#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

more.”

can see their affection

blame them. If

what I did to Jane, I’d

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

losing them. I think forlornly, I only just got

own fault. A little

my head, after all, if you hadn’t

to Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold

was young and stupid. I

the

white shades of

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

you find out?”

this suddenly came up

I were both out

us.” Parker admits,

if I’ve just kicked a puppy.

To

and Ryder actually

thought I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to

caution, softening my

((

sorry. I was

you were a monster.” Paisley murmurs, looking as though the sky is falling around her.

simple.” I sigh, feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things

which are you?” Ryder asks

over at me.

like to think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something

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

understand.

They don’t.

possible?” Riley demands, “you weren’t

you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you used to be,

understand.”

he’s saying

in a stage whisper.

humorlessly, “I

just… I would never treat

change the fact that I did it in the

})

before, but

Parker presses.

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

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

“Mommy’s already in trouble’ gain. Was

doing everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

you think?”

dunno.” She whimpers, “I love

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He

})

Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each

voices, I catch the

think we should leave.”

nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s

her to be

we should leave.”

two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards Paisley.

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