When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 274

Their bodies were even colder. Their hearts had long since frozen into solid blocks of ice. Some displays of superiority are quiet, unintentional, even appearing as mundane daily acts. Yet, in the hearts of certain people, they land like sharp daggers, piercing them a thousand times over, leaving wounds that bleed endlessly. But this was what they deserved. This was what it looked like to be dealt a winning hand, only to have your own greed, selfishness, and malice ruin it completely. Yosef checked the time, put away his phone, and took Henrietta’s hand, enclosing it in his own. 'Henrietta, shall we go home?' It was cold outside. Artina and Matteo still had more scenes to film, more 'suffering' to endure. But Yosef and Henrietta didn't need to. They could go home now, to the warmth of their house and each other—the most simple, warm happiness of everyday life. 'Okay,' Henrietta said, straightening up. 'Let's go.' No extra words, no deliberately ostentatious displays, just a calm, composed demeanor that was coolly unflappable. Looking into her stunningly beautiful eyes, Yosef reached out with his long, slender fingers and gently pulled down the scarf covering half her face. He leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to her equally warm, soft lips. Only then did Yosef stand up, extending a hand to her. 'Let's go.' Nearby, Charlotte was practically squealing with delight at the sweetness of it all. Henrietta placed her hand in Yosef’s and stood up. 'Mm-hmm.' As they began to walk, Calvert, who was also beside himself with glee, quickly followed. 'I'll walk you two out,' Charlotte chimed in, having recovered her senses. Once Charlotte was gone, the crew visibly relaxed. But Artina and Matteo couldn't help but watch the couple's departing figures, their emotions a tangled mess. They wanted to scream, to roar with rage, to demand of the heavens: Why? Why had things turned out this way? Why had *they* ended up like this? But all the anger, bitterness, confusion, and overwhelming hatred dissolved into a profound sense of powerlessness. It was a powerlessness that could swallow a person's soul.It was the soul-crushing realization of a life wasted—the kind of despair that hits when you realize you’ve traded your crown for nothing. It was the raw terror of a child abandoned in the dark, realizing that no matter how loud they cried, no one was coming to save them. It was the jagged, hollow ache of screaming into a storm that didn't even notice your existence—a rage that burned through the soul but left the world completely unchanged. It wasn't until a crew member prompted them, 'the hot tea is getting cold. Mr. Coleman, Ms. Harmon, you should drink it.' 'Finish it and go get your hair dried. Makeup artists, get ready for touch-ups. Wardrobe, costumes, get the next look ready! What's the next scene?' Drinking the now-lukewarm tea, Artina and Matteo felt a fresh wave of bitter resentment wash over them. They were still here, freezing and suffering, with another scene to shoot. Meanwhile, Yosef and Henrietta were leaving hand-in-hand, blissfully in love. They were going home to a warm house, to cuddle up together, to spend their days in luxury, with wealth that spanned generations. To have ninety-nine percent of the population bow down to them. On what basis? And why? Soon, the crew members began to gossip. 'Ms. Sargent is so incredibly lucky. Not only is she a billionaire heiress herself, but she married the head of Y-N Group! That's the world's number one conglomerate, unbelievably powerful!' 'And the key thing is, he treats her so well!' 'I know, right? It's unreal. Ms. Sargent is the woman who has it all, like a novel heroine come to life!' 'I just heard Ms. Sargent telling Ms. Tatum that the coffee was... made in Yosef's private kitchen. Freshly air-freighted coffee beans, prepared by a world-class barista, and the liquid gold was infused with real, edible gold leaf.' 'That coffee was seriously amazing. I've never had anything so rich and smooth. And the biscuits were incredible too!' 'The joys of the rich are truly beyond our imagination.' These discussions made Artina feel like she was about to explode. That kind of luxury had once been within her grasp. If she were still with Jethro, would she not have enjoyed the same? Even if Yosef used only the best of everything in the world, as his future sister-in-law, she would have been entitled to it all. She would have enjoyed the exact same perks as Henrietta. But now... Artina lowered her gaze to her own pathetic state. The towel wrapped around her for warmth was nearly soaked through. Henrietta was cherished, respected, discussed, praised, and envied—a perfect, crushing contrast to her own situation. And yet... just two months ago, she and Matteo had been gleefully plotting against Henrietta. She had been enjoying the money and affection from Matteo, and then the money and glory from Jethro. Why, in just two short months, had she fallen so far? Everything should have been hers! Shouldn't the one to be brought down, the one to be unlucky, have been that vicious old woman Henrietta? How had Henrietta managed to stage such a stunning comeback, vaulting into the position of the Nash family’s leading lady, cherished by a man like Yosef? Hearing the crew continue to praise and envy Henrietta, Artina couldn't hold back any longer. 'Ms. Sargent just has a good family background, that's all!' she muttered. She didn't dare say more, confining her curses to her own thoughts. But as soon as she spoke, a crew member countered, 'Ms. Harmon, you can't really say that. Yes, Ms. Sargent has a good family, but her character is plain for all to see. For a man like Yosef—so powerful, so sharp—a person's character and personality would have to be exceptional. A good family background wouldn't be enough.' The retort left Artina speechless. Once they were in the car, Yosef said, 'Henrietta, that acting work is really difficult. Have you considered giving it up?'