#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.”

their affection for

them.

I did to

have flipped upside down.

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

it’s your own fault. A little

back of my head, after all, if you hadn’t

wouldn’t be able to hold it

stupid. I

the blurry black

white shades of

I’m the evil

you find out?”

why this suddenly came up after

I were both

Parker admits, looking at

if I’ve just kicked a

To my

and Ryder actually flinch away from

I thought I

I caution,

((

was just

looking as though the sky is falling

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

are you?” Ryder

over at me.

doing something

can tell you is that I’m not the same man I was then.” I proclaim,

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you weren’t you

dragging one large hand 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’ understand.” Ryder admits.

think he’s saying

Riley explains in a stage

I chuckle humorlessly,

just… I would never

can’t change the fact

})

before, but you’re not

Parker presses.

I’m not anymore, but that’s not

bad thing once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes, gazing at me

already in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?” She

I’m doing everything I can to

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?” Parker asks.

“I

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her,

})

can say a word, Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to

voices, I

of their conversation. “I think we should leave.”

nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

Mommy’s scared.” Parker

her to be scared.

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards

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