#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.”

their affection for me evaporating,

them.

I did to

how quickly things have flipped upside down. A

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

it’s your own fault. A little voice says in

back of my head, after all,

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

and stupid. I argue back,

understand the

of

redemption. To them I’m the evil man that hurt

you find out?” I ask them,

suddenly came

I were both out

told us.” Parker admits, looking

if I’ve just kicked a

To my horror,

actually flinch away from

I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to

caution, softening my tone,

((

sorry. I was

murmurs, looking as though the sky is falling

hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or

which are you?” Ryder

at me.

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

I can tell you is that I’m not the same man I was then.”

understand.

They don’t.

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

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

don’ understand.” Ryder admits.

saying he has

in

I chuckle humorlessly,

personalities. I just… I

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

})

you were bad before, but you’re

Parker

“And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not

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

in trouble’ gain. Was dis your

I

mother.” I insist.

think?” Parker asks.

dunno.” She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her,

})

Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring

their low voices,

their conversation. “I think we should leave.”

much nicer to

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

don’ want her to be scared.

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and

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