When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 156

"By the way," Calvert added, "we're heading back in five days. Mrs. Nash has no idea, does she? You've kept it a perfect secret. When you show up, she'll probably jump for joy."

"With her personality," Yosef mused, "she won't jump, no matter how surprised she is."

Calvert chuckled. "Right, right. She is also remarkably composed."

...

The next day.

Henrietta couldn't believe it. First Jolie and Artina had their meltdowns, and now it was Matteo's turn. He also showed up at her office first thing in the morning, carrying an enormous bouquet of roses and a box of the gourmet crab buns she used to love.

Henrietta frowned, feeling a wave of irritation. "What is the meaning of this? Are you skipping work on set again? Should I mark you down as absent?"

Matteo walked up to her and knelt on one knee. "Henrietta, let's get back together. It's been over a month. There's no reason to keep fighting like this."

Henrietta was truly exasperated. "I've said it countless times. Do you not understand English?"

Matteo lowered his gaze. "I know you still have feelings for me, you're just being stubborn. But being apart for so long... I can't take it anymore. You can torture me all you want, as long as we're back together. I don't care what you do to me."

"I gave you all my money back, so I can't afford anything too extravagant. But you can use it to buy whatever you want. Everything I have should have been yours anyway."

"Henrietta, I'm begging you. If this goes on any longer, I'm going to go insane. I... I miss you so, so much."

Matteo looked up at Henrietta, his eyes welling up with tears as his voice broke.

"You have no idea. Since we broke up, I haven't had a single good night's sleep. Every second of every day, I'm thinking of you. It's too painful. I'm going to have a breakdown."

Not everything Matteo said was a lie. He did miss Henrietta, and he did remember their happy times together. He was even genuinely moved by everything she had done for him.

But... he was the type of person who wanted everything. He cherished Henrietta's good qualities but also resented her for her perceived faults. His conflict was born of pure greed; he wanted everything to be perfect, to go his way.

There could only be two reasons for this. One, he had an emotional breakdown, a fit of impulsive anger that made him say things he shouldn't. Or two, he had an ace up his sleeve. A trump card he'd never had before. And that made him bold.

Henrietta slowly raised an eyebrow. Artina? Could it be that Artina's fiancé was truly that powerful? Were they planning to play the same game again, mooching off a wealthy partner? If he couldn't get it from her, he could get it from Artina's side? Otherwise, where would Matteo get the courage to speak to her like that?

Henrietta remained perfectly calm. "Are you finished? If you're finished, then get out."

Matteo was indeed feeling bold. Henrietta's guess was spot on. It was because of Artina. Now that he had another path, he felt empowered. He had originally come to plead for a reconciliation, thinking he'd try a more forceful approach this time. But Henrietta hadn't softened at all; she looked as if there was nothing left to discuss. That had finally pushed him over the edge. Emboldened by his new safety net and provoked by her rejection, he had unleashed his tirade.

Matteo stared at her with hatred, feeling like he had just punched a cloud of cotton. He took a deep breath. "Fine. Four, five years of our lives, and this is what it comes to. You're really something else, Henrietta. So you were just playing with me from the very beginning! Well, I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want. Freeze my career, shelve me, I don't care!"

"Did you really think I had to beg you? Don't be so full of yourself. In the future, you'd better not come crying to me, begging me to take you back, begging me to marry you!"

With that final threat, Matteo turned and stormed out of the office.

Henrietta was stunned. The sheer audacity. It seemed Artina's fiancé was a big deal indeed, big enough to make Matteo this arrogant.