When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 291

As they left the restaurant, Charlotte Tatum blurted out, "What is going on? A father and son duo both chasing you? Are they insane? You're a married woman!"

Henrietta Sargent frowned. "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Winona Stetson added her two cents, "I heard that adopted son is close with Joaquin Leland. Do you think he's just trying to one-up Joaquin, who's been after you for ages? Is this all just to stir up trouble and compete for favor?"

"It's possible," Henrietta said. "But we don't need to worry about it. Whatever their game is, the best response is no response at all."

"But what if he genuinely likes you?" Charlotte mused. "You're so beautiful, it's only natural for men to be drawn to you."

"I'm married," Henrietta stated flatly.

"Being married doesn't stop people from liking or pursuing you, you know," Charlotte pointed out.

"First, I'm married," Henrietta repeated, her voice firm. "And second, I barely know either of them."

Finally, Winona concluded, "Then just ignore them. Problem solved."

A couple of days later, the bruises on Artina Harmon's face had healed, but the damage to her life was far from over. This time, the blow was fatal. The Harmon family was officially bankrupt. All their assets were seized, and they were saddled with millions in debt. Their mansion was gone, along with all their other properties. The entire family, accustomed to a life of luxury, was now forced to find menial jobs just to get by. Their days were filled with wailing and despair. And the burden of the multi-million dollar debt fell squarely on Artina's shoulders—she was a minor celebrity, after all, the only one with any earning potential. For Artina, the past two days hadn't been a respite; they had been a living hell.

When Henrietta heard the news, she felt a profound sense of satisfaction. She invited Charlotte, Winona, and Jethro Nash to Elysium Manor for a celebratory dinner. The meal was a cheerful affair, but Jethro seemed unusually subdued. His only real contribution to the conversation was a quiet, "Henrietta, it's all up to you now," followed by the faintest of smiles.

Henrietta nodded. "I know. Don't worry."

After that, Artina had only one path left: to act. And she did, with a newfound professionalism, all her previous diva antics gone. As a result, Henrietta was in high spirits for the next few days. That morning, Charlotte called with an update. "Henrietta, the shoot has been going incredibly smoothly. We're so far ahead of schedule that I think we'll be done in the next five to eight days!"

This was fantastic news. Henrietta smiled. "Good."

"We can start planning the wrap party," Charlotte said. "Do you want to invite Mr. Nash to join us?"

Henrietta raised an eyebrow. "We'll see if he has time."

"Alright," Charlotte agreed. "Well, I'll get back to work."

"Okay." Henrietta hung up.

"What's the happy news?" Winona asked from across the office.

Henrietta looked at her. "We're about to wrap filming."

Jolie walked in and went straight to the point. "Ms. Sargent, why hasn't my film started shooting yet?" She sat down, her face a mixture of anxiety and a forced, fawning smile. "I've memorized all my lines. When do we start?"

Henrietta raised an eyebrow. Eager, wasn't she?

"I've read the script," Henrietta said coolly. "The story is set in spring and summer, with light clothing. It's winter now. Are you sure you want to film in this cold?"

"I'm not afraid of hardship!" Jolie insisted immediately. "I can handle any difficult role. Besides... I'll do it for free!"

Henrietta remained silent.

Jolie pressed on. "I just want to act and become a star. I know a movie is a big investment, so I don't need anything for myself. As long as we can just start shooting."

Jolie had been waiting for so long, and the constant delays were making her frantic. Her brother's villa had been taken, the Harmon family was bankrupt, and Artina was buried in debt. A sense of unease was growing inside her, and she was desperate to get her first movie made.

"What's the rush?" Henrietta said, waving a dismissive hand. "We need to assemble the team slowly. A good director, cinematographer, makeup artist—every piece is crucial. Just wait. You'll be notified when everything is ready."

Making empty promises was a skill, and Henrietta was a master.

Jolie's face fell, her anxiety palpable. "But doesn't our company already have all those people? I'm just starting out, I don't need the absolute best. I..."