Chapter 91 Awakening to Reality

In contemplation, Mileen let out a bitter laugh, realizing that such an end was perhaps what she deserved. It dawned on her how pitiful her life had been for the past three decades. Her mind wandered to the past, feeling there was nothing she could not share with them, "When we first married, he was kind to me. But when my family faced troubles and debts piled up, we almost split up. If I hadn't been pregnant, we probably would have divorced a long time ago." "Then there's even less reason to stay in this relationship. Even if you don't mention divorce, he probably will," Charlotte said, sounding empathetic and reasonable. "It might be better to move on than to keep living like this." Sofia chimed in, agreeing with Charlotte, "Charlotte's right. You're still young. There's no need to waste your life on a person like him." Their words of encouragement infused Mileen with newfound confidence. Mileen's face, gaunt and worn from long days of childcare and recent troubles, aged her beyond her years. But these were minor concerns, easily remedied with proper care in the days to come. Her eyes were reddened with tears, reflecting her despair at being cast out of her home. Without Charlotte's intervention, she would have remained lost. Mileen grew restless, realizing that without Charlotte and Sofia's timely intervention, she might still be contemplating reconciliation with her husband. "You're right," she declared with a newfound resolve. "I'm going to propose a divorce to him right now." Exchanging a glance, Charlotte and Sofia said in unison, "We'll accompany you." Mileen, still harboring concerns that they might face hostility at her home, hesitated, "I should go alone. I'm worried..." "There's nothing to worry about. You all wait here for a moment," Charlotte reassured her before heading to the backyard to summon the two men. When she reached the backyard, Charlotte found them sitting in the gazebo, leisurely enjoying their coffee. She said, "We just finished talking, and Mileen has decided to divorce her husband. But we're worried about her going home alone. Can you both come with us for support?" Luke, showing no objections, stood up immediately, "Let's go then." Caelan, having overheard Mileen's tearful account, felt her husband had greatly shamed their gender. He, too, decided to accompany them, curious to meet the man capable of such dishonorable behavior. "Do we need to bring anything?" Caelan asked, concerned that the situation might escalate into a physical altercation at their home. Charlotte pondered briefly but decided against it. This was about supporting Mileen; they would be in the right, even if the other party initiated any conflict. "We don't need to bring anything; we'll just go as we are. But once we get there, I need to have a good reason for us being there," Charlotte said. Luke instantly grasped her idea, "That's easy. Just tell them you're Mileen's cousin." Charlotte admired her husband's intelligence, always finding the most apt solutions in such situations. "Since we're going, I'll pretend to be your cousin who's upset about how your husband's family is treating you. I'll say I've come to help you out," Charlotte suggested to Mileen, looking for her approval. Mileen nodded without hesitation, "No problem." Since she was a year younger than Charlotte, posing as cousins seemed plausible. Once prepared, they set off toward the neighboring villa with a sense of determined solidarity. Knowing the way, Mileen led them to her home, or rather, her former marital home. Inside, Pierce Kemmler, Mileen's husband, assured his parents with confidence, "Don't worry. Where can she go by herself? She'll be back soon enough, asking for my forgiveness." Although Mileen was not particularly favored by her in-laws, they still hoped she would return, if only to avoid a scandal. "Isn't this just married life? Everyone argues; it's not a big deal. But she made a drama out of it and left with Emily!" Pierce's mother, Laura Jordison, remarked with a mix of disdain and concern in her tone. "We're just worried she might mistreat the child. What if something happens to my granddaughter, especially this late?" Hearing them, Mileen sneered, 'Now they remember Emily is their granddaughter. Where were they all this time?' Charlotte and Sofia, listening from the yard, clenched their fists in anger. They found the vile nature of this family as reprehensible as Frank's. Mileen strode forward and opened the door. The group followed closely behind her, eager to see how the family would react to her return. Laura stood up immediately upon seeing Mileen. She moved forward, ready to scold, "So, you decided to come back? Running off in the middle of the night – what if something had happened? Not just to you, but to my granddaughter?" Mileen scoffed, her voice laced with a mix of sarcasm and hurt, "Granddaughter? You've only ever cared about Titus. When have you ever cared for Emily? Isn't it ridiculous to say that now?" Laura stared at Mileen in disbelief. She was accustomed to Mileen being docile and timid around her, but today she seemed transformed. Frowning deeply, Laura's displeasure was evident, "How dare you speak to me like that?" "Why shouldn't I? If you all can say harsh things to me, why can't I defend myself?" Enraged by Mileen's defiance, Laura retorted, "You're from a family that's lost its status. I've been lenient by not urging my son to divorce you. I would've kicked you out long ago if it weren't for the kids you gave this family. But since you're back, we'll let it slide this time." Equally infuriated, Pierce stood up, intending to slap Mileen. But he was immediately stopped by Luke. "As a man, you should be ashamed of hitting your own wife," Luke said firmly, pushing Pierce's hand away. Pierce, already agitated by Mileen leaving with Emily, now faced unwanted interference in his family matters. He said, "And who are you to meddle? I don't need an outsider dictating how I treat my wife." His words were thick with anger and disdain.