#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

more.”

see their affection for me evaporating,

blame them. If someone

what I did to Jane, I’d probably

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

them. I think forlornly, I

fault. A little

head, after

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold

and stupid. I argue

don’t understand the

shades of youthful indiscretions,

and redemption. To them I’m the evil man that

find out?” I ask them,

this suddenly

both

Parker admits,

I’ve just kicked a puppy.

I growl. To

actually flinch

I’ll lash out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before,

caution, softening my tone,

((

sorry. I was

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

sigh, feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels

which are you?”

over at

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

not the same man I was then.” I proclaim, praying

understand.

They don’t.

that possible?” Riley demands, “you weren’t you

get older, sometimes you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the

don’ understand.” Ryder admits.

saying

in a

I chuckle humorlessly, “I

just… I would never treat

I can’t change the fact that

})

you were bad before, but you’re not

now?” Parker

like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not

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

“Mommy’s already in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?” She asks me.

everything I

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

whimpers, “I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds

})

their heads

low voices, I catch

“I think we should leave.”

nicer

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.”

want her to be

we should leave.”

The other two murmur, pulling away and

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