Leo found himself back 750Please respect copyright.PENANAcAHaQPT9tU
in the living room where he found the others freely talking amongst 750Please respect copyright.PENANA8gmbxc2XEu
themselves. He wondered for a moment how they could all be talking after750Please respect copyright.PENANAGI65CwrTAU
what had happened earlier. But then he realised that Kim wasn't even in750Please respect copyright.PENANAX8UMJBdvC1
the room.750Please respect copyright.PENANAO1HVB08GAj
"Leo," said Amanda as she looked up at her grandson. "Are you calm now?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAAtnqTUfjue
Leo paused for a moment before he could answer. "Yes," he said. "Where is Kim?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAa0J1mooTb2
Everyone in the living room turned to look at him, wondering whether he had hit his head or something.750Please respect copyright.PENANA66bY3ayMF3
"Kim's at the patio with my mum," said Eric. "You aren't going to shout at her, are you?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAbzi3lYNMDP
Leo shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm going to apologise for the way I've been treating her lately."750Please respect copyright.PENANAJ438NM9rKs
Eric raised an eyebrow 750Please respect copyright.PENANAZ93e6GG1XS
at his cousin. Amanda smiled. Carly had a scared look on her face. As 750Please respect copyright.PENANAlipTKzuSty
for Angel and Oliver, their faces showed that they didn't mind at all. 750Please respect copyright.PENANAMhXQHqZ8uz
Oliver even went on eating his sandwich that he got from the kitchen.750Please respect copyright.PENANAuKffCDcfdT
"Wait, what?" Eric asked as she stood up from his seat. "You want to apologise to Kim all of the sudden?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAZxHnTTcHBG
"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."750Please respect copyright.PENANAa9oRU616g8
Leo didn't want to agree with Angel. She guessed right and that, annoyed him a little.750Please respect copyright.PENANAgO59JNY0vY
"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?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAK8TUD18iwi
"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."750Please respect copyright.PENANAddDvQ0fxcD
Leo soon turned around, 750Please respect copyright.PENANAz6GF95U18V
walked through the corridor and out in the patio where he found his aunt750Please respect copyright.PENANA0KhYsRFXiE
Diana and Kim seated around the white garden table with a box of tissue750Please respect copyright.PENANAz3QCcroKw7
on top of it.750Please respect copyright.PENANAdqS4mBPfjT
Kim had been crying. She750Please respect copyright.PENANA6DnTRHM3Vr
was blowing her nose with her red teary eyes when Leo stepped in on the750Please respect copyright.PENANA1NechHoS1f
patio. When she noticed him, she tried to hide her face as she wiped 750Please respect copyright.PENANAStP1eDflPt
her tears with another tissue.750Please respect copyright.PENANARtCYDCBpzq
"Leo," said his aunt. "I think now isn't the right time for this."750Please respect copyright.PENANAzDJIEiaZ9C
"I'm not going to say 750Please respect copyright.PENANATVswjJrfrg
anything that's going to hurt her even further, aunt," said Leo. He 750Please respect copyright.PENANAi2bzpFgAQN
paused before he could continue to say, "I actually came to apologise."750Please respect copyright.PENANABYb0qxDGtU
Kim looked up at him while Diana was a little shocked at first, but her lips were soon raised into a smile.750Please respect copyright.PENANAQRcWE3wcBg
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you, Kim," Leo continued. "You don't deserve it and for that, I truly am sorry."750Please respect copyright.PENANAMZfKMY6BSy
Kim sniffed and tried to smile through her sad face. "Aren't you still mad at me for being a little clingy at times?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAnIzyIdMWhe
"Well, yes, but I realised that I've been treating you unfairly."750Please respect copyright.PENANAITCugxJMg5
"So, does that mean we're okay now?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAKg7qsxukIP
Leo gave her a little smile which was pretty hard to put up but he had to just to make her feel better.750Please respect copyright.PENANA2I05iXZW4b
"Yes, we are."750Please respect copyright.PENANAFU8Lvy9D3k
Kim smiled brightly as she wiped away the remaining tears in her eyes. "You don't know how much this means to me, Leo."750Please respect copyright.PENANAT9iu9AfOSj
Leo nodded his head. "We better go inside. We delayed supper and I think my little cousin is really hungry."750Please respect copyright.PENANAIGX8vGRS7P
"Oh, my little, Oliver," said Diana. "I hope he's okay."750Please respect copyright.PENANA6Bie4I5WcB
"I saw him eating a snack, so, I bet he's fine. Shall we go back inside?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAFK6WXiEcIv
The two ladies agreed 750Please respect copyright.PENANAyXslTcujAQ
and went back inside with Leo as he held the door open for them to get 750Please respect copyright.PENANA4TVNJGBj7W
in the house. When the three found themselves in the living room, there 750Please respect copyright.PENANAhXTLvSZ99o
was Mrs McDonell who clapped her hands excitedly.750Please respect copyright.PENANAT5L9rKVFL9
"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."750Please respect copyright.PENANAr4FdorIQ5B
Most people in the 750Please respect copyright.PENANAhv2SA1c7Qo
living room wanted Mrs McDonell to stop talking her nonsense before Leo 750Please respect copyright.PENANAYQx8353iLz
could throw another outburst. Besides, she was the one who invited Kim 750Please respect copyright.PENANAGtzBdRYnbB
over for dinner and made things worse from the beginning. She was 750Please respect copyright.PENANA3TY74sRGLi
blowing air to the remaining glowing splinters when it proved to be a 750Please respect copyright.PENANAtjSNoGmMbW
struggle to put out the first fire.750Please respect copyright.PENANAp8tdX7121D
Kim blushed while Leo tried to keep it cool that he held his neck for a little. His mother was far beyond irritating.750Please respect copyright.PENANAeIqrahThhM
"I would rather suggest 750Please respect copyright.PENANAryXUIfgeO2
you don't say a word, dear," Mr McDonald whispered, who stood beside his750Please respect copyright.PENANAQhlO17bbIw
wife and noticed that Leo was feeling uncomfortable. "You have done 750Please respect copyright.PENANAbEBYHqyOsL
enough damage for one night, don't you think?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAh42SvuQMxh
The smile on Mrs McDonell's face soon disappeared. Amanda who noticed the pair, couldn't help but smile to herself.750Please respect copyright.PENANAixcztKEv8y
"Now, that everything's all settled, who's up for supper?" Diana asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAxLrluT6LIL
"We all are," said Oliver. "I'm starving."750Please respect copyright.PENANAGx6rZsesEx
"Then let's all make our way to the dining room," said Mr McDonell. "Mum, I'll help you out."750Please respect copyright.PENANAVlTMQMznS8
"Thank you, sweetie," said Amanda as she smiled at her son.750Please respect copyright.PENANATLjs4OMgRg
"And I'll help Angel," said Eric.750Please respect copyright.PENANAxxXjSVXuJZ
"No, I'll help her," said Oliver who stood up quickly and found himself behind Angel's wheelchair.750Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9xmD3N0j0
"Thanks, Oliver," said Angel giving a small laugh when she noticed the scowl on Eric's face.750Please respect copyright.PENANA8PSwfT0ZEr
Leo couldn't help but roll his eyes at Angel. "Even my little cousin has been captured by her charms," he thought to myself.750Please respect copyright.PENANAYwfOG8lV72
Everyone slowly left the750Please respect copyright.PENANAE9lWEe0DLT
living room and went to the dining room. Mr and Mrs McDonell sat on 750Please respect copyright.PENANAbZT94JhuxD
both opposite ends of the table. Amanda sat next to her son on the right750Please respect copyright.PENANAloEWhgkrgp
side of the table, alongside Angel, Diana, and Kim. On the other side 750Please respect copyright.PENANA2Fr9L8tDWm
sat Oliver, Eric, Leo and Carly.750Please respect copyright.PENANAb79pzUlJll
"Now, that we are settled, mum, can you give us a prayer to bless the food, please?" Mr McDonell asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANApF9WBnOBmO
"Of course," said Amanda. "Let us pray...."750Please respect copyright.PENANAznpGuPMGJG
After the loving prayer,750Please respect copyright.PENANAOLwzUUQUb2
everyone started to dig into the meal. There was lovely Italian dressed750Please respect copyright.PENANAhY1bbBGMeg
chicken with baked potatoes, green salads and spiced rice.750Please respect copyright.PENANAIimydmdI0r
"How do you like the food, Kim?" Mrs McDonell asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAgrVoDEKr2n
"Oh, it's lovely," said Kim. "It's very tasty."750Please respect copyright.PENANAkPaWnCxd7J
"I know," said Oliver who couldn't get enough of the chicken. "The chicken is really delicious."750Please respect copyright.PENANA56knLYHkKr
"You better slow down, Oliver," said Diana. "You're going to get too full, too quick."750Please respect copyright.PENANAkCIAzsU2D0
"He really can't get 750Please respect copyright.PENANAEabyacJx00
enough of it," said Angel as she looked at Oliver who was chewing at the750Please respect copyright.PENANA1UFyMQQgA2
thigh of the chicken. Angel couldn't help but giggle and Eric couldn't 750Please respect copyright.PENANATitaPu3zmm
help but smile at her. Leo noticed and he couldn't help but roll his 750Please respect copyright.PENANAn5ydERtja0
eyes in irritation.750Please respect copyright.PENANA64xJKG8wjO
"He's a young boy," said Amanda. "Let him enjoy all the food he can eat."750Please respect copyright.PENANA7UXQE4com0
"But not too much," said Angel as she looked at Amanda.750Please respect copyright.PENANAMPX7utkzMp
"Angel's right," said Diana. "I don't want my child looking obese."750Please respect copyright.PENANAqHtDgOtszV
"What's obsese?" Oliver asked after swallowing his food. Every grown up at the table looked at him then at themselves.750Please respect copyright.PENANA7LVmAULbJW
"I would rather Angel tell him," said Eric.750Please respect copyright.PENANAZkm3Xg75AF
"Why me?" Angel asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAFcnKfdGRny
"I know you will explain750Please respect copyright.PENANAPjZrbUS6Bc
better. Besides, it looks like you will be helping him out with a lot 750Please respect copyright.PENANAHwRG0Lkb16
of things from now on if mum is busy."750Please respect copyright.PENANAXiY3XsaTKW
"Like what?" Diana asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANA1rog8IREw5
"Almost an hour ago, she agreed to help him with homework on a Friday."750Please respect copyright.PENANAd4gqfGilJy
"That's so nice of you, 750Please respect copyright.PENANAt2jeX4qhbp
Angel," said Diana as she turned to look at Angel beside her. "You know,750Please respect copyright.PENANAB9z1yWC1Oj
I've been trying to get him to do his homework early, but he doesn't 750Please respect copyright.PENANAdrgsTP4G8J
want to."750Please respect copyright.PENANAkNYeQYq2Lt
"Angel must have done something to Oliver," said Leo. "And I'm afraid, it isn't a good thing."750Please respect copyright.PENANArDuKMXUbEb
Angel looked at him and 750Please respect copyright.PENANAcxbFF5BFgw
tried her best not to show how annoyed she was. She knew Leo was being 750Please respect copyright.PENANAfJ0kSYWaft
mean though people on the table didn't seem to notice. There was a 750Please respect copyright.PENANAG8VIIFj9FN
battle between the two which they would rather keep to themselves.750Please respect copyright.PENANAhdlDJwZrmN
"You're wrong, Leo," said Amanda. "She's done a good thing. She's an angel just like her name."750Please respect copyright.PENANABamfXKavy2
Leo felt like he was 750Please respect copyright.PENANARVYW1oUET2
going to puke. Angel was getting all the praise now. He felt like 750Please respect copyright.PENANAoO9nrAcPlx
leaving the table, but he did his best not to for it will seem rude.750Please respect copyright.PENANAubr9CWOsFS
"I think so too, grandma," said Eric.750Please respect copyright.PENANASw94Dsh0Sy
"Angel said, if I do my homework, we will go watch a movie together in the home theater," said Oliver.750Please respect copyright.PENANAsUL58y1CyV
"I'm surprised you got him to agree on this, Angel," said Mr McDonell. "He's very stubborn."750Please respect copyright.PENANAUGvxt9Orxl
"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."750Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8cXYrpBV3
"Smart," said Diana. "You two sisters really are something."750Please respect copyright.PENANAPlpcGe3JaV
"I think so too," said Carly as she took a sip of her juice, looking at Kim who sat opposite her.750Please respect copyright.PENANAnI1nkUPdF9
"Okay, enough family affairs," said Mrs McDonell. "How was work, Leo?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAWaZOVxE45h
"It was fine, mum," said750Please respect copyright.PENANAWD3LurQsIk
Leo, glad that his mother changed the topic, yet uneasy with how the 750Please respect copyright.PENANAzhFquwjgXg
conversation was going to turn out.750Please respect copyright.PENANAJmIpzGbJhA
"That's nice. I hear you're working on a deal with the Chinese. When are we expecting them?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAkGMkyMk0Sh
"During the course of next week. Friday to be more precise."750Please respect copyright.PENANAxBelMWeX5E
"I hope you have most of the paper work ready, Leo," said Mr McDonell. "We need the presentation and the deal to run smoothly."750Please respect copyright.PENANA8fSg2sMMXr
"Eric's been helping me out with it," said Leo.750Please respect copyright.PENANAFYulJ6vF7P
"Alright," said Mrs 750Please respect copyright.PENANAMxZQMzfvXd
McDonell. "Things will go well, that I know. How about you, Kim?" Mrs 750Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0yDEKrAOa
McDonell turned to look at Kim on her left. "How has the modelling been 750Please respect copyright.PENANAyvAuA83UAR
for you lately?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAeqmzMx1oZm
Angel and Carly both 750Please respect copyright.PENANATcft5MVZzN
turned to look at Kim. They both realised now how Kim somehow looked 750Please respect copyright.PENANAg1d1XSrGST
like those models cut out straight from a magazine. It's because she 750Please respect copyright.PENANAi5Q8OxVCaw
already was one herself.750Please respect copyright.PENANAp61CbmtZHv
"Same as always," said Kim with a smile.750Please respect copyright.PENANAreDKAzHSXh
"And how about your father's law firm?" Mrs McDonell asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAXLrgTfRI0L
"Running well as usual."750Please respect copyright.PENANAIBckijE1Cb
"I should really pay him750Please respect copyright.PENANAHRSJOhyVYM
a visit. It's been such a long time. You have a really loving family. 750Please respect copyright.PENANAjQdFMFhwWi
It's just sad that things aren't the way they are supposed to be."750Please respect copyright.PENANAVZr9T1MrJb
"I wonder what you mean by that," said Amanda.750Please respect copyright.PENANAt4WwS3uXrB
"You know exactly what I mean," said Mrs McDonell as she raised her glass of orange juice to her lips.750Please respect copyright.PENANAoHevwCZoCd
"I won't elaborate further." Amanda gave her daughter-in-law a wide smile.750Please respect copyright.PENANAmVVILs50Qg
Diana cleared her throat as she soon got her glass and drank her juice quickly.750Please respect copyright.PENANASawAoKpmUd
"Kim, darling, since it's so nice having you around, you should be coming to visit us more often. I miss having you here."750Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6O6WKGvZj
"That's very nice of you, Mrs McDonell. I'll be coming by more often."750Please respect copyright.PENANAcQ6ZPeMu9L
"That's nice, dear. Even after all that had happened, I still consider you to be family."750Please respect copyright.PENANApXe5L18gEG
Leo was already done with his meal and he realised he had had enough for one night.750Please respect copyright.PENANAyxlYkdlPcJ
"May you please, excuse me," he said as he slowly stood up from his chair.750Please respect copyright.PENANAbtwxLl2dBd
"But where are you going, Leo?" his mother asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAeyDZHr936o
"I'm done eating, mum," said Leo. "I prefer I go to my room and rest before I start to finalise on some papers."750Please respect copyright.PENANASi6BULPAHz
"Well, I was really hoping you can stay around a bit and chat. There is no harm in doing so, is it?"750Please respect copyright.PENANAHiNx5NiLHM
"I would really like to,750Please respect copyright.PENANAuFBxVFte5D
but I've had a long day. Kim," he turned to look at her. "I'm afraid 750Please respect copyright.PENANA0G1M0RVw5h
I'll have to leave you here at this point. I really have to go."750Please respect copyright.PENANAlSp8oX1m2i
"Now, wait a minute, Leo," his mother's voice became a little intense. "It's wrong to leave your guest halfway through dinner."750Please respect copyright.PENANAeRf5KlyQOf
"Mum, most of us here 750Please respect copyright.PENANAFEYq0vYEG6
are already done with our meal. And may I need remind you that as much 750Please respect copyright.PENANA5NhRT1VMjJ
as Kim and I have a history together, she's your guest tonight and not 750Please respect copyright.PENANAIMvbYu1nxZ
mine."750Please respect copyright.PENANAn0wiKqZH9C
Mrs McDonell grew pale. 750Please respect copyright.PENANAuW2ANinjW1
She opened her mouth to say a word but not even a sound came out. Others750Please respect copyright.PENANAR681B2T9YD
at the table were either looking at each other or staring at their 750Please respect copyright.PENANAWmxqRpStOq
almost empty plate, making sure not to stare at those talking at the 750Please respect copyright.PENANAEqXPaa0rKv
moment.750Please respect copyright.PENANAstTm6fWAZs
"Let Leo be, Bertha," said Amanda. "He has a lot of work to do, so, he better go and rest."750Please respect copyright.PENANABPnFoNp32y
"I didn't ask for your opinion," said Mrs McDonell.750Please respect copyright.PENANAmAuZCQPG2i
"But she's right though," said Mr McDonell.750Please respect copyright.PENANALjgOLvui3q
Before Mrs McDonell could say anything, Kim spoke up:750Please respect copyright.PENANABatXfyv9vj
"It's fine, let it be. Leo must be very tired and has a lot of work to do."750Please respect copyright.PENANAZDXPF1ovrD
"Okay, dear," said Mrs McDonell, feeling a little disappointed. "You're free for now, Leo."750Please respect copyright.PENANAY1v2KvXLiE
"For now or never?" Leo asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAZMMdrbbx7E
"Don't start, son."750Please respect copyright.PENANAruo2y254MJ
"May I remind you who started all this in the first place?"750Please respect copyright.PENANA5dEOqpJDmw
Before his mother could reply, Leo already drew away from the table and left the dining room as quickly as he could.750Please respect copyright.PENANAidhSEnhMHO
"Well, he has no shame," said Mrs McDonell.750Please respect copyright.PENANA3NpM2LylbS
"I think you've to adress that to someone else, don't you think?" Amanda asked.750Please respect copyright.PENANAgv4BEbsByI
"Goodness, just what I needed," Mrs McDonell raised her hands in the air.750Please respect copyright.PENANAWIX4dpl0LY
"I think I've had enough of this drama for one night," said Mr McDonell as he stood up from his seat.750Please respect copyright.PENANAgA8OYr42xn
"Please take me with you, son," said Amanda. "Remember, we have a lot to discuss."750Please respect copyright.PENANAjkWQ3ulnE0
Mr McDonell left his seat and helped Amanda with dragging her wheelchair and they soon left the dining room.750Please respect copyright.PENANAFtGIZF6Hrh
"We better start working on your homework, little man," said Angel, as she addressed Oliver, sounding like all is normal.750Please respect copyright.PENANAeZ329xCjUb
"Yes, let's go," said Oliver as he also stood up from the table.750Please respect copyright.PENANAAVWy2BH8qf
"I'll come and help," said Eric.750Please respect copyright.PENANAkE3dKeP1jy
"Me too," said Carly.750Please respect copyright.PENANAESgq1vGfmB
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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