Ethan's childhood had been far from happy.

He didn’t want Opal and Cade to carry hatred toward him into their own childhoods.

But he’d used the wrong approach, and it only made the children more fearful of him, deepening their hatred.

He felt like a failure.

His unexpected and sincere apology left the three children momentarily speechless.

Emmett remained silent, Cade’s eyes were reddening with the threat of tears, and Opal appeared unsettled.

She ...