When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 159

She had been soaking in the pool for so long that her fingers were pruned and wrinkled. On top of that, she had to act, to struggle, and she had choked and swallowed water several times.

But the director, Charlotte, refused to call it a wrap. She just kept shooting, endlessly adjusting angles and details. When she was giving notes to the other actress, she wouldn't even let Artina get out of the water, telling her to stay in and "find the feeling"—the feeling of near-death, of being forced to beg her enemy for salvation.

Artina was furious and couldn't take it anymore. She started to climb out of the pool. But Charlotte, who was in the middle of talking to the other actress, spotted her immediately. She pointed a finger at her. "What are you doing? Who said you could get out? Get back in there and stay there until you find the right emotion and we get this shot!"

Artina's anger boiled over. "Charlotte, you're doing this on purpose! You're deliberately trying to torture me, aren't you?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Who's torturing you? It's your own fault for being a hack. Your skills aren't good enough to give me the performance I need."

"You!" Artina seethed, tears of frustration welling in her eyes. "You are doing this on purpose!"

Even her tears didn't move Charlotte, who refused to give her an inch. "Think whatever you want. But if you can't deliver the performance I'm looking for, then we'll take our time. I've got all day."

Thoroughly provoked, Artina pointed at Charlotte. "You just wait! Don't think you're so special. I'm going to have someone deal with you!"

Charlotte just laughed, completely unfazed. "Blaming others for your own lack of talent. Fine, go ahead. Make your calls. I'll be waiting."

With that, she turned her back on Artina and went back to coaching the other actress.

A few moments later, someone shouted, "Ms. Harmon fainted! Help, we need help!"

Charlotte remained calm. "Get her out of the water. Take her to the hospital."

Because of all this, Matteo had called several times without getting an answer. It was only when Artina's assistant finally picked up that he learned what had happened on set.

After hanging up, Matteo's face was dark with fury, his head spinning. Charlotte was on Henrietta's side. This was clearly her way of helping Henrietta punish Artina. Perhaps they knew Artina had secured a marriage into a more powerful family and couldn't stand it, so they were deliberately making her life miserable.

It was just as Henrietta had said. Their roots in Juno City ran too deep. They were born and raised here, scions of top-tier families, leagues above a borderline-wealthy family like the Harmons. That was why they were so arrogant, so brazenly cruel. Even if Artina married into a more powerful family, they... they didn't seem to care at all.

It was maddening! But there was nothing Matteo could do right now. He felt his own position was becoming more and more precarious. Now she'd stirred up a hornet's nest. He was still angry at her, even though she was in the hospital. She had been too arrogant, and her arrogance had infected him, and now... he had no idea what consequences they would face.

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