#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

more.”

their affection

blame them. If

what I did to Jane, I’d

how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while

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

fault. A

head, after

they wouldn’t be able to hold it

stupid. I argue

the

white shades of youthful indiscretions,

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

out?”

why this suddenly came

I were both out

us.” Parker admits, looking at

if I’ve just kicked

growl. To my

Ryder actually flinch away from

I felt

I caution, softening my

((

I was just surprised.”

looking as though the sky is falling around her.

not that simple.” 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 bad people do

which are you?”

over at me.

was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t know

I’m not the same man

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands,

through my hair, “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,

understand.”

he’s saying

explains in a

humorlessly,

I would never treat

change the fact

})

were bad before, but you’re not

now?” Parker

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

he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes,

gain. Was dis your fault too?” She

everything I can

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

“I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

reminds her, “He locked

})

put their heads together, murmuring to each other under their breath.

their low voices, I catch the tail

we should leave.”

is much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

don’ want her to be scared. I think

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards Paisley.

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

Comments ()

0/255