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The other woman wrinkled her nose in confusion "Why what?"

"Why punish her? Why teach her that there are consequences? What point are you trying tofull well she had no right to do so

Vivian paused in thought If she was annoyed or put out by Zoe's question, she didn't show it "Well I suppose I want to teach her the proper way to behave for one thing"

Zoe tried not to cringe or pass judgment; instead she waited

"And I realize now that Faith never knee loved her"

"If that bothers you, then why didn't you search harder when she ran away?" Ryan asked

Real tears suddenly filled the older woman's brown eyes, which Zoe now realized resehts would focus on how Faith's wild rebellion reflected on the family We'd yell and scream as you pointed out She'd storain the next day It became a cycle we couldn't seem to break" She dabbed at the inside corner of her eye, atte to stem her tears

"Did you punish Faith?" Zoe asked softly

"We tried, but no matter e did, she never listened Mostly because the screa had any impact So when she ran away, after we checked all the obvious places, we thought, let her get it out of her system and then she'll come home"

Ryan stiffened his shoulders "But she never did"

Vivian shook her head "At the ti ere We were the parents and she was the child We should have kept trying"

Zoe sed hard, suddenly feeling the wos us back to Saht up the idea of bringing Faith's child here, I was coainst it since I feared the past would repeat itself I knehen I looked at Samantha, I'd see my failures as a mother And I did I still do"

"Mom— " Ryan stepped forward, but his h Zoe hurt for hi point for theator of the conversation, but outsider to their family, Zoe could do noso she realized she atching her faht a piercing ache to her own heart

Vivian stared, focusing her thoughts "I need to say this and I need to do it without your sy apart"

Ryan nodded in obvious understanding

"Dinner the other night was a complete replay of our lives with you children except that Samantha had you and Zoe to protect her And the child has more spunk than anyone I've ever met," she said, hat sounded like affection in her tone

"Spunk is a good word to describe Sareed, his eyes filled arazed at his mother

Even Zoe had to adness to try and change Relief filled her, as well, since Sa

"I didn't sleep that night And I realized then that I could continue to play the socialite who cared hter, too, or I could take the initiative and try to change my attitude For the sake ofshould learn new tricks" Vivian forced a laugh, but her body trembled with the emotion of the afternoon