Leo found himself back 805Please respect copyright.PENANAYUHVSNhCYF
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 805Please respect copyright.PENANALW3RiBXbe8
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after805Please respect copyright.PENANAJgW5h8u72Y
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in805Please respect copyright.PENANAQh0Xz7eZlO
the room.805Please respect copyright.PENANALKCiC1MLEH
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAr02olz9xBj
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAyz4WChG8sK
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.805Please respect copyright.PENANAlGXu3fraP9
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"805Please respect copyright.PENANANV6YknTuyq
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."805Please respect copyright.PENANAQzg8SKbxmr
Eric raised an eyebrow 805Please respect copyright.PENANADkXQlF9N3A
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 805Please respect copyright.PENANAOWKnKtoCIb
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 805Please respect copyright.PENANARZgNlJajPq
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.805Please respect copyright.PENANAcU4eKj408k
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAUBDsC0RN5M
"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."805Please respect copyright.PENANAtWzP46Pltz
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.805Please respect copyright.PENANAYbd42PBOeM
"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?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAQo7BcdblcP
"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."805Please respect copyright.PENANAL5eRGl2ckK
Leo soon turned around, 805Please respect copyright.PENANAscA3y3RydT
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt805Please respect copyright.PENANA2UTl1Vzdmr
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue805Please respect copyright.PENANAD2Z7lfUeyq
on top of it.805Please respect copyright.PENANA1IUgVl8cuq
Kim had been crying. She805Please respect copyright.PENANASFJM3bsj1t
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the805Please respect copyright.PENANA97ps2ghX8Y
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 805Please respect copyright.PENANANxDjd5FsEh
her tears with another tissue.805Please respect copyright.PENANADBJqOZlqPz
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."805Please respect copyright.PENANAMvHVr80AQy
"I'm not going to say 805Please respect copyright.PENANAz59b93yoix
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 805Please respect copyright.PENANAlcUP8jRqOE
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."805Please respect copyright.PENANATS7SJYJ1KT
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.805Please respect copyright.PENANAihu0Alx9Dc
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."805Please respect copyright.PENANAYXVIJswP01
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAjun5eTgMxj
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."805Please respect copyright.PENANAbUjyYgbcEF
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"805Please respect copyright.PENANA4YVjgrKEw5
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.805Please respect copyright.PENANA0v9ZSQvUuv
"Yes, we are."805Please respect copyright.PENANALs27RB0Ote
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."805Please respect copyright.PENANAgJSFVNMHXT
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."805Please respect copyright.PENANAx462qzFga6
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."805Please respect copyright.PENANA8kevhUNADa
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAsp1jaKFJWm
The two ladies agreed 805Please respect copyright.PENANATBUeyfCAZY
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 805Please respect copyright.PENANA3loyq3mfx3
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 805Please respect copyright.PENANAh8lUzshuQJ
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.805Please respect copyright.PENANAduWhqAADPp
"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."805Please respect copyright.PENANAPxeKfKAkmQ
Most people in the 805Please respect copyright.PENANA3j6WQQEVZr
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 805Please respect copyright.PENANAUM53QuNPDM
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 805Please respect copyright.PENANAHGP1ZWvWRG
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 805Please respect copyright.PENANAY5av00XZ6a
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 805Please respect copyright.PENANAsI5uvhDkS9
struggle to put out the first fire.805Please respect copyright.PENANAXM40kDvJ2X
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.805Please respect copyright.PENANAjJ24PNDDFR
"I would rather suggest 805Please respect copyright.PENANACed8WUV9kD
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his805Please respect copyright.PENANAVxTFqY21nT
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 805Please respect copyright.PENANAnhSzDGkMcn
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAdaVpaiZeeB
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.805Please respect copyright.PENANAKNYyx8DxlN
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAc6CmqK46kZ
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."805Please respect copyright.PENANAuWKzHHIxkZ
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."805Please respect copyright.PENANAxyTbMhikZU
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.805Please respect copyright.PENANAIFxYm7U7Nh
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.805Please respect copyright.PENANAyEDqRKLPi8
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.805Please respect copyright.PENANAfgxw0fZ3ip
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.805Please respect copyright.PENANAuoy2cSLsL5
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.805Please respect copyright.PENANAsXxhxSDhrJ
Everyone slowly left the805Please respect copyright.PENANAdLtENKGvP6
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 805Please respect copyright.PENANA8LuoZKKcQJ
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right805Please respect copyright.PENANAyM6LV3L447
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 805Please respect copyright.PENANAUU7ze0o3r4
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.805Please respect copyright.PENANA5KVKU4gGXs
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAEj5e4pg9Sd
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."805Please respect copyright.PENANAoOVoSZV4BB
After the loving prayer,805Please respect copyright.PENANAf7sxxwIHnW
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed805Please respect copyright.PENANAQfbENOW4o1
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.805Please respect copyright.PENANA2xvaNbvUG0
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAqqvrvXEXHF
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."805Please respect copyright.PENANA2RcuGWeoEF
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."805Please respect copyright.PENANAPFU4ueY3um
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."805Please respect copyright.PENANAh4N8Ocl1Z5
"He really can't get 805Please respect copyright.PENANANCnktclloO
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the805Please respect copyright.PENANACCBi28emEQ
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 805Please respect copyright.PENANA5qnAGmQUvn
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 805Please respect copyright.PENANApxKlaHaxDD
eyes in irritation.805Please respect copyright.PENANAfTzTUMxJpd
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."805Please respect copyright.PENANA668bVfRvb4
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.805Please respect copyright.PENANAPhMAjCITLq
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."805Please respect copyright.PENANAblOwCwDJXs
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.805Please respect copyright.PENANAukD0SQhAPV
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.805Please respect copyright.PENANAg5TVIqeDhk
"Why me?" Angel asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAjaw2Pp4sRF
"I know you will explain805Please respect copyright.PENANAR6fGVh6F3r
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 805Please respect copyright.PENANAUHwo6DLjbk
of things from now on if mum is busy."805Please respect copyright.PENANAEGbHAg8z8H
"Like what?" Diana asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAbaWEeTPBpF
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."805Please respect copyright.PENANAqAInuw4wPm
"That's so nice of you, 805Please respect copyright.PENANAlX4gx4S7Lx
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,805Please respect copyright.PENANAjHhRlIKuvE
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 805Please respect copyright.PENANAVXXVCEt2k0
want to."805Please respect copyright.PENANAIWXLFWKXDX
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."805Please respect copyright.PENANAaMrqwgCEvD
Angel looked at him and 805Please respect copyright.PENANA5ehuEj9kku
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 805Please respect copyright.PENANAmvTzGLWDyh
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 805Please respect copyright.PENANA5OVy6YOF3g
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.805Please respect copyright.PENANABL55ZNBrLc
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."805Please respect copyright.PENANAUm6U6QufHz
Leo felt like he was 805Please respect copyright.PENANAPlaJ2WS16W
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 805Please respect copyright.PENANAzIRUJbbzft
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.805Please respect copyright.PENANAy9qNc7EnPg
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.805Please respect copyright.PENANAHgdggjyb0n
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.805Please respect copyright.PENANAen1COc5F7c
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."805Please respect copyright.PENANAkZ9PSOBbAI
"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."805Please respect copyright.PENANAaDaXJ6R1DV
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."805Please respect copyright.PENANASrjt40j4nA
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.805Please respect copyright.PENANAsFlcT0vfc9
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAI2vE4eoGr9
"It was fine, mum," said805Please respect copyright.PENANAXcbHHu8cF5
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 805Please respect copyright.PENANAWBW7ZQURf1
conversation was going to turn out.805Please respect copyright.PENANAiAjJcHUjbj
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAPh2IXD3Faz
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."805Please respect copyright.PENANAcqyXJD9Rpt
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."805Please respect copyright.PENANAbC6rcz5t2E
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.805Please respect copyright.PENANAkHr5usvIDo
"Alright," said Mrs 805Please respect copyright.PENANAfSgvWZUU48
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 805Please respect copyright.PENANAqSLhmC38VK
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 805Please respect copyright.PENANAbZap1NPjC2
for you lately?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAocfNzgrzJ2
Angel and Carly both 805Please respect copyright.PENANAl8cxJCm7Na
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 805Please respect copyright.PENANAhulmLimfWK
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 805Please respect copyright.PENANAtlmB1SnFkI
already was one herself.805Please respect copyright.PENANAaDGxMqG3h9
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.805Please respect copyright.PENANACmKWCImG5J
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANACEeH6v7OeE
"Running well as usual."805Please respect copyright.PENANAcsFxPjLQu3
"I should really pay him805Please respect copyright.PENANALL57UOXNT8
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 805Please respect copyright.PENANAnel1LoMRc6
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."805Please respect copyright.PENANAuPe2XA3XXW
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.805Please respect copyright.PENANA3x1c6hmSnm
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.805Please respect copyright.PENANApEzJJ6zsjH
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.805Please respect copyright.PENANA0BodNAVy3U
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.805Please respect copyright.PENANAShTkvkmfkj
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."805Please respect copyright.PENANAFEvuoFNs2S
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."805Please respect copyright.PENANAyDlulvwbiH
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."805Please respect copyright.PENANA8Yu0pWkKZ8
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.805Please respect copyright.PENANAMtfWyWmcNB
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.805Please respect copyright.PENANA0xqry6NAmL
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAikznLYM5yd
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."805Please respect copyright.PENANAV70ilr7Vxb
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAQodZKkdCCj
"I would really like to,805Please respect copyright.PENANARFIBh9bLtW
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 805Please respect copyright.PENANAjF8ejTO6GK
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."805Please respect copyright.PENANADb3UVzWTSg
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."805Please respect copyright.PENANAq9ykqkbKXG
"Mum, most of us here 805Please respect copyright.PENANAyYvAeElupU
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 805Please respect copyright.PENANAmPNq3h5JIA
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 805Please respect copyright.PENANAAsXBzJ7ntQ
mine."805Please respect copyright.PENANAoWQ3h3ly7R
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 805Please respect copyright.PENANA9b585wL7mH
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others805Please respect copyright.PENANAtPYNM1iNAx
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 805Please respect copyright.PENANAbfaq5uwWpW
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 805Please respect copyright.PENANABGO7BPddOP
moment.805Please respect copyright.PENANAO22ANIGeZb
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."805Please respect copyright.PENANAmjY1JzhsHY
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.805Please respect copyright.PENANApaaJnT5e4Q
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.805Please respect copyright.PENANAQK1MM6dWTs
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:805Please respect copyright.PENANAS8nkzACXBl
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."805Please respect copyright.PENANAyTHfwaqTDy
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."805Please respect copyright.PENANA71pWgJvdgJ
"For now or never?" Leo asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAktpiGtO6IW
"Don't start, son."805Please respect copyright.PENANAFWMbBwvWMP
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"805Please respect copyright.PENANAco36XaIQ2E
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.805Please respect copyright.PENANA5220DcDKko
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.805Please respect copyright.PENANAii9jaDU9qv
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.805Please respect copyright.PENANAYqhqYnZFJ5
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.805Please respect copyright.PENANA44C8XypKoJ
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.805Please respect copyright.PENANAP3RE8LIy7h
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."805Please respect copyright.PENANAkzM5S7AtV8
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.805Please respect copyright.PENANAR7PwySZWjI
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.805Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZaWhFc1pL
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.805Please respect copyright.PENANAVdhvGXmeB4
"I'll come and help," said Eric.805Please respect copyright.PENANArJ61O4IiAV
"Me too," said Carly.805Please respect copyright.PENANA7bU0dhWNQe
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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