It was barely a few days later by the time Christian had had Ivy's mother brought over from Chicago to have a 'meeting' with Ivy that John Flynn could oversee. Daniel and Christian couldn't see the point in bringing Zara into the equation at all, whilst Ivy needed to sort out her issues with her mother- they were going to end up in a screaming match.

Ivy had been eating better and all her tests came back clean from drugs, though she was clearly depressed and angry at her own short fallings.

Christian, Daniel, Ivy and John Flynn were waiting in John's office in silence when the door opened and Ivy's mother came in.

Zara Viljoen was the splitting image of Ivy, and there was a distinctive frostiness that descended over the room as she walked in and as she moved over towards the sofa 'Oh Ivy-'

Ivy put her hand up, voice cold 'don't you fucking dare come any closer to me'. Zara faltered but collected herself, sitting down delicately on the third, empty sofa, hands crossed lightly in her lap.

Zara was wearing dark skinny jeans and a pale blouse, and it was clear that Ivy had got her petite frame from her mother.

Zara was the first to speak in the awkward hush.

'Isabella and Karina were asking after you'

'Why?

'Because they are your sisters and they worry about you'

'Half-sisters, and I've seen them three times in my entire life, they really don't need to worry about me'

'I've tried to make you see them'

'You know what, it's a bit difficult seeing you with two daughters you spend all this time with when you missed nearly every one of my birthdays'

Flynn was about to speak but Ivy moved forward and kept speaking, clearly angry by now

'Johannes was a really nice guy, I know you were happy with him for a while but I feel sorry for him. Not just because you've now left him to raise two teenage daughters on his own back in Pretoria, but because you should have never married him. You didn't deserve someone like him. And you know what, whilst I understand that you are 'trying to do the right thing' now, but you know what- don't wait until I get my inheritance, that makes you seem a little like you have an agenda, don't you think?'

Zara shifted slightly whilst Christian and Daniel looked faintly amused, watching the awkward interaction.

'Ivy, I don't need your money, I'm your mother'

She scoffed lightly and John shook his head at her a little, motioning for Zara to continue.

'I don't need your money, as I said'

'Have a new boyfriend do we?'

Zara shuffled and no one missed it, Ivy looking both smug and vindicated, crossing her arms with her eyebrows raised.

John exhaled deeply 'Ivy, we're not going to get anywhere like this, do you want to talk to your mother about your childhood?'

'… Do you know how it feels to know that your own mother didn't want you enough? That she spent your fourth birthday in Texas with the man she was having an affair with, missed my first day of school because she was on a trip to New York? My sixteenth birthday you weren't there, you were in Dubai… I was in the middle of a crippling drug habit and only three weeks later I was found with drugs on school grounds. I think it might have been nice to have something like I don't know, a card perhaps? Even a fucking postcard telling me you were alive would have been nice. I may not be a good parent but at least I would never leave my children. I always thought Dad was a shitty parent but you know what, he stayed there through all the shit I put him through- and he hasn't asked for a cent of my money'

Without another word Ivy stood and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Daniel stood, glancing at Zara with a dark expression 'I think we're done here'.

Zara looked like she had been slapped in the face 'well that was-'

Daniel shook his head 'don't even finish that sentence, please, I don't think I'll be able to contain myself from slapping you'

He left the room and walked out, realising that Ivy had probably already started the short walk back to their apartment, and got in the car to go back, in no mood to spend any more time with Zara Viljoen.

At the apartment Daniel found Ivy sitting in one of the chairs in the nursery, where both the babies were asleep in their cribs. Her voice was quiet 'Hannah's in the kitchen'.

Hannah was the nanny that they had hired to help with the twins as things were so up in the air with the situation with Ivy. Daniel nodded, coming into the room 'well I think that went as well as could have been expected'.

Ivy made a derisive noise and shook her head 'I know John is right, but I can't stand more than a few minutes in the same room as that woman'.

Daniel nodded 'can't blame you really. Stand up'

Ivy blinked in surprise but stood, looking confused. Daniel moved over, sat down in the seat and pulled Ivy onto his lap, sitting across him as he put his arms around her, keeping quiet to not wake the twins.

'You are not a bad mother, don't ever say that again'

'Daniel I-'

'I said don't. Yes, you used again, and you know what, we have understood that and we are moving on together from that. Have you run away from your children? No. You stayed here, no matter how hard it has been. Alright? Your mother is a terrible parent, you are not, so don't say that'

Ivy didn't move for a few seconds before turning and kissing him.