When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 272

Henrietta arched an eyebrow. 'It's because she has nowhere else to go. Her only option now is to behave and finish the movie. She's just waiting for this storm to pass so I can continue grooming her for international stardom.' Charlotte stroked her chin. 'Well, she certainly is backed into a corner. The bitch knows what's good for her, I'll give her that. At this rate, she won't dare cause any more trouble. By the way, was it Jethro who hit her? She took the morning off to see him, right?' 'No,' Henrietta said. 'My mother-in-law did.' 'What?!' Charlotte's eyes widened. 'Your... your mother-in-law knows?' 'Yes. Artina went to her personally, told her everything, and hoped to get her sympathy and support.' Charlotte was speechless for a good ten seconds. 'God, she's a special kind of stupid, isn't she? Truly, some people are invincible in their shamelessness.' With Artina no longer causing trouble, it was the best possible outcome. It was a relief not to have her constantly scheming and having to look at that smug face of hers. Things would be much quieter now. By the afternoon, the swelling on Artina's face had subsided enough that with some makeup and clever lighting, she was able to continue filming. Once she stopped her antics, the production schedule actually started moving along much more smoothly. Back at Elysium Manor, the kitchen staff was busy preparing coffee. Henrietta wanted to treat the entire film crew, and Yosef had simply ordered their private kitchen to handle it. This, of course, was a gesture of a higher caliber. Coffee from the Elysium Manor kitchen was far more exquisite than anything they could buy outside. The reason Henrietta wanted to send coffee was simple: she was happy. They had just dealt a crushing blow to both Matteo Coleman and Artina. Matteo was now without his villa and his money, forced to move in with his parents in the three-bedroom apartment he’d bought for them years ago. After living in a sprawling luxury mansion with indoor and outdoor pools, how could he possibly feel comfortable such a cramped, mundane space? He probably couldn't even sleep at night. The mattress in the master bedroom of that villa alone was worth over three hundred thousand dollars—something Matteo could no longer afford and would never sleep on again. It was a sweet, sweet victory. As for Artina, she had lost a billionaire fiancé. Her regret must be so profound it was eating her alive. Seeing them both miserable was, of course, a great pleasure for Henrietta. A pleasure she was more than willing to 'show off.' After dinner, Calvert was preparing to have the coffee sent over when Yosef made a suggestion. 'Henrietta, why don't we take a drive over? I've never been to a film set. I'm curious… what's it like?' Henrietta slowly raised an eyebrow, understanding his intent. He was doing this for her. If they were going to rub it in, they might as well do it thoroughly. 'Alright,' Henrietta nodded. And so, the couple set off with a car full of coffee. Henrietta had called Charlotte in advance, so when they arrived, the entire crew was waiting. This was a major production with a significant budget, and the number of staff reflected that. There were fifty or sixty people on set at the moment, and with the day's extras, the total count was over a hundred. Yosef had arrived with a full convoy of cars, an imposing sight as they rolled onto the location. The crew was buzzing with excitement. Most people might see a motorcade like this on the street, but they only ever saw it pass by. To be standing here, waiting for the occupants to emerge, was an experience most would never have in their lifetime. Thirty or forty elite bodyguards formed two lines, creating a path as Calvert opened the car door for the couple. The sheer spectacle made the crew's eyes shine. Holding hands, they walked forward. Charlotte stepped up, laughing heartily. 'Welcome, Ms. Sargent, Mr. Nash!' The crew echoed her welcome. The faces of Matteo and Artina, however, turned pale and grim. The coffee was distributed to the crew, accompanied by delicate biscuits. Though simple, the quality was clearly exceptional. 'This is delicious!' someone exclaimed after a sip. 'This coffee is amazing!' Artina and Matteo were also given a cup, and their expressions grew even more sour. They watched as Henrietta and Yosef stood in the center of the crowd, showered with compliments and envious glances. Artina truly had to fight the urge to smash her coffee cup. But now, she had no choice but to endure it. She knew Henrietta had chosen this exact moment to appear. It was deliberate. It was to make her regret, to show her exactly what she had lost. And it was true. If she were still with Jethro, this kind of honor and display would have been hers for the asking. What she had lost was a life of unimaginable wealth and the glory of being on top. After the crew's fawning died down, Charlotte announced, 'Everyone take a break. We'll resume shooting in twenty minutes.' Then she turned to Henrietta and Yosef. 'Let me give you two a tour?' This would satisfy Yosef's 'curiosity' about the set. Twenty minutes later, filming resumed. As luck would have it, the scene was a passionate one between Matteo and Artina. Charlotte whispered, 'You two want to watch before you go?' Henrietta pursed her lips and looked at Yosef. 'Let's watch,' he said. For them to watch would be the ultimate humiliation for Matteo and Artina. There they were, sitting next to the director, while Matteo and Artina had to perform opposite them. The chasm between their positions was suddenly, painfully clear.