#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

more.”

can see their affection for me evaporating,

I don’t blame them. If someone

I did to Jane, I’d

Still, I can’t believe how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little

and despair. I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I only

your own fault. A little voice

back of my head, after all, if

wouldn’t be able to hold it against you.

and stupid. I

the blurry black

white shades of youthful indiscretions,

growth and redemption. To them I’m the evil

out?”

this suddenly came

were both out all day.

us.” Parker admits, looking

if I’ve just kicked a

growl. To my horror, Riley,

and Ryder actually

out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before, it’s

caution, softening my tone,

((

was

looking as though the sky is falling

man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do

which are you?” Ryder

at me.

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

the same man I

understand.

They don’t.

possible?” Riley demands,

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

understand.” Ryder admits.

think he’s saying

explains in a stage whisper.

I chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t

personalities. I just… I

but I can’t change the fact that I did it in the past.

})

you were bad before, but

now?” Parker

anymore, but that’s not

the bad thing once, he could do

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

doing everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?” Parker asks.

whimpers, “I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He

})

and Ryder put their heads

towards their low voices, I catch

we should leave.” Riley is

is much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.”

her to be scared.

we should leave.”

other two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards Paisley.

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