#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

I’ll

more.”

can see their affection for

I don’t blame them.

mother what I did to Jane, I’d

how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little

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

A little voice says in

of my head, after all, if

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to

was young and stupid. I argue

don’t understand the blurry

of

To them I’m the evil man that hurt their

find out?” I

suddenly

both out all

told us.” Parker admits, looking

just kicked

To my horror, Riley,

Ryder actually flinch

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

caution,

((

sorry. I was just

Paisley murmurs, looking as though the

rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons.

which are you?”

over at me.

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

that I’m not the

understand.

They don’t.

that possible?” Riley demands,

still me.” I state, 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’t even recognize the person you

don’ understand.” Ryder

saying

in a stage

chuckle humorlessly, “I

personalities. I just… I would never treat

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

})

were bad before,

Parker presses.

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

do it ‘gain.”

trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?”

everything I can to

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?”

“I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

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

})

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

their low voices,

“I think we should leave.”

nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

to be scared. I

we should leave.”

away and looking curiously towards

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