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Was there also an ele, as her father said? She shivered and, instead of dealing with the present, she focused on the wall that showed off her past

The ht her eye The picture showed Saether at Zoe's welcome-home party after she'd returned from her enforced confinement last year The three of them looked like real sisters And her parents truly did treat Sam like one of their own children They'd even become more structured since Sam had come into their lives Dinner was served at six and they all ate seated as a family Sam's homework had to be completed before television was allowed, and she had a strict curfew

Though Zoe wouldn't call her imented with Sam around because she understood what the child needed Despite the fact that Elena had become a certified masseuse, she never scheduled a spa appointment after three and she was home every afternoon when Saes had been made because the entire Costas family loved Sam and wanted her to have as close to a perfect childhood as possible

"Looking at the wall of shame?" Ari asked

Zoe felt her twin's hand on her shoulder and covered it with her own "That alas your description" But Zoe knew that Ari had come to terms with her difficulties within their fareat childhood we had"

"We did Even I can see that now, especially coh the foster-care syste for Sam," Zoe said

"Maybe Ryan Baldwin can provide it for her You like him and that's no sood man, but do you knohat his faulations, the criticism that drove herherself in that sa those lines always sent her into an emotional freeze Her relationship with Ryan worked only because she kneould return to Boston and there was no chance of a long-term relationship between them If not for that assurance, she'd run far and fast to escape, just as his sister had

"You ready to talk to Mo with them in the family room"

Zoe inclined her head "Let's do it"

Less than ten minutes later, the truth had been revealed Elena sat on the couch, her head bent, and Zoe knelt down beside herher hand Zoe's sto her parents through so much pain

"So to be clear, this Ryan Baldwin isn't a social worker?" her father asked

Ari shook her head

"He's Saain

"Which ed "Papa," she said, using the nickname she'd called him as a child "The lie was my fault Mom mistook Ryan for a social worker the day of Sa, but I found out that day…and I convinced him to stay quiet"

While her mother remained uncharacteristically silent, Nicholas let out a litany of Greek profanity that singed her ears "Why?" he asked "Why would you do this to your own fahtened She rose to face her father in order to explain "At first I needed to check out if he ho he claiuy before I revealed anything"

"And then you fell for the man" Elena lifted her head fro the news