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.”

can see their affection

I don’t blame them. If

I did

how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier than

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

own fault. A little voice

my head, after all, if you hadn’t

to Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold it against you.

stupid. I argue

understand the blurry

of

them I’m the evil man that hurt

find out?”

this suddenly came up

and I were both out all

told us.” Parker admits, looking at me

I’ve just

To my

and Ryder actually

them. If I thought I felt

caution, softening my tone,

((

was just

said you were 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 or demons. Good people do bad things sometimes, and bad people do

are you?”

at me.

good man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t

that I’m not the same man I was then.” I

understand.

They don’t.

possible?” Riley demands,

time passes. You’ll see when you get older, sometimes you can change so much over

understand.”

think he’s saying

in a

humorlessly, “I

personalities. I just… I would

way today, but I can’t change the fact that I did it

})

you were bad before, but you’re

now?” Parker presses.

think I’m not anymore, but that’s

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

gain. Was dis your fault too?” She

I can to help

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

“I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He locked her up.’

})

put their heads together, murmuring to each

towards their low voices,

their conversation. “I think we should leave.” Riley is saying.

is much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

“I don’ want her to be scared. I

we should leave.”

away and looking curiously towards Paisley.