When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 284

Some things were meant to stay unspoken for a lifetime. If you chose to say them, you had to be prepared for the consequences. It was clear Quinton hadn't been. Henrietta pressed her lips together. "I just want you to learn," Yosef continued, "that when others don't consider you, you don't have to consider them. You can leave a way out, but you don't need to worry about his feelings." Henrietta looked at him, her beautiful eyes wide with emotion. She saw him not just as a husband, but as a wise mentor, an excellent guide. "Okay, I understand!" Henrietta nodded earnestly. For some reason, Yosef finally felt a sense of relief. He wasn't a man of many words, and he couldn't quite figure out why he'd been so talkative about this particular issue. After a moment's thought, he added coolly, "From now on, go home whenever you want. You don't need to tiptoe around anyone. It's your home." "Okay," Henrietta nodded again, as obedient as a schoolgirl. She was just so well-behaved. Yosef's throat bobbed, his deep eyes fixed on her. "And one more thing. You are not to think he's a good person, and you are certainly not to say it." Henrietta froze, her eyebrows slowly arching. For some reason, her heart began to beat faster. So the real reason he was angry was… because she had said Quinton was a good person? Was that… it? While she was still puzzling it out, the man suddenly leaned in, enveloping her in the lingering scent of wine. His soft, sweet-tasting lips claimed hers, gently prying them apart and invading. "In short," he whispered, "you're not allowed to think anyone else is good." His kiss muffled any response she might have had. It was more ferocious than any kiss they had shared before. He had never been like this. They had never discussed their feelings—no talk of 'like' or 'love,' no mention of attraction or whether their hearts had been moved. Yet, their physical life was that of a normal married couple. From the moment he returned to the country to their first time together, he had said he would wait for her to accept him, but he hadn't given her much time. So, while they had done everything a couple could do, and he was quite demanding, he had always maintained a certain degree of self-restraint. But now… it seemed he had lost control. He had lost control and wanted her… right here. Henrietta had never experienced anything like this, had never even dared to imagine it. She pushed against him frantically. "Mr. Nash, don't… we're still…" Before she could finish, the man pinned her hands, his voice a low, commanding growl. "Henrietta, there's nowhere for you to run in here." Henrietta's mind went blank. His words were a clear double entendre. The next day. Despite the hollow, lingering ache from the procedure she’d undergone just a day ago, Artina didn’t dare miss a single minute of filming. For the past two days, she had been surprisingly dedicated on set. It was proof that when a person hit rock bottom, they had to grit their teeth and endure, even if they felt they couldn't. During a break, she received a call from her mother. Artina answered, and Mrs. Harmon's panicked voice came through the line. "Artina, something terrible has happened to the family!" Artina froze. "What's wrong?" As her mother tearfully explained, Artina was left in stunned silence. In just two short days, the Harmon family's company was on the verge of bankruptcy. For reasons unknown, several companies had simultaneously moved against them, snatching away their projects. Companies that had already agreed to partner with them suddenly backed out, causing a massive surplus of Harmon Company products. Their cash flow was broken, leaving a deficit of hundreds of millions and bringing operations to a screeching halt. While Artina was still reeling from the shock, Mrs. Harmon cried, "You, you have to talk to Jethro Nash! If the Nash family steps in, they can definitely fix this." This put Artina in a difficult position. She didn't say anything, not daring to admit she and Jethro had broken up. But Mrs. Harmon suddenly stopped crying. "Wait, yes, what are your father and I so worried about? You're the Nash family's daughter-in-law! Does no one in the business world know this? How dare any company make a move against our family?" A splitting headache shot through Artina. She forced the words out. "Mom… Jethro and I… we broke up." "What?" The shock was so great that Mrs. Harmon collapsed. A moment later, she wailed, "It's over. It's all over." Then, Artina heard a maid shouting in the background, "Ma'am! Ma'am! Call an ambulance!" The maid then spoke to Artina. "Miss, your mother has fainted." "Get her to a hospital, quickly!" Artina said before hanging up. Her face was pale, and her mind was in turmoil. How could the Harmon family suddenly be targeted by so many companies at once? And why would partners suddenly back out of deals? Could it be… Jethro's doing? No, no, that was impossible! He hadn't even blacklisted her from the industry, so why would he go after her family's company? But the Harmon family was about to go bankrupt. What was she going to do? She was stuck on set, she couldn't leave, and she didn't understand business well enough to salvage the situation. As she was consumed by anxiety, someone called out to her. "Ms. Harmon, your fiancé is here to see you." Artina's eyes flew open. "What? Jethro is here?" "Isn't Jethro your fiancé?" the person asked. Many of the crew members had seen Jethro at the banquet, and his face was unforgettable. Hearing this, Artina broke into a run. Had Jethro come to his senses? Had his anger cooled? Was he here to reconcile with her? This was wonderful! There was hope for the Harmon family after all!