Leo found himself back 472Please respect copyright.PENANAOGe458faTY
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 472Please respect copyright.PENANAA0UcIDz5kF
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after472Please respect copyright.PENANAPJWWWxzqE1
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in472Please respect copyright.PENANAeHSHQz94fE
the room.472Please respect copyright.PENANABuRmN7TCd0
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAZvk5VToogX
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAUyY4L4Fs2r
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.472Please respect copyright.PENANAbUHqqXfBeh
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAyeSJLbc94b
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."472Please respect copyright.PENANAFrzn6TwQUJ
Eric raised an eyebrow 472Please respect copyright.PENANAz6XYQwRKOr
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 472Please respect copyright.PENANAwjdkG5Zj1l
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 472Please respect copyright.PENANAd7WIymoiQn
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.472Please respect copyright.PENANAYS6q20DVFN
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"472Please respect copyright.PENANA3DFYpYXKZm
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAHTCrxUeZlu
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.472Please respect copyright.PENANAGN7zB4M2AL
"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?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAX5gb3eP9eE
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAwlVcNCfPhN
Leo soon turned around, 472Please respect copyright.PENANAoKR8F42mq3
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt472Please respect copyright.PENANAVB4Ve2u9BP
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue472Please respect copyright.PENANAd6KeBJnw0x
on top of it.472Please respect copyright.PENANA2n9leN38dT
Kim had been crying. She472Please respect copyright.PENANA18DtN0Z9Qe
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the472Please respect copyright.PENANASLpqzvSoIT
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 472Please respect copyright.PENANAG0ddcqR2s8
her tears with another tissue.472Please respect copyright.PENANAGE4rLIK78L
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."472Please respect copyright.PENANAJBqUlfztLg
"I'm not going to say 472Please respect copyright.PENANAHNisZctmsU
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 472Please respect copyright.PENANAV4WeRoQ7y1
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."472Please respect copyright.PENANA0BW0ZBPP9o
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.472Please respect copyright.PENANA6FMLu0MXjC
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."472Please respect copyright.PENANAmWhfjKJsOi
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAXsfKNSgxSS
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."472Please respect copyright.PENANAvP0E2a5tNb
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"472Please respect copyright.PENANALl4I2NYUUc
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.472Please respect copyright.PENANAJFTF4iKYdg
"Yes, we are."472Please respect copyright.PENANAKcENPXyC07
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."472Please respect copyright.PENANAAule5xnOCk
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."472Please respect copyright.PENANAQT9l5ZqPjP
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."472Please respect copyright.PENANAKRvXgnKxni
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAD9LKcK9RWC
The two ladies agreed 472Please respect copyright.PENANAdQMF7ilkR2
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 472Please respect copyright.PENANAfoZQUFFa3t
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 472Please respect copyright.PENANAOPRf7EOwdM
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.472Please respect copyright.PENANAbkG2Ge4YDV
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANALt5bIpZwzr
Most people in the 472Please respect copyright.PENANAVZmX0H30v3
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 472Please respect copyright.PENANAgJRuAB6qjl
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 472Please respect copyright.PENANAtGWQ6GuvyW
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 472Please respect copyright.PENANA1Vt1pxFcVc
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 472Please respect copyright.PENANAbOXHGdtSF6
struggle to put out the first fire.472Please respect copyright.PENANA9vVFQgpC3k
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.472Please respect copyright.PENANAVKiRKynuc5
"I would rather suggest 472Please respect copyright.PENANAAur5hI9Gdt
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his472Please respect copyright.PENANAB8T0n3DAh3
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 472Please respect copyright.PENANA7X8ZSMRfV2
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAtt0CLUpwTK
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.472Please respect copyright.PENANA4IMZziMkl4
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANAKHfFAN26Bo
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."472Please respect copyright.PENANA2DboDkDfdU
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."472Please respect copyright.PENANAV4op91IBVK
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.472Please respect copyright.PENANAtsy9uleDfd
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.472Please respect copyright.PENANA7Na3k8pRFH
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.472Please respect copyright.PENANAZp80iJ0UPh
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.472Please respect copyright.PENANAcCoupQZyOm
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.472Please respect copyright.PENANA5aORQsLE6R
Everyone slowly left the472Please respect copyright.PENANAfo2oTHSaCE
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 472Please respect copyright.PENANAon1hQLJZNA
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right472Please respect copyright.PENANAl5FuRNnN87
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 472Please respect copyright.PENANAxP5BY6ylv2
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.472Please respect copyright.PENANAtsno13b3ry
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANAF0J6BBg05C
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."472Please respect copyright.PENANAjadPp4Q8Ic
After the loving prayer,472Please respect copyright.PENANAQpMkI8Y77q
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed472Please respect copyright.PENANANQQaFhKhR1
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.472Please respect copyright.PENANAeDlFP7elsO
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANAtZLLzSsKYd
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."472Please respect copyright.PENANAfA1MqfY0Vt
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."472Please respect copyright.PENANAtAFJAwEbja
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."472Please respect copyright.PENANAKTLe3QS8KJ
"He really can't get 472Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1VACtpO3G
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the472Please respect copyright.PENANAaPFFOsViru
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 472Please respect copyright.PENANANIZa31yCyC
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 472Please respect copyright.PENANA8eiZ17PP5T
eyes in irritation.472Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ci2m5GZNB
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."472Please respect copyright.PENANAkV8JVdyn8d
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.472Please respect copyright.PENANAAYKXQdGvgc
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."472Please respect copyright.PENANAClK5tCDdY2
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.472Please respect copyright.PENANAxslcNqrbvM
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.472Please respect copyright.PENANAJwkobS6oHe
"Why me?" Angel asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANAGE9UE1VbBZ
"I know you will explain472Please respect copyright.PENANACNQhk3GGXc
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 472Please respect copyright.PENANA9oZyZqDh6D
of things from now on if mum is busy."472Please respect copyright.PENANAh65BCasK82
"Like what?" Diana asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANA10vKvu65cm
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."472Please respect copyright.PENANAkQGziXFxEt
"That's so nice of you, 472Please respect copyright.PENANAGFRni6Rn2z
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,472Please respect copyright.PENANA3PLwSVkIAl
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 472Please respect copyright.PENANABkPcjrFiqy
want to."472Please respect copyright.PENANArlMVmyvgyH
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."472Please respect copyright.PENANADYcMrYjdnU
Angel looked at him and 472Please respect copyright.PENANADPWZy5WgxP
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 472Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ52sJ1LBz
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 472Please respect copyright.PENANA7d1rqIEaHh
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.472Please respect copyright.PENANA6MddxyG26v
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."472Please respect copyright.PENANA9M94A589Nc
Leo felt like he was 472Please respect copyright.PENANAaqh6GUoDjg
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 472Please respect copyright.PENANATocCmMZpII
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.472Please respect copyright.PENANAdZIcZvoRsI
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.472Please respect copyright.PENANApfscdFbVFH
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.472Please respect copyright.PENANAN7SnqqcecY
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."472Please respect copyright.PENANAzxcTbEbnFj
"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."472Please respect copyright.PENANAq1DO13w9lt
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."472Please respect copyright.PENANAMtArDDpJ5V
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.472Please respect copyright.PENANAJuDSSqAadU
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAw4eJDd24Dv
"It was fine, mum," said472Please respect copyright.PENANAOzxUVoRMHL
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 472Please respect copyright.PENANAFwqUCOCJj0
conversation was going to turn out.472Please respect copyright.PENANADXNNYz9tKD
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAYFLl8dyjfP
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."472Please respect copyright.PENANANJzkO798S3
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."472Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1HxvONVmJ
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.472Please respect copyright.PENANAivl4wyKw1h
"Alright," said Mrs 472Please respect copyright.PENANAh5keDW1odQ
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 472Please respect copyright.PENANAZwMk0Zb4xY
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 472Please respect copyright.PENANAEmd9xX3czw
for you lately?"472Please respect copyright.PENANABFJ4n6fZSB
Angel and Carly both 472Please respect copyright.PENANAQPvG5ZsFTJ
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 472Please respect copyright.PENANAhpzge984bl
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 472Please respect copyright.PENANAp42SJ232yG
already was one herself.472Please respect copyright.PENANAroRIhQgEK6
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.472Please respect copyright.PENANABwAhqWREIW
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANAv0Jkr2OqwE
"Running well as usual."472Please respect copyright.PENANAYM22TUovkS
"I should really pay him472Please respect copyright.PENANAGF8yzcp9sm
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 472Please respect copyright.PENANA2mJnm9OqCv
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."472Please respect copyright.PENANAiSqTsckl9D
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.472Please respect copyright.PENANAu6t5lyNiKf
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.472Please respect copyright.PENANAsEBD9VCbzO
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.472Please respect copyright.PENANAZwo4BM3m3Q
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.472Please respect copyright.PENANAV34yqYgDPk
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."472Please respect copyright.PENANAxmBVl9Tq5x
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."472Please respect copyright.PENANA6eiMzRl11v
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."472Please respect copyright.PENANAXkzJUVdM2G
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.472Please respect copyright.PENANAFDWMMWNFh0
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.472Please respect copyright.PENANAbXsywwmTns
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANAfltplIlgWC
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."472Please respect copyright.PENANAvmqAMRI2vI
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAIZoobbNQ3l
"I would really like to,472Please respect copyright.PENANAJYZwnKRIbr
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 472Please respect copyright.PENANAb0U9UrmWsY
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."472Please respect copyright.PENANA99OtmzA9rH
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."472Please respect copyright.PENANAefdK70wiNW
"Mum, most of us here 472Please respect copyright.PENANA5fdim0TsJb
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 472Please respect copyright.PENANASpa1kn7Clk
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 472Please respect copyright.PENANAkIvZoBXssh
mine."472Please respect copyright.PENANAYFZ4vK2VjQ
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 472Please respect copyright.PENANASu8jr9lMDK
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others472Please respect copyright.PENANA7OrXlcFyiz
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 472Please respect copyright.PENANAb1pOpJjfrl
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 472Please respect copyright.PENANAu4OEDyRl7m
moment.472Please respect copyright.PENANA2YSXVQhPJp
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."472Please respect copyright.PENANA6LP1TRfTqy
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.472Please respect copyright.PENANAaCt9f0ncZW
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.472Please respect copyright.PENANA0R4QuTavkK
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:472Please respect copyright.PENANAmty0D1d87Q
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."472Please respect copyright.PENANA7j6BpCnoRe
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."472Please respect copyright.PENANAelTKGifXw4
"For now or never?" Leo asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANA1RfvOApFmR
"Don't start, son."472Please respect copyright.PENANAgwF3PFtf61
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"472Please respect copyright.PENANAOE3W6wJXYs
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.472Please respect copyright.PENANAmequsH9JG5
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.472Please respect copyright.PENANAjG81cVHGEI
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.472Please respect copyright.PENANA1eGN4I6MFv
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.472Please respect copyright.PENANABhgu7vosEK
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.472Please respect copyright.PENANAMyxj2XAYMZ
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."472Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ4yXl9rUy
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.472Please respect copyright.PENANA7UMeuUm864
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.472Please respect copyright.PENANA1nHAivQSXF
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.472Please respect copyright.PENANAKhmFYMpxaL
"I'll come and help," said Eric.472Please respect copyright.PENANAZeYr67A9Ry
"Me too," said Carly.472Please respect copyright.PENANACP0lHEUo6t
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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