When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 281

He still remembered his first night at the Sargent family's home. He missed his parents so much he couldn't sleep, crying silently by himself. Five-year-old Henrietta had brought him milk and cake. Her soft, chubby little hands wiped away his tears as she told him in her sweet, childish voice, "Don't cry, big brother. My mommy and daddy are your mommy and daddy now. They'll love you just like your parents did. If you feel sad, just eat some cake. Something sweet always helps dull the pain." After she said that, she held the plate up and carefully fed him a piece of cake. She even gently wiped the cream from his lips and asked, "Do you like it, Quinton? Is the cake sweet enough?" This memory was etched into his soul. No one knew how deeply that moment had shaken him. The Sargent family had shown him immense kindness, giving him parents, love, a home, and a sister. Otherwise, whether he lived with his father's family or his mother's, he would have been an orphan, despite never lacking for money—an orphan without a father's steady hand or a mother's warm embrace. He knew that beneath Henrietta's cool and distant exterior was a warm and passionate heart. Earlier, when they were in the living room talking about how sweet the oranges were, no one knew the agony tearing through him. He didn't know if Henrietta even remembered… that she had once asked him the very same question… "Is it sweet?" He had been so young then, choked with sobs, that he couldn't speak. Henrietta just kept feeding him the sweet cake until, through his tears, he finally managed to say, "It's sweet. So sweet." But Henrietta… she didn't remember any of it, did she? All these years, he had been shouting into the void, loving someone who didn't even see him, and even now, he was still all alone, walking down a dark, endless road with no hope in sight. Like a pathetic wretch. And yet… no one cared. Tears streamed down Quinton's face, but then he laughed, and then he cried again. It was the same topic of something being "sweet." After saying it, Yosef could kiss her and possess her without a second thought. And him? What could he do besides cry? He wasn't her biological brother; he was just a man who loved her deeply. So, technically, he should have had the right to kiss her, too. But her kiss… was it a dream he would never, ever reach in this lifetime? Quinton's eyes were bloodshot. A maid hurried over. "Mr. Sargent, lunch is ready. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent are asking you to join them." Quinton managed to pull himself from the brink of his breakdown, his voice still thick with unshed tears. "Okay, I'm coming." The maid noticed his tone but didn't dare ask any questions and quickly retreated. It took Quinton several minutes to compose himself. He stood up and walked toward the main hall. The man who had been so bent with grief forced himself to straighten his spine the moment he stepped inside. When Quinton reached the dining room, he walked in quickly, saying, "Sorry, I was held up by a phone call." "Don't be so formal, we're family," Hector said. "Come, sit down." Sabrina was also smiling warmly. Unaware of Quinton's turmoil, they both adored their adopted son and truly treated him as their own. Quinton's character and temperament were, after all, beyond reproach. Once Quinton was seated, the meal began. It was, without a doubt, a warm and pleasant lunch. Hector was a great conversationalist, and Sabrina was attentive. The family ate and laughed together, creating a lively and harmonious atmosphere that was a world away from the tense dinner back at the Nash estate. They ate, drank, and chatted for a full hour before the meal began to wind down. Hector was encouraging Yosef to drink with him, and Yosef, ever the dutiful son-in-law, had quite a few glasses. As the eldest son of the Sargent family, Quinton naturally had to join in. He had his emotions firmly in check, showing no hint of his inner turmoil. He was composed and self-restrained, speaking only when appropriate and never bringing up the matter of his stalled project. After a fair amount of wine, he toasted Yosef several times. Yosef, for his part, betrayed no emotion at all, acting perfectly natural, as if he were completely oblivious to Quinton's feelings. It was a duel of masters, each more skilled at hiding their true intentions than the last. As the meal concluded, Quinton set down his wine glass and turned to Sabrina. "Mother, I'm also ready for an arranged marriage. If you find any suitable candidates, I'd appreciate it if you could help me vet them." His words surprised both Sabrina and Hector, but their surprise quickly turned to delight. Yosef and Henrietta remained impassive, listening without a flicker of emotion. "Oh, that's wonderful!" Sabrina said happily. "You've finally come around? I brought it up before, but you weren't interested. What changed? Did seeing how happy your sister and brother-in-law are make you want to settle down too?" A lump formed in Quinton's throat, but he managed to nod. "Yes." Since the game was already lost, perhaps his marriage would put Henrietta's mind at ease. "Excellent, excellent," Sabrina said eagerly. "As long as you're willing, I'll start looking for you. Do you have any requirements?" "No requirements," Quinton replied. "As long as she's suitable." Sabrina blinked. That was a difficult requirement to fulfill, but she said, "Alright. I'll start by looking at women of a suitable age and background." Quinton nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, Mother." "It's no trouble at all! This is great news," Sabrina said. "Great news!" Hector boomed. "Come on, let's have a few more drinks!" Through all of this, Henrietta sat quietly, an observer who offered no comment. Etiquette dictated that she should say a few words of congratulations, but she remained silent, only a faint smile playing on her lips.