#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

more.”

affection

them.

mother what I did to

can’t believe how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier than I’ve been in

despair. I’m losing them. I

it’s your own fault. A little voice says

back of my head, after all,

Jane they wouldn’t be able to

and stupid. I argue back, but

the

of youthful

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

you find out?”

this suddenly came up

were both

us.” Parker admits, looking at me

if I’ve just kicked

To my horror,

and Ryder actually flinch away

I’ll lash out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to

I caution,

((

sorry. I was just surprised.”

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

man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things

which are you?”

at me.

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

I can tell you is that I’m not the same man

understand.

They don’t.

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

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

understand.” Ryder admits.

saying he

Riley explains in

I chuckle humorlessly,

just… I would

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

})

before, but

Parker

confirm, “And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me

thing once, he could do it

Was dis your fault too?” She asks me.

everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?” Parker

whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her

})

put their heads together, murmuring to each other

their low voices, I

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

nicer

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

want her to be scared. I

we should leave.”

other two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards

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