Chapter 1361 As a Woman, Be More Emotionally Intelligent
Michael was super bummed out and stewing, 'I just told her she was sexy. Aren't girls supposed to like that? Why's she gotta flip out? Women, man, they're impossible to figure out.'
So, Laura gave Michael the cold shoulder all afternoon. Not that she ever really paid him much attention anyway, so he was kinda used to it and didn't sweat it too much. But Rose, who'd moved in with Laura to help with Maeve, started to get the gist of their weird dynamic and sighed to herself.
After dinner, Rose brought a bowl of soup up to Laura. Once Laura finished the soup, Rose scoped out the room and then plopped down next to her. "You and Michael always crash in separate rooms?"
"Mom, you know how Michael and I got hitched." Laura frowned. "I was planning to ditch him after having the baby."
"Was that something you both agreed on, or was that just you?" Rose asked softly, giving her a look.
Laura suddenly paused and thought, ‘I said that, but did Michael ever say it himself? Doesn't seem like it.’
Rose sighed and said earnestly, "I used to think Michael was a jerk—neither considerate nor responsible. I was even pissed at him for causing your early labor. But after watching you two, I think it's not just Michael's fault; you gotta own up to some of it too."
"Me?" Laura felt shocked and uneasy. "Mom, you can't just think Michael's a good guy 'cause he's been decent these past few days."
"I'm not basing it on just these few days. I'm not that dumb," Rose cut her off. "When I see you with Michael, you're always giving him the stink eye and never say anything nice. Were you always like this before the baby?"
Laura was stunned and indifferent. "I don't like him at all. How do you expect me to be nice to him? Besides, he once made me get an abortion for another woman. He has terrible taste and likes women like Megan."
Rose shook her head. "And you used to like Benjamin. What did Benjamin think of you? You even ditched a good job after graduation for him, and in the end, he left you for some chick he grew up with. Benjamin called you petty and inconsiderate, and he even hit you."
"Mom, why do you keep bringing up the past?" Laura bit her lip. Those were her most humiliating memories, and it was embarrassing to even mention them.
Rose shook her head. "You think Michael has bad taste and look down on him for liking someone like Megan. But what about you? You wasted your best years on a jerk. What right do you have to look down on Michael? You're no different."
"Mom, whose side are you on? Did Michael bribe you or something?" Laura felt ashamed.
"I'm just laying out the facts. Do you think what I'm saying makes sense?" Rose asked.
"It makes sense," Laura had to admit.
Rose sighed. "Who hasn't met a few jerks in their youth? You can know someone forever and still not get them. So, let it go. And don't think you're so smart that you can look down on Michael."
"Mom, I don't look down on Michael. Why would I? I even envy his luck."
"You don't look down on Michael? Then why are you always so snarky when you talk to him?" Rose's eyes were sharp. "The day you gave birth, you said you had a fight with him. Sure, he was wrong for not being considerate while you were pregnant. But now that I think about it, you probably said something harsh that set him off."
"Mom, what do you mean?" Laura felt wronged. "I was so mad I went into premature labor, and you're still defending him."
"I'm just pointing out how you two interact."
Rose stroked her long hair. "Laura, I've been married for decades. It's normal to feel down and lose your temper during pregnancy or after giving birth. But we can't always look at others with a hostile attitude. Maybe Michael had many faults before, but he's the father of Maeve. Maeve will need his protection as she grow up. The older she get, the more effort it will take. You can't do it all alone; it's too hard. Even if you divorce in the future, he still has obligations to Maeve. Whether in the short term or long term, there's no need to treat him like an enemy. As a woman, you need to have emotional intelligence."
Rose looked at her helplessly. "If you that, as a Miller, you wouldn't have been pushed around by someone like Isla. You're my daughter; why didn't you pick up any of my emotional smarts? Look around Silverwood; which wealthy family is as warm and harmonious as ours?"
Laura glared. "Mom, that's because you were lucky to meet Dad. Dad is a good man."
"There are very few good men who are considerate, gentle, family-oriented, responsible, handsome, and make good money. But your dad rarely came home when he was young and had a bad temper. It was through mutual adjustment and change in our relationship that we got to where we are. If I had been as cold as you, I could have divorced a hundred times."
Laura rarely heard her parents talk about their younger days. Their marriage had always been something she aspired to.
"Laura, maybe your way of interacting with Michael was wrong from the start. You both had prejudices from the beginning. Whether you end up as friends or a couple, you can be more peaceful. Not just in marriage, but even at work, in business, or socializing, smart people keep their sharp edges hidden. You can be as sharp as you want inside, but there's no need to show it all the time." Rose pointed to her heart.
Laura's heart fluttered.
Rose was a smart woman. She always knew how to handle social situations, even in Silverwood. Laura had become so excellent under her guidance. Even now, in Whisperlyn City, facing people like Caroline and the First Lady, she handled it with ease.
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