowly left the814Please respect copyright.PENANAq7VxMlO7hY
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 814Please respect copyright.PENANAGj2kmVqcqN
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right814Please respect copyright.PENANAja5bDOZbdP
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 814Please respect copyright.PENANAIw5ras9pvm
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.814Please respect copyright.PENANAsoXG7Ga38X
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANA1xsbclN4I4
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."814Please respect copyright.PENANA7ns65F9nWk
After the loving prayer,814Please respect copyright.PENANAHb2LepTwux
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed814Please respect copyright.PENANAfIpWMCCLqN
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.814Please respect copyright.PENANAB4u57LYWLf
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANAKWyBDCZonj
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."814Please respect copyright.PENANASeU7nbYpGL
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."814Please respect copyright.PENANAIwTrDuSJ2w
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."814Please respect copyright.PENANAHF96XzkfQy
"He really can't get 814Please respect copyright.PENANAiSMpJnwnPl
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the814Please respect copyright.PENANATXRIZPaPHV
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 814Please respect copyright.PENANAEoXhvXoJXH
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 814Please respect copyright.PENANAqa5kqgwNK4
eyes in irritation.814Please respect copyright.PENANAmU232vOiSn
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."814Please respect copyright.PENANAg7yMCgatzw
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.814Please respect copyright.PENANAmBN9xH0EHx
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."814Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ68RscwIM
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.814Please respect copyright.PENANAVWMJDjgrXb
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.814Please respect copyright.PENANAvWlKKOlUaO
"Why me?" Angel asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANAg1x35mz8Sz
"I know you will explain814Please respect copyright.PENANA9RtkcY2iRc
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 814Please respect copyright.PENANA9iakAZzyT6
of things from now on if mum is busy."814Please respect copyright.PENANAeJZyK1smeo
"Like what?" Diana asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANAup48sH8mGj
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."814Please respect copyright.PENANAbrJf8Cj7SO
"That's so nice of you, 814Please respect copyright.PENANAlFJoN4UFXm
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,814Please respect copyright.PENANA5v1nfCvB7m
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 814Please respect copyright.PENANAjXeCqn5iLc
want to."814Please respect copyright.PENANALigU0kdY4a
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."814Please respect copyright.PENANABSeRmH7eeG
Angel looked at him and 814Please respect copyright.PENANAkyvJytEZTF
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 814Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZqmONTDMg
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 814Please respect copyright.PENANAGgZUr8ybUO
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.814Please respect copyright.PENANACvF6dZGDxk
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."814Please respect copyright.PENANAXPcl2J4xwz
Leo felt like he was 814Please respect copyright.PENANAyjHmUCxtw9
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 814Please respect copyright.PENANAW8v26Mj4it
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.814Please respect copyright.PENANAh4pZ6jyv2T
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.814Please respect copyright.PENANA3boeELJ3XY
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.814Please respect copyright.PENANA5D7Y3dcSxq
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."814Please respect copyright.PENANAQA08Z6ygvN
"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."814Please respect copyright.PENANAk63CssxRqs
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."814Please respect copyright.PENANAMLjrWy5YTI
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.814Please respect copyright.PENANAG0gzUhqggm
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"814Please respect copyright.PENANA7hOCAiZYlC
"It was fine, mum," said814Please respect copyright.PENANA65645oSFnK
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 814Please respect copyright.PENANAF62n7wVa85
conversation was going to turn out.814Please respect copyright.PENANA6fsCnMMZC7
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"814Please respect copyright.PENANA7XJLLhWKrC
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."814Please respect copyright.PENANA3HPFOO7JJI
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."814Please respect copyright.PENANAlLalLoKbkE
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.814Please respect copyright.PENANA619o21S4lf
"Alright," said Mrs 814Please respect copyright.PENANAnXokW0xNge
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 814Please respect copyright.PENANAi1pxKrCXfP
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 814Please respect copyright.PENANAl6juQgPwwR
for you lately?"814Please respect copyright.PENANANYSwKQujaQ
Angel and Carly both 814Please respect copyright.PENANATHMgeaZPnC
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 814Please respect copyright.PENANAhDORMPbBlu
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 814Please respect copyright.PENANArL2j1QpGFz
already was one herself.814Please respect copyright.PENANAtjz4TFZ5xf
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.814Please respect copyright.PENANAXDzNrgXhrX
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANABK8zUh5Ys3
"Running well as usual."814Please respect copyright.PENANAgHCxZhHKGv
"I should really pay him814Please respect copyright.PENANAG5hQe5w6Fy
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 814Please respect copyright.PENANA50cnBWVUmw
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."814Please respect copyright.PENANAQWBqmDndOT
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.814Please respect copyright.PENANAMe58sPbHt3
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.814Please respect copyright.PENANAGVVsF1Fd9z
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.814Please respect copyright.PENANA8uyjMTcTLz
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.814Please respect copyright.PENANAKKdpYcGNqM
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."814Please respect copyright.PENANArgNwq5J437
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."814Please respect copyright.PENANAxbYqFOU7oE
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."814Please respect copyright.PENANAuk743PIUal
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.814Please respect copyright.PENANAugN3WIwFEy
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.814Please respect copyright.PENANABNCuRZ137M
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANAaYB3RfNiWS
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."814Please respect copyright.PENANAA6j7lYgKPc
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"814Please respect copyright.PENANASXCHjhgpF4
"I would really like to,814Please respect copyright.PENANAIUeE3NvpjN
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 814Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ki3T1XvrI
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."814Please respect copyright.PENANAGU8mLCDZ73
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."814Please respect copyright.PENANAWdei2Pm1D9
"Mum, most of us here 814Please respect copyright.PENANAcvybSpuHm2
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 814Please respect copyright.PENANApA8ZUnP9rJ
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 814Please respect copyright.PENANAHtrBbM17ln
mine."814Please respect copyright.PENANAirsJ08DmYV
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 814Please respect copyright.PENANAtQs3lbZOmk
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others814Please respect copyright.PENANAwA2Ptbkr5G
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 814Please respect copyright.PENANA0G5hAbS7WG
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 814Please respect copyright.PENANAdaygOMhWOb
moment.814Please respect copyright.PENANAjZFTnpfloH
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."814Please respect copyright.PENANAwQiOPVjm3l
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.814Please respect copyright.PENANABTDMBRMn0M
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.814Please respect copyright.PENANAmKZRHM6C3u
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:814Please respect copyright.PENANAFwzSWLTGxA
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."814Please respect copyright.PENANAX2kBp6aU6a
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."814Please respect copyright.PENANABmuF9cIEaG
"For now or never?" Leo asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANABUeHvP3vKe
"Don't start, son."814Please respect copyright.PENANABQHQHbUauy
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"814Please respect copyright.PENANAzLL9gUT8kr
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.814Please respect copyright.PENANA8v1bqRsrFW
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.814Please respect copyright.PENANA9iVLJrKue1
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.814Please respect copyright.PENANACXgWSFXVqp
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.814Please respect copyright.PENANAhwxD4zlAsH
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.814Please respect copyright.PENANAg90FzBaW0V
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."814Please respect copyright.PENANAvxLfWPxmBm
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.814Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7OvRNV2Cn
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.814Please respect copyright.PENANAUyxQudJ64Z
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.814Please respect copyright.PENANAnwsrXoVOEl
"I'll come and help," said Eric.814Please respect copyright.PENANAtOtW9Ij5Vv
"Me too," said Carly.814Please respect copyright.PENANATH7vgPNleW
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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