Chapter 85 Different Treatment

Upon hearing Mileen's account, Charlotte found it somewhat unbelievable. "How can this still be happening?" Mileen offered a bitter smile. "That's just how it is. Since they show such disdain, why should I subject my daughter to such treatment at home?" When Mileen first had her son Titus, she was showered with warmth and generosity by her in-laws, who were very kind to her. However, their attitude changed after Emily's birth. They often favored Michael overtly, distressing Mileen. She worried this might spoil her son but knew she couldn't sever the children's relationship with their grandparents. Discussing it with her husband led only to him blaming her, as he never confronted his parents. Such an environment was suffocating for Mileen, making her feel that being outside was better than staying in the house. Mileen looked toward Emily. "Look at how Andy and Lilya, having met my daughter for less than half an hour, can treat her with such patience. Her own grandparents are less kind than these two new friends." Charlotte pondered. If she hadn't divorced and continued living in that household with her children, perhaps Harper and Frank would have behaved similarly. This thought made her feel a twinge of sympathy for Mileen's plight. Living in such a distressing environment, Mileen and her children felt powerless and endured it silently. "Have you ever thought of changing anything?" Charlotte asked. "What can I really do? After marrying him, I even lost my job and now just stay at home to take care of the children. I'd like to work too, but I simply can't bear to leave my children alone." Charlotte said, "A woman needs financial independence for a voice." Mileen envied her. "I wish I could do the same, but the thought of leaving my daughter at home alone really worries me. Even the opportunistic maids disrespect my daughter and me." Charlotte offered a constructive suggestion. "Have you considered changing your current maids?" Mileen, who had devoted all her attention to her daughter in recent years, hadn't thought of this. Charlotte's suggestion sparked a new idea in her. "That's indeed a good idea. Had you not mentioned it, I wouldn't have thought of it. I've been so focused on my children that I neglected such details." Charlotte shook her head. "It's nothing; just wanted to help." Mileen looked at her gratefully. "We've only just met, and I've already burdened you with so much. I'm really sorry about that." Charlotte, unfazed, said, "It's better to speak out than to internalize troubles." Mileen lamented, "Why did I ever fall for my husband?" as past memories and frustrations surfaced. "Though it's not my place to judge your family matters, your husband's attitude does seem rather excessive," Charlotte said. A girl, cherished and protected by her family, should continue to be respected and not endure mistreatment from her partner, even after marriage and motherhood. Mileen's heart ached as she recalled these experiences. "I met him in college. Back then, he was incredibly attentive to me. I was someone with almost no life skills, and he took care of me. When we married, I thought he would take care of me forever. But soon after our marriage, he changed completely, neglecting everything." "That's quite a contrast. It must have been hard to accept," Charlotte said. Mileen continued, "You're telling me. Actually, I'm quite envious of you. I've heard that Mr. Allen treats you very well. Even the fact that you both took your children to school this morning is common knowledge in our villa community." There's a group chat in the villa community, full of women their age, constantly buzzing with gossip. So news like this, especially about a man as sought-after as Luke remaining so caring post-marriage, spreads fast. Having arrived later in the community, Charlotte was unaware of such a group. "How is that possible?" Charlotte was genuinely surprised. To her, these were just everyday occurrences, yet they became the talk of the town. Mileen promptly took out her phone and showed the group chat to Charlotte. Charlotte had assumed it was some kind of community group. Seeing the members and the chat content left her speechless. "Can you add me to it?" "Of course, you can join. But once you're in, they probably won't talk about you anymore." Charlotte was also keen on fostering a good relationship with Mileen. "That's alright. It's good to know what others are saying; consider it a way to lighten up my day." They exchanged phone numbers, and Mileen promptly added Charlotte to the group. Upon entering, Charlotte, who chose anonymity, couldn't see past messages. In such a large group, her addition went unnoticed. "Just like that, you've been added. If you don't want them to know who you are, simply don't change your name." Charlotte browsed the group briefly and found it quiet, probably due to dinner time. She soon set her phone aside. "Got it, thank you for today." Mileen said with a hint of guilt, "You're being too formal. I should be the one thanking you. I was quite forward in sharing so much with you today. I just really needed someone to talk to." Charlotte replied casually, "It's nothing. Besides, such matters are best understood among women." "Exactly, we can't expect much understanding from men." Initially, Mileen had thought Charlotte might be difficult to get along with, but after their conversation, she found Charlotte quite endearing. "Can I come to chat with you more often?" Feeling sympathy for her, Charlotte nodded readily. "Sure, I'm mostly free in the evenings. You can bring your kids too; they seem to enjoy playing together."