Leo found himself back 812Please respect copyright.PENANAwwJy33LEW8
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 812Please respect copyright.PENANA8S4ZVhuGOQ
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after812Please respect copyright.PENANAy7nBGkoeN3
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in812Please respect copyright.PENANAZANVhypoP0
the room.812Please respect copyright.PENANAYvclLNmAcJ
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAwoWnVp3e5A
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAGHfqM494Eq
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.812Please respect copyright.PENANAz2VyEQgZvs
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAhKE2BbrHl6
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."812Please respect copyright.PENANAFzHd0j8dV7
Eric raised an eyebrow 812Please respect copyright.PENANAd5mS96NOHq
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 812Please respect copyright.PENANAKeQrniTPBm
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 812Please respect copyright.PENANAusEptkzQx4
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.812Please respect copyright.PENANA4cu2fXdAMG
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"812Please respect copyright.PENANANnHZd3F0tC
"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."812Please respect copyright.PENANAPxiAj9FaeL
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.812Please respect copyright.PENANAT0zwaEPhGt
"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?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAwBNMaN8noZ
"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."812Please respect copyright.PENANAO5JFLHosBV
Leo soon turned around, 812Please respect copyright.PENANAhUYjPP6tMD
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt812Please respect copyright.PENANAeucyJuLnlg
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue812Please respect copyright.PENANA4wfJ5M2IlU
on top of it.812Please respect copyright.PENANApCarwy3enc
Kim had been crying. She812Please respect copyright.PENANA2JurdOCYul
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the812Please respect copyright.PENANAwF2b8xvNdE
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 812Please respect copyright.PENANAS7ImSUSeID
her tears with another tissue.812Please respect copyright.PENANAXR0APApDCS
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."812Please respect copyright.PENANAI0PaTXBErc
"I'm not going to say 812Please respect copyright.PENANAeugCenDkQ2
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 812Please respect copyright.PENANATEIxQllmx8
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."812Please respect copyright.PENANA7SZnLq0zQd
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.812Please respect copyright.PENANA2bTzHhpGEB
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."812Please respect copyright.PENANA8PnUtkHuSs
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAiiGGcNszNv
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."812Please respect copyright.PENANApgQfWnTZTF
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAaydhViJcBq
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.812Please respect copyright.PENANAqmu006sg8M
"Yes, we are."812Please respect copyright.PENANAnUgVrhsUkk
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."812Please respect copyright.PENANAOdC1ocAMcf
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."812Please respect copyright.PENANAhrlHKUMRiI
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."812Please respect copyright.PENANAbSNNuEfm0A
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAdoNYHtEMmo
The two ladies agreed 812Please respect copyright.PENANANlHQbQWrGN
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 812Please respect copyright.PENANAGGlInCjcEU
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 812Please respect copyright.PENANAauIO9r6UIK
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.812Please respect copyright.PENANA5EukPlcHp3
"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."812Please respect copyright.PENANAckKnWOZSVq
Most people in the 812Please respect copyright.PENANAtOPVzfDvko
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 812Please respect copyright.PENANAV4wdJNsXXE
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 812Please respect copyright.PENANAJelSGeuEzx
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 812Please respect copyright.PENANAyk4UFL0r8E
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 812Please respect copyright.PENANAh5nC4YRvF8
struggle to put out the first fire.812Please respect copyright.PENANAYVOxJJCZmv
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.812Please respect copyright.PENANABkx5DGvjqy
"I would rather suggest 812Please respect copyright.PENANAJppPAqO67g
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his812Please respect copyright.PENANAQk8Oppq447
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 812Please respect copyright.PENANA9jZjNWnohy
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"812Please respect copyright.PENANARAAWh7mrys
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.812Please respect copyright.PENANAlg3jV8Dt6G
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANAJLTGyrdzTx
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."812Please respect copyright.PENANAC4qEEsOz0t
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."812Please respect copyright.PENANAMUgt3NVXDs
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.812Please respect copyright.PENANAMY8Mro3u2O
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.812Please respect copyright.PENANA47YGT6ROL1
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.812Please respect copyright.PENANAuYYm9Zrj37
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.812Please respect copyright.PENANAXFhxNOlZ5U
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.812Please respect copyright.PENANA6psBkrffTe
Everyone slowly left the812Please respect copyright.PENANAZrb1J95RYa
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 812Please respect copyright.PENANAubfRCDFFN0
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right812Please respect copyright.PENANAifx8qioruo
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 812Please respect copyright.PENANAOsc2a4vQd3
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.812Please respect copyright.PENANAheF2njHod1
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANAeChL8qjXwY
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."812Please respect copyright.PENANA90zjTlpvNw
After the loving prayer,812Please respect copyright.PENANAThMKzKLQsb
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed812Please respect copyright.PENANAXfAiVIZhwp
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.812Please respect copyright.PENANABdowQEVuyG
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANA5AmAQL6QrU
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."812Please respect copyright.PENANAp9zsygSnbr
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."812Please respect copyright.PENANA8JXjJjxmqr
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."812Please respect copyright.PENANA2RDBpJHVLb
"He really can't get 812Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9w35hltpt
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the812Please respect copyright.PENANAFCKHYL2iVj
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 812Please respect copyright.PENANAUWTqun6H5V
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 812Please respect copyright.PENANAEvjNpNucsG
eyes in irritation.812Please respect copyright.PENANAUF1snLm6Hk
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."812Please respect copyright.PENANASfqhWMys4V
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.812Please respect copyright.PENANAyl1D3rbAnP
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."812Please respect copyright.PENANAnFo58H1eyC
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.812Please respect copyright.PENANAkxYiD4thUP
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.812Please respect copyright.PENANA2GwARG93mC
"Why me?" Angel asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANAuykCSUFQWz
"I know you will explain812Please respect copyright.PENANAynl7gSOiAW
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 812Please respect copyright.PENANArCHXOVR5XD
of things from now on if mum is busy."812Please respect copyright.PENANAHaCvVOgErg
"Like what?" Diana asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANA2oax9LkuuY
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."812Please respect copyright.PENANA8FhUtw30Qh
"That's so nice of you, 812Please respect copyright.PENANALzUg192eut
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,812Please respect copyright.PENANAit81zyL3Pz
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 812Please respect copyright.PENANAr66mvWepOM
want to."812Please respect copyright.PENANAWC7S1pm444
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."812Please respect copyright.PENANAfsOUrMT6XO
Angel looked at him and 812Please respect copyright.PENANAjMRyqurVE8
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 812Please respect copyright.PENANAN6VvMMf5fo
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 812Please respect copyright.PENANAQ90V6F9HB4
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.812Please respect copyright.PENANATxFmO773wz
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."812Please respect copyright.PENANAyE3eWJKRh4
Leo felt like he was 812Please respect copyright.PENANAkeOqYK1eQ8
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 812Please respect copyright.PENANAeuyP51dFtK
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.812Please respect copyright.PENANA5qf5EhUI9W
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.812Please respect copyright.PENANAEfnbiH3DcE
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.812Please respect copyright.PENANAzwP60fVaFa
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."812Please respect copyright.PENANA9NFGRTxnip
"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."812Please respect copyright.PENANAcHwmTQkcPw
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."812Please respect copyright.PENANAoXY6MJYnky
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.812Please respect copyright.PENANAir6DGkZKqC
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAk5IKkj16Ta
"It was fine, mum," said812Please respect copyright.PENANA7FsbeA12hp
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 812Please respect copyright.PENANANvmX0aZgMv
conversation was going to turn out.812Please respect copyright.PENANAxdciBda5nZ
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"812Please respect copyright.PENANApfrErDUV7U
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."812Please respect copyright.PENANA0hwFlac9N3
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."812Please respect copyright.PENANAkBY4EX2ss1
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.812Please respect copyright.PENANAMFZ4hQZ2Wv
"Alright," said Mrs 812Please respect copyright.PENANApdok9iFnX1
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 812Please respect copyright.PENANA3xv3Hd3gDE
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 812Please respect copyright.PENANAKHj1NAXEt7
for you lately?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAsNr9ry5fqG
Angel and Carly both 812Please respect copyright.PENANAKNiJIbQM1b
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 812Please respect copyright.PENANAzLCKwmUL6L
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 812Please respect copyright.PENANAskrKytNKe7
already was one herself.812Please respect copyright.PENANAMCypLydIen
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.812Please respect copyright.PENANAcUgkjzxDbU
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANA6GryWxQwxI
"Running well as usual."812Please respect copyright.PENANAg9hDOvND3G
"I should really pay him812Please respect copyright.PENANAukhu4kQT06
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 812Please respect copyright.PENANAG0msWEcx16
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."812Please respect copyright.PENANAkNjlQssNFk
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.812Please respect copyright.PENANAlSoheVcBun
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.812Please respect copyright.PENANAq42JwLp1z8
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.812Please respect copyright.PENANAE4exGO3775
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.812Please respect copyright.PENANAC8BqVrJGkT
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."812Please respect copyright.PENANAY82vDOKJfz
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."812Please respect copyright.PENANAXkNRFoYeAl
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."812Please respect copyright.PENANA8PgMlCgA9R
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.812Please respect copyright.PENANAk1FAjRJON2
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.812Please respect copyright.PENANAjIf9rvauen
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANA78qplT6J3G
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."812Please respect copyright.PENANAquA0Fs25iG
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"812Please respect copyright.PENANAmWZszTyuZH
"I would really like to,812Please respect copyright.PENANAL9FADG4X1e
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 812Please respect copyright.PENANAB2IiCabxqX
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."812Please respect copyright.PENANA3w1cpWVS3E
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."812Please respect copyright.PENANA7wxAwyuwuy
"Mum, most of us here 812Please respect copyright.PENANAElPB0ansSV
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 812Please respect copyright.PENANAzE5TbLn0qT
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 812Please respect copyright.PENANA7MSTecbJHA
mine."812Please respect copyright.PENANAOPY0nAFbs1
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 812Please respect copyright.PENANADyN5lndY9o
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others812Please respect copyright.PENANAdkwV0H8zRu
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 812Please respect copyright.PENANAfRXfVMUwKX
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 812Please respect copyright.PENANAUUW5wutv7V
moment.812Please respect copyright.PENANAvpUb3zrkFF
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."812Please respect copyright.PENANAAb4HD8sQMm
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.812Please respect copyright.PENANAVC3ZCNIDNW
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.812Please respect copyright.PENANAJkWe0AH9iP
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:812Please respect copyright.PENANAR060rTwSGY
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."812Please respect copyright.PENANAveQ3FvNzA5
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."812Please respect copyright.PENANA1as7Fc7iqy
"For now or never?" Leo asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANA0p4TWLN9UH
"Don't start, son."812Please respect copyright.PENANAKyg257E9eM
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"812Please respect copyright.PENANA768XG7007e
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.812Please respect copyright.PENANA6mFrxFc8LH
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.812Please respect copyright.PENANAodzxiGbMLb
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.812Please respect copyright.PENANAMk7f9whiSP
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.812Please respect copyright.PENANAnE82WusMIW
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.812Please respect copyright.PENANABIFItclcY2
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."812Please respect copyright.PENANAvGVYKDzJai
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.812Please respect copyright.PENANAtLrLm9VEKN
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.812Please respect copyright.PENANAMZfFpbe15n
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.812Please respect copyright.PENANAH41MrirMaF
"I'll come and help," said Eric.812Please respect copyright.PENANASFYkPmvUAD
"Me too," said Carly.812Please respect copyright.PENANAFc2oVQzrzp
Soon, Angel with the help of Eric, Oliver and Carly left the table, leaving Mrs McDonell, Diana and Kim at the table.
ns216.73.216.45da2