When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 238

"You... you haven't formally met my parents to announce this yet," Artina texted back. "It would feel a little strange for you to just show up for a casual dinner... I mean, I don't mind, but my parents think we need to do this properly."

It was a plausible excuse. Jethro had, in fact, alreadybought some expensive gifts for his formal introduction to her parents. Seeing her message, he replied, *Alright. I understand. We'll talk after I officially come over tomorrow.*

After sending the message, Jethro turned off his phone. Henrietta didn't ask any questions. Instead, she took out her own phone and sent a quick text. The reply came almost instantly: *She's back at the villa.*

Henrietta put her phone away.

When their convoy arrived at Matteo's villa, the Coleman family was in the middle of dinner. Henrietta told Yosef and Jethro to wait in the car while she, Charlotte, Winona, and her lawyer went inside. Their arrival left the Coleman family stunned.

Matteo was the first to react, quickly putting down his fork and standing up. "Henrietta!"

Henrietta took a step back, her gaze landing on a pale and shocked Artina. "Ms. Harmon, what are you doing here?"

Artina looked as if she'd seen a ghost.

It was only then that Matteo realized the implications. "Oh, uh, I left my phone on set earlier," he stammered. "Ms. Harmon was kind enough to bring it to me, and since we were having dinner, we invited her to join us."

It was a seamless excuse. Artina quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, that's right. I'm sorry..." She stood up. "I should... I should be going."

Henrietta said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin line. Artina, overcome with guilt and panic, didn't say another word and rushed toward the door. Pamela made a half-hearted attempt to stop her. "Why don't you finish eating? It's just dinner."

"No, thank you," Artina mumbled, walking even faster.

Henrietta turned and followed her.

Matteo froze, then his own legs felt weak with fear. He scrambled to follow them. "Henrietta, did you need to see me about something? Why are you leaving?"

Henrietta ignored him.

Artina practically flew out of the villa, only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw the cars parked outside. The occupants of the car were just as stunned.

Jethro's brow furrowed. Yosef remarked dryly, "Your girlfriend... what is she doing at Henrietta's ex-boyfriend's house?"

Jethro immediately threw open the car door. When Artina saw him get out, she froze like a deer in headlights, completely petrified. Jethro's handsome face was a mask of thunderous rage. He strode toward her in a few large steps. "What... are you doing here? You just texted me and said you were at your parents' house."

By then, Henrietta and her group had caught up, with Matteo trailing nervously behind them.

Matteo, standing nearby, felt his knees buckle. A fake certificate... That was the plan he and Artina had originally cooked up to use against Henrietta. And now...

Artina's eyes were wide with disbelief. "What are you talking about? Why would you do that? Jethro, what's going on? You tricked me? You got me a fake certificate?"

Jethro was just as surprised, looking at Yosef, then back at Artina. "I didn't know. But your explanation is weak. You're the one who lied to me."

"No!" Artina denied it vehemently. "I didn't lie to you! I really just came to say goodbye, to say goodbye to someone I used to have feelings for. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would misunderstand!"

Her explanation, as flimsy as it was, had a sliver of plausibility. Jethro's brow slowly furrowed.

"But you were still lying to me in your text messages just now."

"I had to lie so you wouldn't get the wrong idea!" she cried.

Just then, Henrietta spoke up. "Jethro was willing to fall out with his entire family for you, to marry you. He got a marriage certificate with you—whether it's real or fake is beside the point, since neither of you knew it was fake. Under those circumstances, what was there to say goodbye to? Was a simple past crush really that important? And why would you marry him in the first place? Once you're married, saying 'goodbye' is even more inappropriate, isn't it?"

Jethro looked at Henrietta, and understanding began to dawn. Henrietta must have known about this all along. It wasn't as simple as Artina had made it sound—a casual admiration, a joke about pursuing him.