#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.”

see their affection for me evaporating,

them.

I did to Jane,

quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier than I’ve been

losing them. I think forlornly,

A little voice says

back of my head, after

Jane they wouldn’t be able to

and stupid. I argue back,

the blurry black

shades of youthful indiscretions,

To them I’m the

you find out?” I

why this suddenly

both out all day.

admits, looking at me

I’ve just kicked

I growl. To

actually

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

caution, softening

((

sorry. I was just surprised.”

Paisley murmurs, looking as though

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

you?” Ryder asks

over at me.

was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t know if your Mommy

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

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands, “you weren’t you

when you get older, sometimes you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you

don’ understand.”

he’s saying he has

in a stage

I chuckle humorlessly, “I

I

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

})

you were bad before,

Parker presses.

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

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

“Mommy’s already in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?”

everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

think?”

whimpers, “I love

‘I love Mommy.”

Daddy hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds

})

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

towards their low voices, I

we should leave.” Riley

nicer

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

“I don’ want her to be scared. I think

we should leave.”

away and looking

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