Owned By Her Triplet Bullies
Chapter 43

Emma's POV

I'm dumbstruck right now. I just stared at Hailey in shock, unable to form any coherent sentence. I was just trying to help her out and everybody was staring at me like I really did push her. I don't blame them though, I was standing at the edge of the pool holding her hand, so it will seem like I really did push her. She must have really thought this plan true, and I dumbly fell for it.

"What did you just say?" Julian asked, sounding shocked.

"I said Emma pushed me. Everyone saw it. I was just trying to speak to her about something, but she blew up on me. I was backing into the pool when I slipped. She held my hand and I thought she was going to help me since she knew I could not swim, but she let go of my arm, letting me drown. I'm sure she has been wanting to kill me all this while. You all saw it didn't you?" she explains, trying to stifle her sobs.

I bowed my head silently crying inside. It's over. Nobody will believe me over Hailey after seeing everything that happened. Nobody will believe Hailey will really endanger her life. I wonder how she could endanger her life like this. Does she really despise me that much? I can't think of a single thing I've done to her to deserve this. There are other maids in the pack house and they don't get treated like this. I could not bear to look at the triplets. My heart is beating fast, anticipating what they will say.

"We saw everything that happened," Philip said. I whipped my head up sharply to look at him. He was standing with Alexander, while Julian was crouched on the floor beside Hailey. He has covered her up with a towel. My heart sank. They believed her. To think I was thinking about finally giving them a chance. I thought we had something special going on after what had happened between us, but I thought wrong again. I tried to at least say a word in my defense but my tongue felt heavy and numb. I couldn't bring myself to say anything. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I prepared myself to start getting bullied again.

Hailey suddenly stops crying. She gave me a smug smile.

"You did right? I've been telling you, boys, for a very long time that this girl is up to no good. She's a shrewd and cunning girl pretending to be naive," she said and suddenly glares at me.

"Wait until my father hears about this. You will be sorry you were ever born by your miserable parents. I.,"

"Stop it!" Julian growled, cutting her off. I flinch and Hailey gazes at Julian in shock.

"We won't stand here and watch you slander Emma in front of everyone," Philip said to her in a warning tone.

"B...but she pushed me. You should punish her severely for that," she said in disbelief.

"She didn't push you. From what you said, you thought she was going to save you, she must have wanted to save you from drowning and her hand slipped. If she really wanted to kill you, why would she hold your hand in the first place? She could have just watched you slip and fall into the pool. Why would she go through the trouble of trying to hold your hand, and besides, Emma is not someone like that," Alexander said calmly and logically.

I glanced at him. My tears clouded my vision, so I wiped them away. Did they believe me without me uttering a word? They believe me over Hailey. My heart swells with joy. Was I wrong about them all this while?

Hailey stood up suddenly but swayed slightly, closing her eyes and grabbing her head. Is she really feeling dizzy, or is she faking it? If she's really acting, then she's doing a really great job.

"Are you okay? Have a seat," Philip said, taking hold of her hand. I understand that they really care for her, after all, they all grew up together. Hailey slapped his hand away. People were beginning to film us chattering excitedly. They were watching a free and interesting show after all.

"Do you even care about me? Do you care if I die or live?" she mutters, glancing at every one of them in shock.

"What are you talking about? Of course, we care about you," Julian replies, looking confused.

"Stop being dramatic," Alexander sighs.

"No, you don't. You don't care about me anymore. I almost drowned," she sobbed, pointing towards the pool. "And yet, you take her side? You don't believe me, even though you saw everything yourselves," she mutters.

"This is not about taking anyone's side, Hailey, we only acted based on what we saw and thought," Philip said gently.

She nods her head, sobbing loudly.

"I can't believe this. We've been together for a very long time, and you believe a stranger over me? How can you still call yourselves good friends after this and lie to my face that you care for me?" she cried. I stood watching the scene without knowing what to say. Why is Hailey just crying without hurling insults at me or yelling? This does not look right, but I just can't place my finger on what is wrong. Hailey threw the towel on Julian's face and ran to her room.

Julian sighed, picking up the towel and dropping it on a chair.

“Come on, Emma, let's go," Philip said. I looked toward John, and he gave me a smile of approval. I followed the triplets to our room. I sat in silence for a while until I finally found my voice.

"Why did you defend me?" I asked. Alexander was standing by the fridge trying to get a glass of water, Julian was washing his hands by the sink and Philip was sitting on the couch next to me. I noticed their outfits now. It seemed like they were coming back from the gym when they saw us. Why did they come to the pool straight from the gym anyway?

"Pardon," Julian muttered, closing the tap and wiping his hands.

"You defended and believed me against Hailey even though I didn't say anything in my defense," I replied.

"As I said, we didn't take anyone's side. We just said everything the way it was," Alexander answers, closing the fridge.

"But before, you never believed me. You wouldn't even give me a chance to explain myself before listening to Hailey and punishing me," I mutter sadly. Their expressions changed. Memories from the past still haunt me. I haven't fully healed yet. Alexander and Julian both walked toward me.

"That was when we behaved foolishly. We didn't know you well enough, but now we do, and we are so sorry about everything we have done. We now know you aren't capable of doing the things we had accused you of. Please forgive us for our past mistakes," Julian pleads.

"I might tell you that I've forgiven you boys, but I can't forget. The wounds are still fresh, and I need some time to heal," I said to them. They looked at me sadly.

"We understand. It was our fault, I guess we will have to live with the consequences," Philip mutters. I can't bear to be in the same room with them right now. I'm too vulnerable. I excused myself and left the room.

I open the door only to see John retreating.

"John, were you trying to come to see me?" I ask curiously.

"N...no, why would I? I was just passing by," he stutters nervously. I'm convinced something is wrong somewhere.

"You promised you would never lie to me, tell me what happened right now," I demanded and he sighed, giving me his phone. Anytime he passes me his phone, it is never good news. I take in a deep breath and press play.

I watched the scene earlier at the pool today repeat itself. But this time, Hailey is made to be the victim and I am the bully. I scroll to the comments underneath.

"She's so evil. She came in between friends and ruined their friendship,"

"I'm sure she's a w***e. She has seduced the boys with her body, else they will never defend her like this. I wonder what they see in that ugly fat pig,"

"Shouldn't she be arrested? She tried to kill someone,"

John snatched the phone from my hands. "Don't read it anymore. How can people be so cruel with their words?" he said.

I smiled bitterly, it has been so long since I'd been called names. I knew something was wrong when Hailey didn't yell like she used to, and I was right. This was what she was planning, to twist the story in her favor. What I really want right now is to unwind and forget all that has happened. "We are still going to the club tonight right?" I asked him.