#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.”

can see their affection for me

I don’t blame them. If

mother what I did to Jane, I’d probably

things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was

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

it’s your own fault. A little voice

after all,

be

was young and stupid. I argue back,

understand the blurry black

shades of youthful

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

did you find out?” I ask them,

why this suddenly came up after

I were both out

us.” Parker admits,

just kicked a puppy.

growl. To my horror, Riley,

actually flinch away

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

caution, softening my tone,

((

sorry. I was just surprised.”

murmurs, looking as though the

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

which are you?” Ryder

at me.

tricked into doing something terrible, but

you is that I’m not the same man

understand.

They don’t.

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

you get older, sometimes you can change so

don’ understand.” Ryder admits.

he’s saying he has

in a stage

chuckle humorlessly, “I

I would

the fact that I did it in the

})

were bad before,

Parker presses.

think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to decide. It’s for you and your Mommy.

the bad thing once, he could do

trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?” She asks

doing everything I can to

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

She whimpers, “I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

Mommy.” Riley reminds her,

})

their heads together, murmuring to each other under

towards their low voices, I

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

much nicer to Mommy.”

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.”

don’ want her to be scared. I think

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and looking curiously

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

Comments ()

0/255