When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 118

He still had feelings for her. After all, they had been together for years, and she had been his goddess, investing so much time, money, and emotion in him.

But he also hated her. If she hadn't hidden her identity, he never would have betrayed her. If she had been more submissive and worshipful, if she had let him have her sooner, they never would have reached this point. He hated her, blamed her, resented her—and yet, he still wanted her. He couldn't let her go.

It was a complicated, toxic mess.

...

After Matteo left, Henrietta scoffed. Beg her to get back together? He could dream on. The sight of him disgusted her. If it weren't for her plan to build him up just to watch him fall, she would never want to see his face again.

Henrietta opened her desk drawer, took out the bank card, and called Winona into her office.

"This is Matteo's card," Henrietta said, handing it to her. "Transfer all the money from his account to mine. The PIN is my birthday."

Winona raised an eyebrow. "How did you manage that?"

"He offered it on a silver platter," Henrietta replied. "He was trying to win me back. It was predictable."

Winona took the card with a smile. "That idiot is being played for a fool, and he still thinks he's something special. But now that he's given you all his money, how is he going to pay the breach of contract fees when his reputation is destroyed?"

A cold smile played on Henrietta's lips. "This won't be nearly enough to cover it. When all is said and done, the damages will be upwards of a billion dollars. How will he pay that? He'll rot in prison for the rest of his life."

Winona gave her a thumbs-up. "That's our Henrietta. Always playing the long game. Anyone else would have lost their cool and exposed him right away."

Henrietta's plan was to elevate Matteo to the pinnacle of international stardom, showered with endorsements from major brands. When his scandal finally broke, he would lose everything—his fans, his career, and every single endorsement. The penalties for breach of contract would far exceed the fees he was paid.

If Henrietta had exposed him at the birthday party, he wouldn't have had enough endorsements to be ruined so completely. By lifting him higher, she ensured his fall would be all the more devastating. This strategy wasn't just about destroying a career; it was about destroying a soul.

"Watching him perform like a clown has been quite entertaining," Henrietta said. "Go ahead."

"On it," Winona nodded.

Later that day, Henrietta and Winona treated Charlotte to a celebratory feast. With all of Matteo's money now in her account, it was certainly a cause for celebration. They indulged in a lavish seafood spread.

"How is the revised script going?" Henrietta asked Charlotte.

Henrietta nodded and walked toward her desk, with Winona taking a seat in the lounge area. She sat down and fixed Joaquin with an icy glare, done with being polite. "Are you completely out of your mind? After everything that happened, what are you doing here again? And what's with the flowers? Take them with you and get out. I don't want them."

"The flowers are an apology," Joaquin said, his tone surprisingly calm, devoid of its usual arrogance. "I was angry yesterday, and I said some hurtful things. Afterward, I felt terrible about it. I was filled with regret and guilt."

His change in demeanor caught Henrietta off guard, but she maintained her cold expression.

"So I came today to apologize personally," he continued. "I hope you won't hold it against me. But beyond the apology, I wanted you to know that I only said those things because I was so jealous that a low-life like him could have you."

Henrietta frowned at his words. Before she could speak, Joaquin added, "So I was angry, but I don't care about your past."

"You don't care?"

"That's right," Joaquin confirmed. "I don't care about your history. I accept it, because it's you."

Henrietta’s frown deepened into a confused scowl. Just as she was about to respond, her phone chimed with a notification.