Second Chance: A Life Rewritten

Emily locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone. Not the maids, not her mother. Clara got tired of waiting for her to open the door, so she had someone force the door open.

Seeing as her daughter curled up in bed, and crying broke Clara's heart.

"What went wrong, Mom? I had planned it so perfectly. But that bi*ch pushed me into the pool. Had I not been good at swimming, I would have drowned. She also jumped into the pool by herself, but Dad..." Emily cried in Clara's arms.

"I told you we shouldn't touch her yet. Your father still feels guilty towards her, and you saw it yourself tonight; any plans against her right now will only make her closer to your dad." Clara was heavy-hearted. She has spent years trying to make a place for herself here in this house, and tonight, the guests gaze seemed to have mocked her... to have called her the other woman.

"I looked pathetic right?" Emily asked her mother. In her plans, Ella should have been the pathetic-looking one and not her. When she remembered how she had screamed that Ella had pushed her into the pool, Emily just wanted to bury her head in a pillow from shame. 'How did this happen?'

"Mom, it was as though she knew of the plan. But it is impossible isn't it? I didn't tell anyone aside from you." Emily couldn't shake off the feeling that she had been the one who was played by Ella.

"It doesn't matter, luckily Madam Stacy was caught with Mr. William, they were having an affair. So compared to your situation, this would interest the guests more." Mr. Williams?

"Do you mean Claudia's father?" Emily asked her eyes shining as she looked at her mother who nodded. "Serves her right! Do you know they all had stood aside and watched me earlier. I am sure they were mocking me in their heads." Emily suddenly felt better compared to how she was feeling before. "I should call her as a good friend." She smiled at her mother.

"You should. But before that, you would need to take a bath. Your face is all smudged." Clara told her as she stood up to leave.

Emily picked her phone, she had no intention of delaying the call, the earlier she called, the better. Claudia hadn't picked up in the first few rings, but finally the call connected. "Hi Claudia, I am so sorry. I just heard what happened. Are you okay?" Emily's concerned voice made Claudia who was already forcing herself to not cry burst out in tears.

Rolling her eyes, Emily pulled the phone from her ears, "Oh Claudia, it will be fine. You have me, remember?" Emily consoled her, and after a while...

"I am sorry Emily. I shouldn't have left you alone earlier, I was just in shock." Claudia suddenly apologized. Earlier that evening, It wasn't Eric's actions that had left her in shock, it was Emily's gaze. It was filled with hate.

Claudia has never seen such a look on Emily before so she was in shock.

"You don't have to apologize, I am not angry at you. I just do not know why Ella would push me into the pool and jump inside with me." Emily's tone sounded aggrieved.

"Don't worry, I am sure the truth will come out soon. Wasn't there a security camera at your pool side, I am sure when your parents watch the video, everyone would know the truth then." Emily bit her lips when she heard Claudia's words. How can it capture anything when it isn't working?

Since she had planned to accuse Ella of pushing her into the pool, she had made her mother bribe the technician who came to fix all the lightings to break the security camera.

"Of course." She knew better than to tell Claudia the camera is broken.

"What was Madam Stacy thinking? Your mother was right here with your dad." Emily accused, wanting to divert the discussion back to Claudia's family scandal.

"Actually, mother has been suspecting father of cheating. But I never thought it would be Madam Stacy." Claudia didn't know what to feel. Her parents might separate. Her mother had always threatened her father that if she finds out he has a mistress, she would leave.

Kendall who was with Claudia held her hand in a consoling manner. Kendall had told Claudia not to let Emily know she was with her. She didn't want Emily to know that she had choose Claudia over her, when they both were in trouble.

"Her husband had died only two years ago. What a loose woman!" Emily says.

"Father said he has known her for a long time, and that they only started going out. He is asking mother to turn a blind eye to his affair. But how can she right?" Claudia cried. Her father had apologized but it didn't seem like he would stop seeing Madam Stacy.

When they had both been caught, he had hastily pulled up his trousers and shielded Madam Stacy from the crowd. He shielded her until she got to her car and drove off, it was only then, he looked at her mother.

"Emily, how did your mother cope knowing your father has another woman in his life?" Claudia asked wanting a hint on how to console her mother.

Heaving loudly, "My mother loves my father very much, when Ella's mother used her family's influence to force my father into marriage, my father wanted to elope with my mother, but she begged him to not abandon his family's business. So my father made my mother his secretary. That way they would always be together. Do you know, most times, my father would stay at my mother's place. But at last, Ella's mother still gave birth." Emily sighed dramatically, "What I am saying is, my mother although she was hurt by the fact that her man was married in name to another, he was always at her side. So I think she coped well." Claudia nodded at the other end believing her. It made sense, 'Emily's mother is the one in her father's heart.'

"I think the person who can actually answer that question for you now would be Ella. But I doubt she will help you." Claudia snorted at Emily's words.

"Who needs her help?" She scoffed out. "I am sure the reason your father had helped her tonight was because of that stunt she pulled where she wanted to cut herself. She really is a cunning person Em, I am worried for you." Emily grinned hearing those words.

Indeed, that is a perfect explanation to give for Dad's actions tonight. 'How did I not think of this earlier?' Emily wondered.

"Actually, Dad has been in my room apologizing, and I have already told him I forgive him. Let us just forget about that incident okay. Besides, I actually pity her, she is all alone in her room, except for the one maid who had gone to give her some soup to drink, no one is with her." Emily's concerned tone made Claudia frown.

"You aren't pitying her are you?" Claudia asked.

Emily scoffed silently, "I can understand why she hates me, take this incidence for an example, we both fell into the pool, my dad and mom has been by my side, caring for me and she has no one beside her. It is pitiable."

"Oh Em, you are indeed too kind." Claudia sighed wondering how a person can be so kind and naive altogether.