EastEnders has revealed two major secrets about Zoe Slater’s past, as well as confirming her link to Max Branning.

In this week’s dramatic episodes, Zoe was accidentally shot by warring Ravi and Jack and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

But viewers were stunned last night when Kat answered Zoe’s phone, as she remained unaware that it was none other than Max who was trying to get hold of her daughter.

It was suspected that Max was Zoe’s so-called enemy who she was running from, but new flashbacks in today’s episode revealed a very different truth.

The pair met in a bar earlier this year. Max helped Zoe when her card was declined and after realising that she was a Slater – even calling himself a ‘friend of the family’.

They immediately hit it off and opened up about their pasts, with Max talking about Oscar, Abi and Tanya, though Zoe lied about not having kids.

After Max and Zoe slept together, she explained the truth about the twins she gave birth to in 2006 – one of whom died – and said she had hired a private investigator to help find her surviving son.

Later, Zoe had an encouraging update: her son’s foster parents had moved abroad, but the PI had managed to track down their former neighbour Greg who knew them well.

Max gifted her an expensive necklace with the option to pawn it and also agreed to give her the £5,000 she needed to pay Greg.

They arrived at Greg’s flat together, and Max waited outside while Zoe headed inside with the cash. But Greg gave only sparse memories of her son and demanded even more money if she wanted to find out more.

With Zoe unable to pay, Greg threatened her with sexual violence and began attacking her – so Zoe hit him over the head with a lamp and left him unresponsive.

She rushed out and told Max what had happened, but he refused to be dragged into her mess. Zoe raged at Max, gave him back the necklace and got out the car.

Zoe then decided to phone Stacey and ask for help – the final piece of the puzzle, linking the two timelines together.

Back in the present day, with Zoe still in surgery, Kat gave a statement about the shooting. But she lied to the police and pretended she didn’t have Zoe’s phone.

Max messaged Zoe, offering to give her the necklace or more money. Stacey spotted the texts and phoned the number, not realising that her ex-lover was on the other end.

Zoe came out of surgery, and Kat, Alfie and Stacey were by her bedside when she eventually regained consciousness.

Once alone, Zoe phoned Max back, demanded that he doesn’t contact her again and threatening to end him if he comes to see her in Walford.

“Well, that’s the thing about me though, Zoe,” Max replied. “I really hate being told what to do.”

When will Max make his return to Albert Square, and what will this mean for Zoe?