Leo found himself back 754Please respect copyright.PENANAGVEC3UJimM
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 754Please respect copyright.PENANAquPq7yf03X
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after754Please respect copyright.PENANA5I6JUsCHUP
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in754Please respect copyright.PENANATNgqk5qv5p
the room.754Please respect copyright.PENANA0m173UrynZ
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAAP9OOwTSp2
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAoxSM8BChq6
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.754Please respect copyright.PENANA9eoZGxWGiz
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAr4b9Ov1aQk
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."754Please respect copyright.PENANA54XFOLlfqF
Eric raised an eyebrow 754Please respect copyright.PENANAQN6i2LwNlT
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 754Please respect copyright.PENANAc96HrkHurJ
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 754Please respect copyright.PENANAliNp8i6dqA
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.754Please respect copyright.PENANAE27HvLI3H6
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAOLVybexb9h
"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."754Please respect copyright.PENANAErtU1QXqp8
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.754Please respect copyright.PENANA9SXXVmH6xf
"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?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAiEAu98yEs1
"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."754Please respect copyright.PENANAXuearILhat
Leo soon turned around, 754Please respect copyright.PENANAAtVizMnVyO
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt754Please respect copyright.PENANAte6USGzQER
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue754Please respect copyright.PENANAMwrDnKmLXD
on top of it.754Please respect copyright.PENANA0vt01bOLle
Kim had been crying. She754Please respect copyright.PENANAZsBv1ZBC80
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the754Please respect copyright.PENANAXERqmIh0ai
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 754Please respect copyright.PENANAB3MH3EHWlU
her tears with another tissue.754Please respect copyright.PENANAINLmGEo6Lb
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."754Please respect copyright.PENANAp0vsUauN93
"I'm not going to say 754Please respect copyright.PENANAMrgFT7h4dN
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 754Please respect copyright.PENANAvBGTikkBm0
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."754Please respect copyright.PENANA84H3NWaifg
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.754Please respect copyright.PENANAOwl75CoKzY
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."754Please respect copyright.PENANAVUc72UHvzA
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAmlTC0XfHx3
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."754Please respect copyright.PENANAk9UF8Ssax1
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"754Please respect copyright.PENANANp2rEEQT8e
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.754Please respect copyright.PENANAberURbHYpu
"Yes, we are."754Please respect copyright.PENANA2pxKGOX7G3
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."754Please respect copyright.PENANAcOTvGnGWYZ
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."754Please respect copyright.PENANANiKGp1XVp6
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."754Please respect copyright.PENANA2kk4hSO2W7
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAS6UA59vg8c
The two ladies agreed 754Please respect copyright.PENANArldAVjl1Rg
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 754Please respect copyright.PENANAjuEIFWGF1e
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 754Please respect copyright.PENANA7bi8qjfMHK
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.754Please respect copyright.PENANAuDMsFJei8P
"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."754Please respect copyright.PENANAzwybPe70YS
Most people in the 754Please respect copyright.PENANAiLn2bKldHk
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 754Please respect copyright.PENANAQaOWHI1F2R
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 754Please respect copyright.PENANAN0Ib4IoQ3b
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 754Please respect copyright.PENANAqix5Jh3mvl
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 754Please respect copyright.PENANAw4lLQHLp8d
struggle to put out the first fire.754Please respect copyright.PENANA5PI9eeCqPJ
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.754Please respect copyright.PENANAmCkeWrvozQ
"I would rather suggest 754Please respect copyright.PENANALMrZefBHI8
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his754Please respect copyright.PENANAlpBqsjWNUS
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 754Please respect copyright.PENANAKW0lMz83KP
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAKDpJElVh1V
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.754Please respect copyright.PENANAnOAU0i4eMR
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANAubRkmyxW6n
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."754Please respect copyright.PENANASTruo94sAG
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."754Please respect copyright.PENANA9IlyT0v6kI
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.754Please respect copyright.PENANAfn8mk1oJSy
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.754Please respect copyright.PENANAT2VcHDOzF1
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.754Please respect copyright.PENANA4iBM0ZkdZJ
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.754Please respect copyright.PENANA6kEGRlLKEX
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.754Please respect copyright.PENANA4oc3RKbyMH
Everyone slowly left the754Please respect copyright.PENANAbnNlis0cqM
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 754Please respect copyright.PENANAf4oYiAxpvL
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right754Please respect copyright.PENANAqMi1cJlKZ7
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 754Please respect copyright.PENANAsGPnY7cCQX
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.754Please respect copyright.PENANAD8T76JAtD8
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANAteJmzkiapS
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."754Please respect copyright.PENANA97lxiz8Rd7
After the loving prayer,754Please respect copyright.PENANAZYLzL6b90g
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed754Please respect copyright.PENANAq0grWs2RFG
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.754Please respect copyright.PENANAbYpsJ0vMmJ
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANAtDgP3b5YEI
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."754Please respect copyright.PENANAY53YQ4PSFd
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."754Please respect copyright.PENANAbCkkdvXCP3
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."754Please respect copyright.PENANAxBnpMwKaZD
"He really can't get 754Please respect copyright.PENANALfUO0eGS9Y
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the754Please respect copyright.PENANAAxLWoJSfcL
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 754Please respect copyright.PENANA4iso9pCOnS
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 754Please respect copyright.PENANAj2gQPl3f8X
eyes in irritation.754Please respect copyright.PENANAsv3ZYX7ANC
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."754Please respect copyright.PENANA2z0BvKpHTM
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.754Please respect copyright.PENANAr6cITVpIUu
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."754Please respect copyright.PENANAqA4j3so1ac
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.754Please respect copyright.PENANAnakM9W39zo
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.754Please respect copyright.PENANAIGEtszYgDu
"Why me?" Angel asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANA1PozyOnXJc
"I know you will explain754Please respect copyright.PENANAPbZdVtPGAn
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 754Please respect copyright.PENANAqGKCTic9cm
of things from now on if mum is busy."754Please respect copyright.PENANAoloGoGoPlw
"Like what?" Diana asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANAe0ctX9h9Fo
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."754Please respect copyright.PENANAkK4foBDHmc
"That's so nice of you, 754Please respect copyright.PENANAHo6gDzx1Pw
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,754Please respect copyright.PENANAtPZqBhbWCv
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 754Please respect copyright.PENANAxg02J0cbZm
want to."754Please respect copyright.PENANAQzEJmQv6th
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."754Please respect copyright.PENANAv5zyuavltZ
Angel looked at him and 754Please respect copyright.PENANAAbwXHbwYfl
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 754Please respect copyright.PENANAoP2jxjByN0
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 754Please respect copyright.PENANA1VM2pRqFWt
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.754Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZY0iLhNj1
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."754Please respect copyright.PENANAl0HLTevnIp
Leo felt like he was 754Please respect copyright.PENANAokS9KdTW3S
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 754Please respect copyright.PENANAgS9CtIyWgP
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.754Please respect copyright.PENANAesJnicEhvo
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.754Please respect copyright.PENANA6UA5Wyi0kL
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.754Please respect copyright.PENANAMXSaGQMdXr
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."754Please respect copyright.PENANAoguV2Kcl5G
"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."754Please respect copyright.PENANAtu2fJEtEBw
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."754Please respect copyright.PENANAlL3mB18K3G
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.754Please respect copyright.PENANAolNZAEPlcv
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5MW37ovpu
"It was fine, mum," said754Please respect copyright.PENANAmHwVK0bkfj
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 754Please respect copyright.PENANAiEC9x5DExi
conversation was going to turn out.754Please respect copyright.PENANAy6IEnrz0oh
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAz3HxtpF6KU
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."754Please respect copyright.PENANAxqzneAUsAC
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."754Please respect copyright.PENANAZCCFe9CMUu
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.754Please respect copyright.PENANACS7nnBmRQc
"Alright," said Mrs 754Please respect copyright.PENANAWazlXuUZY9
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 754Please respect copyright.PENANAGGKdPA3vny
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 754Please respect copyright.PENANAIVEemYceIu
for you lately?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAkTlM1DHwm5
Angel and Carly both 754Please respect copyright.PENANAzekkQSe8u3
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 754Please respect copyright.PENANABDxUnyQeyq
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 754Please respect copyright.PENANAbml9rxa1Ro
already was one herself.754Please respect copyright.PENANAmVvaxQ7cNq
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.754Please respect copyright.PENANArsL7atozfw
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANAInEjXPHFbv
"Running well as usual."754Please respect copyright.PENANABmgRFx13RW
"I should really pay him754Please respect copyright.PENANAItE1KSGo0W
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 754Please respect copyright.PENANAjAuqbPrzZd
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."754Please respect copyright.PENANAEjx1hWkn4O
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.754Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZFcDICfcJ
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.754Please respect copyright.PENANAZXG4Y9DMKn
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.754Please respect copyright.PENANAZDYoUmXSzP
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.754Please respect copyright.PENANA55iemaw3kl
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."754Please respect copyright.PENANAAoAxac2wUv
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."754Please respect copyright.PENANAdUBDJ1KGtn
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."754Please respect copyright.PENANAtOGNQiBFZB
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.754Please respect copyright.PENANAHXfRyZqtom
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.754Please respect copyright.PENANAkCzHYD6wsA
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANA4Tn2usxEwm
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."754Please respect copyright.PENANA5GfZNN8Who
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAIIxdU6DzYg
"I would really like to,754Please respect copyright.PENANADnk0Ykcdfu
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 754Please respect copyright.PENANA6xQo8Y1fGs
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."754Please respect copyright.PENANA6P7Jfo4bA7
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."754Please respect copyright.PENANAsYZ75Z8pIc
"Mum, most of us here 754Please respect copyright.PENANARvBzLYqt7k
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 754Please respect copyright.PENANAYkW9ZAarn4
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 754Please respect copyright.PENANASwFGwzXFLs
mine."754Please respect copyright.PENANAvs5Ngo9OVM
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 754Please respect copyright.PENANACcS36chYKB
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others754Please respect copyright.PENANAdxQgcobZcP
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 754Please respect copyright.PENANAog646KLRzG
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 754Please respect copyright.PENANA9JYv08WH7G
moment.754Please respect copyright.PENANA4vetbom4OM
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."754Please respect copyright.PENANAoWtstGYZp4
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.754Please respect copyright.PENANAgwGvsLjZVY
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.754Please respect copyright.PENANAT5zZoHA54C
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:754Please respect copyright.PENANAWTf06hef7L
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."754Please respect copyright.PENANAWdBt2NDfl7
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."754Please respect copyright.PENANAxFjYILgxkP
"For now or never?" Leo asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANAohbiY7cSqL
"Don't start, son."754Please respect copyright.PENANAe3vS9rcOI8
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"754Please respect copyright.PENANAaJAK3WZkbe
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.754Please respect copyright.PENANAV9t8xqQIcB
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.754Please respect copyright.PENANAwvQUmrT8KD
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.754Please respect copyright.PENANANdF6TIRIxf
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.754Please respect copyright.PENANAHNdyvuxjM8
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.754Please respect copyright.PENANAOOygtccUFx
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."754Please respect copyright.PENANAhaxlI4ZZNG
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.754Please respect copyright.PENANAejCEbCD5ZZ
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.754Please respect copyright.PENANAynSH2Rc5uK
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.754Please respect copyright.PENANAnDTFH2y8gV
"I'll come and help," said Eric.754Please respect copyright.PENANAs1CiQdnmmY
"Me too," said Carly.754Please respect copyright.PENANAlCW7WGPT57
Soon, Angel with the help of Eric, Oliver and Carly left the table, leaving Mrs McDonell, Diana and Kim at the table.
ns3.14.131.159da2