#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

and I’ll never regret anything

more.”

see their affection for me

them.

I did

quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier than I’ve been

I’m awash with shame, guilt, and despair. I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I only just got them, and

own fault. A little voice says

after all, if you hadn’t

be able to hold it

young and stupid. I

understand the

shades of youthful indiscretions,

I’m the evil man that hurt their

out?” I ask

suddenly

and I were both out

Parker admits, looking at

if I’ve just

growl. To my

Ryder actually flinch

I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to how

caution, softening my

((

was just

said you were a monster.” Paisley murmurs, looking as though the sky is

I sigh, feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things sometimes, and

you?” Ryder asks

at

to think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something terrible,

you is that I’m not the same man I was

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you weren’t you then?”

when you get older, sometimes you can change so much over the

understand.” Ryder

saying he

explains in a stage

I chuckle humorlessly,

just… I

I can’t change the fact that I did it in the past.

})

you were bad before, but you’re not

Parker presses.

was bad before.” I confirm, “And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to

he could do it ‘gain.”

trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault

I can

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

whimpers, “I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

reminds her,

})

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

their low voices, I catch

of their conversation. “I think we should

nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

don’ want her to

we should leave.”

pulling away and looking curiously

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255