Chapter 22
"Sydney. My sweetheart. Dixon told us, we're so sorry. Is there anything we can do for you? Help with Laura or something?" Irina said hugging her daughter tightly
"It's fine Mom. I'm okay. Laura's okay. Everything's cool. Vaughn is going to have her for a few days. So there's no need to be worried." Sydney said trying to reassure her mother
"Are you sure you can trust him?" Irina questioned
"Mom, despite my misgivings. He is still her father. And please can you can act a bit of diplomacy towards him considering he's standing right here."
"It's fine Syd. I don't expect anything else of her."
"Like I don't expect much of a patronising two timer who was happy to walk out on his fiancé and child for some whore." Irina countered back towards him
"That's ludicrous coming from you. Didn't you have a affair as well. With Arvin Sloane of all people. And wasn't a child produced as well. So stop treating me like the devil, when your done exactly what I have done."
"Firstly" Irina said her hand raised towards him "Keep Nadia out of this, she has nothing to do your behaviour or any of this. She had no choice about her parentage"
Irina dropped her hand and walked closer to Jack, wanting his strength to back her up, as she once again had to face up to her past actions.
"You know my reasoning behind it why that happened. To keep my family safe. But, you. To cover up grief from losing your friend. Sydney lost the same friend as well, but did you see her jumping into bed with the nearest person."
"You know Irina. Your daughter is not the saint you make out to be. I'm sure she's never told you this. But when me and Lauren were still together, she was happy to have an affair with me then."
"Don't twist it like that, to make me the bad guy. You were happy enough to go through with it as well. I was confused. One day, I was with you, and what I thought was the next I found out you were married. So don't blame me for being screwed up at that point in time."
"At least I was right to cheat on her. Seeing she turned out to be an evil Rambaldi freak."
"You know what. I'm having trouble seeing what I thought I saw in. What has happened to that sweet man I once knew, how did you end up as this twisted person."
"Things have been hard on me, for a while. So I've adjusted to it."
"Hard for you! So a few things haven't gone to plan. So you have a personality change. Don't you think thing's probably may have been hard on me as well. The majority of things that infect you indirectly affect me directly, yet I don't change. I just knuckle down and let each day pass."
"Daddy!" Laura's voice broke the tension.
"Hello Sweetie." Michael said reaching down to hug his daughter.
"Mommy. Is it true that I'm going to be staying with Daddy for a little while."
"Yes it is. So just remember to be a good girl for him and I'll see you in a few days." Sydney bent down and kissed Laura on her head. Sydney followed this by looking up at Vaughn. "I'll send Nadia around with some of Laura's things, and please just take care of my baby."
"I will Syd" Vaughn said before looking down at his daughter and saying "So sweetie. Are you ready to go? Because it's lunch time and I bet your hungry. So where do you want to go.
"Can I go to……" Laura said walking away with Vaughn
"So Sweetheart, where do we start?" Irina asked.