#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.”

see their affection for me evaporating,

don’t blame them.

did to

things have flipped upside down. A

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

A little voice

head, after all, if you

be able to hold it against you.

was young and stupid.

understand the blurry

white shades of youthful

of growth and redemption. To them I’m the evil man that hurt their mother,

out?”

this suddenly came up after

I were both

Parker admits,

if I’ve just

growl. To my horror,

Ryder actually flinch away

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

I caution, softening

((

I was just surprised.”

you were a monster.” Paisley murmurs, looking as

the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things sometimes, and

which are you?” Ryder asks

at

doing

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

understand.

They don’t.

that possible?” Riley demands,

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

don’ understand.”

think he’s saying he has

in

chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t

just… I would

way today, but I can’t change the

})

before, but you’re not

Parker

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

could do it

Was dis

I’m doing everything I can

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker asks.

“I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

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

})

Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring

voices, I catch

of their conversation. “I think we should

much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.”

don’ want her to

we should leave.”

two murmur, pulling away and

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255