#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 never regret anything

more.”

see their affection for

blame them. If someone

I did to Jane, I’d

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

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

A little voice

head, after all, if you hadn’t

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

young and stupid. I argue

the blurry

white shades of youthful

I’m the

you find out?” I ask

why this suddenly came

were both

us.” Parker admits, looking

I’ve just

I growl. To

Ryder actually flinch

frightened I’ll lash out at them. If I thought I

now,” I caution,

((

I was

were a monster.” Paisley murmurs, looking as though the sky is

of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things sometimes, and bad people do good things.”

you?”

at me.

into doing

tell you is that I’m not the

understand.

They don’t.

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

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 used to be, and having children is

don’ understand.” Ryder admits.

think he’s saying he has two

in

humorlessly, “I

just… I would

the fact that

})

were bad before, but you’re not

now?” Parker presses.

I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but

if he did the bad thing once, he could do

in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?”

everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

think?” Parker

whimpers, “I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

Daddy hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her,

})

can say a word, Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each other under their

towards their low voices, I

we should leave.”

much nicer

agrees.

Mommy’s scared.” Parker

her to be scared. I think

we should leave.”

pulling away and

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