When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 294

They were demanding thirty million dollars to buy the photos and the original files.

Jolie didn't have thirty million. She didn't even have three.

Though shocked, Henrietta remained composed. "How can I save you? I'm not the police."

Jolie's sobs grew louder. "But I'm the star you were going to create! I'm about to start filming! Isn't this kind of scandal something the company is supposed to handle with money?"

Henrietta finally understood. So... someone was helping her. Her original plan had been to simply drag things out with Jolie, ignoring her until she either gave up or made a scene. Jolie likely wouldn't have dared to cause a fuss, and even if she did, Henrietta had ways of dealing with it. Jolie was the weaker party; Henrietta could handle her however she pleased. But now, with these photos, Jolie's career was over before it even began. No filming, no stardom. The problem had solved itself.

"I was going to make you a star, yes," Henrietta said coolly. "But I haven't yet. You haven't even signed a contract with the company, and the movie hasn't been shot. Tell me, if you can't manage your private life and get into this kind of mess, why would I still invest in you?"

Jolie stopped crying, stunned. "What... what are you saying? You're... you're not going to fund my movie?"

"Of course not," Henrietta stated with chilling clarity. "The movie hasn't even started, and you're already embroiled in a scandal. I could back anyone. Why would I back you? The blackmail is for thirty million—that's enough to produce a decent small-budget series. And you expect me to pay that for you? What are you thinking?"

The words struck Jolie like a bolt of lightning, leaving her utterly devastated. She stared with wide, horrified eyes. "Are you saying... my... my dream of being a star is just... over?"

Henrietta nodded. "Yes. Any company that wants to sign you now will have to shell out thirty million just to kill the story. You're not professionally trained, you're not a world-class beauty, and you're already married with a child. Jolie, it seems this is the end of the road for you."

Every word Henrietta spoke was the unvarnished truth. Jolie never had the real qualifications to be a star in the first place. Sure, you could make anyone famous if you threw enough money at them, but Henrietta's promise was only ever a ploy to lull Matteo and Artina into a false sense of security, to make them less suspicious of her own motives. She never had any real intention of funding Jolie.

Jolie was frozen, dumbstruck. Tears streamed down her face. She had worked so hard for this, starving herself to lose weight, and now it was all for nothing?

"But... I'm the victim here!" Jolie cried.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify