Leo found himself back 743Please respect copyright.PENANAfPmc5xnaeM
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 743Please respect copyright.PENANAOyI605TAnW
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after743Please respect copyright.PENANAGtJ2lD1RCW
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in743Please respect copyright.PENANAy8TWrWDIFI
the room.743Please respect copyright.PENANA2JhmylnM7M
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAYYsm9298q0
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAYdBDmx3egu
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.743Please respect copyright.PENANAgtwcDCBQSq
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAN7jR1P3eAy
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."743Please respect copyright.PENANAxoLykZOvkS
Eric raised an eyebrow 743Please respect copyright.PENANA6dg8PkQNxX
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 743Please respect copyright.PENANAh1viu9bf8u
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 743Please respect copyright.PENANAx43lkZJwg5
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.743Please respect copyright.PENANAeCX0hlxLSC
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAFGj1nrDfjz
"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."743Please respect copyright.PENANARKYXzk5X1O
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.743Please respect copyright.PENANATelKMXynPZ
"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?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAcyzXwBxroP
"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."743Please respect copyright.PENANAvBlRk9A9iQ
Leo soon turned around, 743Please respect copyright.PENANAdHejEKZ83r
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt743Please respect copyright.PENANArvwwKXMfyT
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue743Please respect copyright.PENANAxdDOby0zuo
on top of it.743Please respect copyright.PENANANgwAYSbihx
Kim had been crying. She743Please respect copyright.PENANA9N4kSi60EF
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the743Please respect copyright.PENANAdbIGmpyx8A
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 743Please respect copyright.PENANAfDPIMQvVPJ
her tears with another tissue.743Please respect copyright.PENANA8umthYBfvR
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."743Please respect copyright.PENANA2WLBe0ryeu
"I'm not going to say 743Please respect copyright.PENANA1Mm7sa9IQI
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 743Please respect copyright.PENANAMKE8jcJV5A
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."743Please respect copyright.PENANAMdEVYsYryP
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.743Please respect copyright.PENANAFyc4U3DbKl
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."743Please respect copyright.PENANAsnyEXJ7BuT
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAucR2DHEknE
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."743Please respect copyright.PENANA9t5ZA0v3t4
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAXM5IDeFNWN
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.743Please respect copyright.PENANAO70oyBuJPI
"Yes, we are."743Please respect copyright.PENANArfsiENCWqd
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."743Please respect copyright.PENANAxDiQflgAtc
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."743Please respect copyright.PENANAAmb23vyZX5
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."743Please respect copyright.PENANAmb8PbmHlqv
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"743Please respect copyright.PENANA0EEB3Zvgdh
The two ladies agreed 743Please respect copyright.PENANAT5XGCazXxW
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 743Please respect copyright.PENANAluUsJKovf4
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 743Please respect copyright.PENANAzB40CIBWqt
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.743Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ph22UCwTk
"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."743Please respect copyright.PENANANZkKVkc2Lq
Most people in the 743Please respect copyright.PENANAXFfHa7U0PV
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 743Please respect copyright.PENANAwsKJMRJDFH
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 743Please respect copyright.PENANAJnLOsPScvv
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 743Please respect copyright.PENANAGsdfbxhtfB
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 743Please respect copyright.PENANAZZnc8P6HZk
struggle to put out the first fire.743Please respect copyright.PENANAL2PCOK9AMj
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.743Please respect copyright.PENANABVuivo8t0Q
"I would rather suggest 743Please respect copyright.PENANAEAbYKhbtDK
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his743Please respect copyright.PENANAvQDVPVqCUL
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 743Please respect copyright.PENANAbsSgu0Ipga
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"743Please respect copyright.PENANALxxe1hpmaE
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.743Please respect copyright.PENANA1tFKRrYjmK
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANAfaDS7AGSMZ
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."743Please respect copyright.PENANAYBNqyAgwkQ
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."743Please respect copyright.PENANALACmfWSgDJ
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.743Please respect copyright.PENANAo7pqr55oKI
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.743Please respect copyright.PENANAqdbjMtstfg
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.743Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9t8TqJbFS
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.743Please respect copyright.PENANAaQrOhKC77W
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.743Please respect copyright.PENANAns7okUKNCN
Everyone slowly left the743Please respect copyright.PENANA3F5aCtisO9
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 743Please respect copyright.PENANAJKfEjXSHDb
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right743Please respect copyright.PENANAGHnwNco4oP
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 743Please respect copyright.PENANA5Cuhjp8hOv
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.743Please respect copyright.PENANAtdUzUuNulh
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANAjEFVlPiAFQ
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."743Please respect copyright.PENANAL72fj4ltnd
After the loving prayer,743Please respect copyright.PENANAFLUBs5a0CK
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed743Please respect copyright.PENANAgn4xEqPeo1
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.743Please respect copyright.PENANAIdVAWXP4wN
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANAwDPV7QIsg8
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."743Please respect copyright.PENANAEUi7V6TqUK
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."743Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8xcA3S6Ew
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."743Please respect copyright.PENANA4shV2TIMr0
"He really can't get 743Please respect copyright.PENANAPjIzNg6PUp
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the743Please respect copyright.PENANA9FtOpCBPLW
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 743Please respect copyright.PENANAWPk5Ok54ue
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 743Please respect copyright.PENANA4RPiCTcPor
eyes in irritation.743Please respect copyright.PENANAHJMWmjaYGK
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."743Please respect copyright.PENANA1duNMROeQ5
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.743Please respect copyright.PENANAjLPuvTc6yz
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."743Please respect copyright.PENANAQxX6FN2ewE
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.743Please respect copyright.PENANAsYVWXojxiF
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.743Please respect copyright.PENANAFqF4fSbJ5M
"Why me?" Angel asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANA2GGJrkEB3j
"I know you will explain743Please respect copyright.PENANAhlFt2KB4xR
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 743Please respect copyright.PENANAtwkQ5iyK26
of things from now on if mum is busy."743Please respect copyright.PENANANeRYm08iNO
"Like what?" Diana asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANA7psYZWGmRT
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."743Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y0556vYIR
"That's so nice of you, 743Please respect copyright.PENANA6TDikPdVms
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,743Please respect copyright.PENANA1ykd6VmQzE
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 743Please respect copyright.PENANAD4YfVuwXgW
want to."743Please respect copyright.PENANAzVTaeXq3TU
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."743Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ5s2Euw4m
Angel looked at him and 743Please respect copyright.PENANA8paeWykUfc
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 743Please respect copyright.PENANAeV9gWNgz58
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 743Please respect copyright.PENANAI4adtSNpyM
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.743Please respect copyright.PENANAsFJ5mpUSJt
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."743Please respect copyright.PENANA8ezCAXOGiv
Leo felt like he was 743Please respect copyright.PENANADetLsNSN0D
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 743Please respect copyright.PENANAwTi8XDx2cX
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.743Please respect copyright.PENANAjjhrDuRal1
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.743Please respect copyright.PENANAu5qrDcU5nl
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.743Please respect copyright.PENANAUrZCjrntnI
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."743Please respect copyright.PENANAopifTGAomt
"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."743Please respect copyright.PENANAMdJT19Ob3U
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."743Please respect copyright.PENANAFPqvQVaaw0
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.743Please respect copyright.PENANAplsghUI6u8
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAZdtR6k1FvL
"It was fine, mum," said743Please respect copyright.PENANApRApU7HXOj
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 743Please respect copyright.PENANAAi4vIHdR9W
conversation was going to turn out.743Please respect copyright.PENANA51QyLkiv8z
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"743Please respect copyright.PENANArYb2f64XHI
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."743Please respect copyright.PENANAXHlWEjbhiJ
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."743Please respect copyright.PENANAdazIsjvdNx
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.743Please respect copyright.PENANAy4Yipy8ahE
"Alright," said Mrs 743Please respect copyright.PENANAktoAaLQJFS
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 743Please respect copyright.PENANAngLUtpNYOh
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 743Please respect copyright.PENANAUyd6ShHJ4A
for you lately?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAT9VexfcNuM
Angel and Carly both 743Please respect copyright.PENANA0HtFXZYABh
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 743Please respect copyright.PENANAWiFHy3jAPi
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 743Please respect copyright.PENANASvnqANu9bQ
already was one herself.743Please respect copyright.PENANAei8BglsBx3
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.743Please respect copyright.PENANAiBRX5f5aaJ
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANA4QMNguvIAi
"Running well as usual."743Please respect copyright.PENANAzHheEI6M1j
"I should really pay him743Please respect copyright.PENANAH9NNcExERA
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 743Please respect copyright.PENANAfz0t6Tt2gm
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."743Please respect copyright.PENANAQYG9xC34bT
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.743Please respect copyright.PENANA9nYI9SG4dh
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.743Please respect copyright.PENANArdtachCuNw
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.743Please respect copyright.PENANARqsDCyNfsP
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.743Please respect copyright.PENANAvsFHOKV4Jz
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."743Please respect copyright.PENANA0eTi0i7oFd
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."743Please respect copyright.PENANA61omRey6Uf
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."743Please respect copyright.PENANAX8hTqf4UlY
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.743Please respect copyright.PENANAbI9ZpRweyR
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.743Please respect copyright.PENANAhXudO4l0Xr
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANAShainGfDEm
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."743Please respect copyright.PENANALSzbBPMUak
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAA5fTni84ck
"I would really like to,743Please respect copyright.PENANAzQ9qlJsedd
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 743Please respect copyright.PENANAvH8JUscHTY
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."743Please respect copyright.PENANAV3mGj1o3sZ
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."743Please respect copyright.PENANAk1xXSbjr8p
"Mum, most of us here 743Please respect copyright.PENANAe8JUJtlz7W
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 743Please respect copyright.PENANAbuzR6v54zz
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 743Please respect copyright.PENANAauWIDqMwCx
mine."743Please respect copyright.PENANAp41V2BZYU9
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 743Please respect copyright.PENANAAyXPSNkHHX
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others743Please respect copyright.PENANAYCZDklR8Q3
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 743Please respect copyright.PENANAl4VHCNP0tZ
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 743Please respect copyright.PENANAb1B6jwuNDw
moment.743Please respect copyright.PENANAXKe4QaYdyp
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."743Please respect copyright.PENANAXyZ47o1Xl0
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.743Please respect copyright.PENANAhDSDMqaRUS
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.743Please respect copyright.PENANA66NAoZLeuF
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:743Please respect copyright.PENANA4KAEg9dBVP
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."743Please respect copyright.PENANAG0RmlAqXer
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."743Please respect copyright.PENANA8ymd3Zge33
"For now or never?" Leo asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANABKffJR1DXL
"Don't start, son."743Please respect copyright.PENANAswbKcL1Hre
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"743Please respect copyright.PENANAkiaOVIH7Yk
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.743Please respect copyright.PENANANViKvRkWBR
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.743Please respect copyright.PENANAOmBQ9O1SDk
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.743Please respect copyright.PENANASlIYpag9gM
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.743Please respect copyright.PENANAkQayhJ67Qc
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.743Please respect copyright.PENANAyIkCftntoT
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."743Please respect copyright.PENANAZFRWA2CPED
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.743Please respect copyright.PENANAPH9NprZ68A
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.743Please respect copyright.PENANAg5vWV8S0qC
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.743Please respect copyright.PENANAY0LyyXbzEv
"I'll come and help," said Eric.743Please respect copyright.PENANAYLNWL3hVFV
"Me too," said Carly.743Please respect copyright.PENANADtTsdBzwbS
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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