When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 113

Quinton fell silent, but he still didn't leave. He couldn't bring himself to. After a long pause, he finally said, "Okay. I understand."

Seeing that he was still lingering, Henrietta had to be more direct. "Quinton, I have the utmost respect for you."

She left the rest unsaid, allowing him to keep his dignity.

"I know," he nodded, finally pushing himself to his feet. "I'm going back to my room. You should get some rest, too."

"Alright," Henrietta said, also standing and picking up her phone. "I'll see you out."

Quinton's steps were heavy and slow, each one a mark of his defeat. As he reached the door, he realized there were so many things he still wanted to say to her, things he could talk about forever. But... it seemed he had lost the chance to say any of them. He stood frozen in the doorway.

Henrietta had to be the one to break the silence. "Goodnight, Quinton."

It was a clear dismissal.

He turned to look at her, his eyes still a deep red, churning with a storm of complex, suppressed emotions. Finally, he managed to say, "Congratulations on your marriage, Henrietta."

With that, his Adam's apple bobbed, his voice catching in a sob. He turned and walked away.

Henrietta frowned slightly as she closed the door. Seeing him like that left a complicated feeling in her heart. To her, Quinton had always been the strong, dependable older brother, capable and stoic. He was her rock. But tonight, he had been on the verge of collapse, holding himself together by a thread.

Taking a deep breath, she sat on her bed and looked at her phone. The man on the screen was impossibly handsome, but she didn't know what to say. Although there was no misunderstanding, the situation still felt awkward.

They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds before Henrietta spoke first. "I'm sorry, I didn't know—"

For the first time, Yosef cut her off. "You have nothing to apologize for. This isn't your fault."

Henrietta pressed her lips together.

"I'm not surprised," he added.

His comment left her at a loss for words, only deepening the awkwardness. Then she remembered her bruised wrist. She lifted her hand to examine it; it was already turning a bluish-purple. She was still trying to figure out how to explain using him as a cover story...

But Yosef spoke first. "It looks worse. Have you put anything on it?"

Suddenly, she remembered that Yosef had also heard her say she liked him very much. Had he gotten the wrong idea?

She wanted to clarify, but he hadn't asked about it or brought it up. If she deliberately explained that it wasn't a romantic kind of 'like', wouldn't that just make things even more awkward? Better to let it go. Not everything needed to be spelled out.

Just then, Yosef said, "By the way, if it works for you, how about moving into Elysium Manor in the next day or two?"

Henrietta thought it was an excellent suggestion. Now that Quinton had confessed his feelings, however indirectly, the dynamic between them had become incredibly delicate. She was grateful for everything he'd done for the Sargent family and respected him deeply. But they were still a man and a woman who had grown up together without being blood-related. A shift in their feelings made everything awkward and inappropriate.

Besides, she was married now. Moving out was the right thing to do. It would be easier on her, and surely on Quinton as well.

"Okay," Henrietta agreed.

"Good," Yosef said. "I'll arrange for someone to pick you up tomorrow or the day after. Just bring whatever you want to take with you. Luke, the butler, will take care of everything else."

"Okay," she murmured. She started to say "thank you" but remembered his rule about couples not needing such formalities. She changed her words. "You… you haven't eaten yet, have you? I must be holding you up. Your food will get cold."

Yosef waved it off. "It's no trouble. They can just bring a fresh meal. But what about you, Henrietta?"