When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 1

“You’re getting engaged to Henrietta Sargent tomorrow, and you’re telling me you love me? Do you even believe that yourself?”

The woman’s voice was syrupy sweet, laced with a practiced pout.

“It’s just an engagement,” the man said dismissively. “I need her right now. Don’t start throwing a tantrum at a time like this.”

“I know. But…” The woman’s voice filled with worry. “You’re not actually going to marry her, are you?”

“Who would want to marry her?” he scoffed in disgust. “She barely says a few words a day, all cold and arrogant, acting like everyone owes her a million dollars. I’m sick of her condescending attitude, like she’s doing me a favor just by existing. We’ve been dating for years, and she won’t even let me touch her. Who is she trying to impress with that saintly, holier-than-thou act?”

“But what if her family pressures you to get married right after the engagement? You’re an A-list, award-winning actor worth a fortune! She’s just an executive assistant to a CEO. She’s marrying up, big time. You think her family would let a catch like you get away?” the woman pressed, her tone sharp with discontent.

He snorted. “Then I’ll get a fake marriage certificate to shut them up. Once my contract with the studio is up, we can leave this all behind.”

“Okay.” The woman’s mood brightened instantly. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. “Matteo, you’re the best!”

After a passionate embrace, she said proudly, “You know, you don’t have to wait to break the contract. I could just talk to my father…”

But she never expected this. Her rare display of passion had turned her into a pathetic clown. All his tenderness and affection had been a carefully constructed facade. While he was criticizing her for being old-fashioned, he was in bed with another woman.

She recognized the woman’s voice, too. It belonged to Artina Harmon, a fresh-faced, twenty-year-old actress recently signed by the studio.

With her pixie-like charm, she was the perfect fit for a rom-com lead, and the company was putting all its weight behind her. They had been generous with her resources. Her debut was the lead in a historical romance series to get her name out there. For her second project, she was cast in a supporting role in Matteo’s latest film. In the movie, she played a quirky, adorable, and headstrong character who was utterly devoted to the male lead, eventually dying for him. The role had earned her a decent following and a number of fans who shipped her with Matteo.

Now, they were co-starring again in a major contemporary romance, which had generated significant buzz from both excited and disgruntled fans.