Leo found himself back 448Please respect copyright.PENANAvETPU0N1iw
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 448Please respect copyright.PENANAp2CL9tsb2E
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after448Please respect copyright.PENANAD6Kq8YqHC9
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in448Please respect copyright.PENANAfPnDLUOHkd
the room.448Please respect copyright.PENANAb6OSnHbW9W
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAN2Rx0CbmGx
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAMFN2vVzk1O
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.448Please respect copyright.PENANAc4JKsrDYK6
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAb9YVbqmcKP
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."448Please respect copyright.PENANAHzwhjtlZMq
Eric raised an eyebrow 448Please respect copyright.PENANAC2YbPE1Jqu
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 448Please respect copyright.PENANAuNruqpJffc
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 448Please respect copyright.PENANA1uyPej0zPg
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.448Please respect copyright.PENANAZhE7bPZ2QY
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"448Please respect copyright.PENANALwk63vesJe
"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."448Please respect copyright.PENANA47FVtK8BFi
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.448Please respect copyright.PENANAgNpnN7Ksiv
"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?"448Please respect copyright.PENANA8qMrQ5mXYv
"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."448Please respect copyright.PENANAqDbrONYf6j
Leo soon turned around, 448Please respect copyright.PENANAXBwQ3ewqPS
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt448Please respect copyright.PENANAbkDIDRFH99
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue448Please respect copyright.PENANANe8x5f6zYj
on top of it.448Please respect copyright.PENANA720nW1BxE9
Kim had been crying. She448Please respect copyright.PENANAeTcWconh9b
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the448Please respect copyright.PENANA8gyieZhIZt
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 448Please respect copyright.PENANA0cJVtgSNBo
her tears with another tissue.448Please respect copyright.PENANA8hkQ6nncio
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."448Please respect copyright.PENANAHq8bRhPrgj
"I'm not going to say 448Please respect copyright.PENANA4r0ou2umk7
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 448Please respect copyright.PENANADNKriPJHQX
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."448Please respect copyright.PENANA97ciH98g4V
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.448Please respect copyright.PENANANOrprJRmX9
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."448Please respect copyright.PENANAeFjsnAwg8K
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAasdYxJmntH
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."448Please respect copyright.PENANAKLkom5HO0C
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAbd4RYNkxfj
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.448Please respect copyright.PENANAUKuQrL3KJJ
"Yes, we are."448Please respect copyright.PENANA6qjSKhg5NZ
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."448Please respect copyright.PENANAeOaYo0xw8O
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."448Please respect copyright.PENANA6oZpuYIMAR
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."448Please respect copyright.PENANAVHcSS7dacL
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAEk1jF8qFxi
The two ladies agreed 448Please respect copyright.PENANALBDo8QpPFn
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 448Please respect copyright.PENANAhfuXoNlwqi
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 448Please respect copyright.PENANAxgDbaO6NBi
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.448Please respect copyright.PENANAbpQGLsFyr0
"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."448Please respect copyright.PENANA1cLqqOXR8C
Most people in the 448Please respect copyright.PENANASLZtSYoQG5
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 448Please respect copyright.PENANATlFRa90UJU
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 448Please respect copyright.PENANAHWZ4vnbZ5s
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 448Please respect copyright.PENANABSxjIz99Rc
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 448Please respect copyright.PENANAJDWwuxyI4P
struggle to put out the first fire.448Please respect copyright.PENANAvjQ8XBux4h
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.448Please respect copyright.PENANAeEdU09pfns
"I would rather suggest 448Please respect copyright.PENANAqvXHXb8i1b
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his448Please respect copyright.PENANANYEZP5fOHM
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 448Please respect copyright.PENANA8WXP8hqeEX
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAw1pk0ccdjI
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.448Please respect copyright.PENANAlsnE5IAoV6
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANAD4caiNfreB
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."448Please respect copyright.PENANA0tO6Y5QQwC
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."448Please respect copyright.PENANA2U5yfGojAd
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.448Please respect copyright.PENANAMHXogNVYIb
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.448Please respect copyright.PENANADwpoGDJIk9
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.448Please respect copyright.PENANAikKeVwE4Sy
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.448Please respect copyright.PENANAgHWqiuvP8Y
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.448Please respect copyright.PENANADuizXqwcA4
Everyone slowly left the448Please respect copyright.PENANAhkM9p7TH5T
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 448Please respect copyright.PENANAUeZnXrXbyk
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right448Please respect copyright.PENANAi3Zjj7jYoj
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 448Please respect copyright.PENANAgK5bD2leBz
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.448Please respect copyright.PENANAgo87K7TTuB
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANAd7qkD69StZ
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."448Please respect copyright.PENANAkYIcMUxLyk
After the loving prayer,448Please respect copyright.PENANAUUpRZwSznz
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed448Please respect copyright.PENANAyjbqHMJh6R
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.448Please respect copyright.PENANAEox9C0ClAb
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANA5ErpYwbAWm
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."448Please respect copyright.PENANAkPtyKmSIsn
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."448Please respect copyright.PENANAGT0uQPkLWV
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."448Please respect copyright.PENANA8tkfQfJr2R
"He really can't get 448Please respect copyright.PENANAYr5ZrTkquX
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the448Please respect copyright.PENANATMta6S40gs
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 448Please respect copyright.PENANAPsKMlLKw33
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 448Please respect copyright.PENANAKueKIr2vPV
eyes in irritation.448Please respect copyright.PENANAKG3LlO31YG
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."448Please respect copyright.PENANAF3nVjgnYPW
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.448Please respect copyright.PENANAKPbKagAmBU
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."448Please respect copyright.PENANA5cD6xhqp4Z
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.448Please respect copyright.PENANAL1QZpDVx5r
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.448Please respect copyright.PENANAzDgTdKOPS2
"Why me?" Angel asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANABuVzTy6OsM
"I know you will explain448Please respect copyright.PENANAUnxsJMpaPE
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 448Please respect copyright.PENANAcZnsX0mIGq
of things from now on if mum is busy."448Please respect copyright.PENANAvOjyeZ68E9
"Like what?" Diana asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANA1HrmNwyw5X
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."448Please respect copyright.PENANAWlRpCUwzT9
"That's so nice of you, 448Please respect copyright.PENANAGeZdRRHgbJ
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,448Please respect copyright.PENANA8JbWgP8Tnj
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 448Please respect copyright.PENANA0qvieuIlIR
want to."448Please respect copyright.PENANA3qqEiLOAYa
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."448Please respect copyright.PENANAj9njaj15Yk
Angel looked at him and 448Please respect copyright.PENANAaHsBmx7Slt
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 448Please respect copyright.PENANAkS9iSUPCYk
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 448Please respect copyright.PENANAQzdiarwkYX
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.448Please respect copyright.PENANANpFRs6y2Kv
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."448Please respect copyright.PENANActm9FH0j2F
Leo felt like he was 448Please respect copyright.PENANAgx0ZvMKfCN
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 448Please respect copyright.PENANAT64vAfaA3C
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.448Please respect copyright.PENANAwINnkBtI0w
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.448Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7I3wtQRyN
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.448Please respect copyright.PENANAXXlB03y5qN
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."448Please respect copyright.PENANAHTizCsEjJt
"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."448Please respect copyright.PENANAphFQ2TEEZN
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."448Please respect copyright.PENANA9NFFJzgqya
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.448Please respect copyright.PENANAdLQMi3F9gz
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAOHjXS3YMaE
"It was fine, mum," said448Please respect copyright.PENANAK6xsv7zULz
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 448Please respect copyright.PENANACwVyw8hRew
conversation was going to turn out.448Please respect copyright.PENANA1YK7PEFA3W
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAcRSwjyKxpB
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."448Please respect copyright.PENANAhfwSgzK7gq
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."448Please respect copyright.PENANAboASb0aGaE
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.448Please respect copyright.PENANAUCkdbnGcSN
"Alright," said Mrs 448Please respect copyright.PENANA2Igb1k8y3R
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 448Please respect copyright.PENANANIoksmwlPC
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 448Please respect copyright.PENANAJZ6cBd9hNd
for you lately?"448Please respect copyright.PENANA8Urtwr1GjM
Angel and Carly both 448Please respect copyright.PENANAywyV2KztxE
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 448Please respect copyright.PENANA6fXD4ne5W6
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 448Please respect copyright.PENANAuBkkzrCHsU
already was one herself.448Please respect copyright.PENANA1X1So0wIgH
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.448Please respect copyright.PENANADXtlYpgrWl
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANAmCd22Y4H7z
"Running well as usual."448Please respect copyright.PENANA4x0RoTpgKD
"I should really pay him448Please respect copyright.PENANAHk3H9XtGiE
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 448Please respect copyright.PENANAol1Re0aMOl
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."448Please respect copyright.PENANAuVeHKFbvPE
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.448Please respect copyright.PENANArLy2GOjtZX
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.448Please respect copyright.PENANAaWdaNh0zBF
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.448Please respect copyright.PENANASLvm8IS3m0
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.448Please respect copyright.PENANAguSaoCj8Kh
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."448Please respect copyright.PENANAk8D1JOcAIW
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."448Please respect copyright.PENANA5WkZSE0KDs
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."448Please respect copyright.PENANASgHsT6m9kZ
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.448Please respect copyright.PENANAzzBuY79XtB
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.448Please respect copyright.PENANAwCE5va7oIR
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANAv7VeZKxtbP
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."448Please respect copyright.PENANAg2E48XCmJW
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAl0ggckR0nv
"I would really like to,448Please respect copyright.PENANAUfJ1MRMsVG
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 448Please respect copyright.PENANAak5rCnygru
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."448Please respect copyright.PENANA9RsTUScvdC
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."448Please respect copyright.PENANAgVOk3JA3Tn
"Mum, most of us here 448Please respect copyright.PENANATgZNiGsHIt
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 448Please respect copyright.PENANAaIMDXqcnkG
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 448Please respect copyright.PENANAoIOUIVH1WO
mine."448Please respect copyright.PENANARcYWywY2m3
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 448Please respect copyright.PENANADLVEnrajQd
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others448Please respect copyright.PENANAwdcXDVthwR
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 448Please respect copyright.PENANAab4xvcrKMP
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 448Please respect copyright.PENANAILV5WJAKmp
moment.448Please respect copyright.PENANAuelnFCiJ1c
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."448Please respect copyright.PENANA1BClVuOBdc
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.448Please respect copyright.PENANAaewK6YIxgv
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.448Please respect copyright.PENANAmAVNuYswbp
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:448Please respect copyright.PENANAfkDFqhGOP4
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."448Please respect copyright.PENANA1IAPfeMENi
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."448Please respect copyright.PENANApyu0I2618o
"For now or never?" Leo asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANAiGlgaWL3Vr
"Don't start, son."448Please respect copyright.PENANApnsIXOG66G
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"448Please respect copyright.PENANAvwRv0SfMRB
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.448Please respect copyright.PENANAI197P7JFhY
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.448Please respect copyright.PENANAmx32fMdyGP
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.448Please respect copyright.PENANAieltnMLm2Z
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.448Please respect copyright.PENANAH5dFLznmHM
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.448Please respect copyright.PENANA6DQcCSqeDe
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."448Please respect copyright.PENANA3lfLlfyaWR
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.448Please respect copyright.PENANAtOyULbmatW
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.448Please respect copyright.PENANAw7kbV54cIa
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.448Please respect copyright.PENANA4BFWPEdRQj
"I'll come and help," said Eric.448Please respect copyright.PENANAruO6rjPEsz
"Me too," said Carly.448Please respect copyright.PENANAe7iBSvmR2H
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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