When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 106

Joaquin froze, frowning. “What did you say?”

Yosef also turned to look at Henrietta. She met Joaquin’s gaze directly. “A woman who’s had an abortion is considered ‘unclean’ and lacking in self-respect? Are you living in the dark ages, Mr. Leland? It takes two people to create a child, so why is it always the woman’s problem?”

Joaquin’s jaw tightened. “So you’re saying it’s always the man’s fault?”

“I never said that,” Henrietta countered. “The only reason I turned you down, Mr. Leland, is because our values are incompatible. But as for your claims about premarital sex and abortion—even if they were true, so what?!”

Her voice rose on the last two words, her usual cool demeanor replaced by a sharp, confrontational edge. “I’m asking you, so what?! What does it represent? What does it decide? A woman’s worth? Her virtue? Her honor? Is that how little you think of women, Mr. Leland?!”

Joaquin was speechless.

“I was with Matteo for years,” she continued, her voice ringing with conviction. “Even if those things happened, what of it? Does that mean I have to hide my face in shame for the rest of my life? Does it make me inferior?!”

Joaquin’s chest heaved with suppressed anger, but he had no rebuttal.

“That’s not entirely what I meant,” he finally managed to say.

“And besides,” Henrietta concluded, “it has absolutely nothing to do with you.”

Defeated, Joaquin could only nod. “Fine.”

That should have been the end of it, but he didn't leave. Instead, he turned his gaze to Yosef. “She’s admitted it. And you still…?”

He trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.

“Mr. Nash, I’m going inside now,” Henrietta said.

Yosef nodded. “I’ll walk you.”

She hesitated. “No, don’t. I don’t want to waste any more of your valuable time.”

He didn't insist. “Okay.”

Henrietta gave him a small nod. He really was a decent man. For someone of his stature, someone even Joaquin feared, he had shown her nothing but respect and had never tried to force her into anything. She looked at him for a second longer, pressed her lips together, and turned to leave. She had only taken a single step when he called her name.

“Henrietta.”