The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 83 – Ethan’s Confession

How did it come to this? I think morosely. How did everything go so wrong so quickly?

I’d like to think I’ve been shielding the pups from the truth about what happened between Jane and I all those years ago for their own safety and peace of mind, but if I’m honest, I think I’ve been protecting myself. I know how horribly I messed up with Jane, and as badly as it hurt to see my former mate looking at me with that expression of utter betrayal, seeing it on the faces of my innocent pups is worse. When I left the house this morning I was their hero,

now I’m their villain.

“Why don’t you come sit down.” I suggest to the pups, hoping they’ll agree. How am I ever going to explain this to them? They’re too young to even understand a fraction of it.

Despite my tormented thoughts, they obey. One by one they toddle into the living room,

settling on the sofa while I take a seat on the edge of the coffee table in front of them. I search their young faces for any hint of

openness, but they all seem completely

closed off.

“Listen.” I begin, not even knowing where I’m going with this. “I made a lot of

mistakes in the past, and I did a lot of things

I’m not proud of, but I love you and I love

your Mommy more than anything.”

The quadruplets exchange meaningful glances, “what does that mean?” Ryder

questions.

“It means that it’s true. Eve tricked me into

believing something terrible about Mommy,

and… I punished her.” I confess, “I put her

on house arrest.”

“But how could you b’lieve Eve?” Riley

demands, clearly affronted on her mother’s

behalf.

“Because I didn’t know how evil she was

then.” I explain, “I don’t have any other

excuse. I was a fool – I let her make a fool of

me, and believing her is the biggest regret of

my life, second only to how I treated your Mommy afterwards.”

“Wha’s house arrest?” Parker inquired,

clearly distracted by my previous choice of

words.

“It’s like what Paisley said, a permanent

time out.” I share.

“So you made Mommy a prisner,” Riley

summarizes, “for something she didn’ do.’

“Yes.” I concede. “That’s right. I made her

prisoner, and I’ll never regret

more.”

see their affection for me evaporating,

I don’t blame them. If

did

I can’t believe how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was

and now I’m awash with shame, guilt, and despair. I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I

your own fault. A little voice says

after all, if you

Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold it

stupid. I argue

the blurry

white shades of youthful indiscretions,

the complexities of growth and redemption. To them I’m the evil man that hurt their

you find out?” I ask

why this suddenly

and I were both

us.” Parker admits, looking

just kicked a

growl. To my horror, Riley,

and Ryder actually

out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to

I caution, softening my tone,

((

was just surprised.”

murmurs, looking as though the sky is falling

pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons.

are you?” Ryder asks

over at me.

to think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t know if your Mommy would

that I’m not the same

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands, “you weren’t you then?”

“but people change as time passes. You’ll see when you get older, sometimes you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you used to be, and having children is one of those things that can transform a person.

don’ understand.”

he’s saying he

Riley explains in a

humorlessly, “I

I would

but I can’t change the fact that I did it

})

you were bad before, but you’re

Parker

before.” I confirm, “And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to decide. It’s for you and your Mommy.

think if he did the bad thing once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes, gazing at

already in trouble’ gain. Was dis

I’m doing everything I can to

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?”

whimpers, “I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

reminds her, “He locked her

})

say a word, Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each other under their breath. Cocking

voices,

think we should leave.” Riley is

is much nicer to Mommy.”

agrees.

Mommy’s scared.”

her to be

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and