When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 299

Jolie’s hand was cut, so she went to the hospital to get it treated. She called Leon, but he was stuck on set and couldn't leave. Though he was Matteo’s agent, he was more of a combined assistant-agent. With both Matteo and Artina taking huge hits to their careers, Leon had lost his swagger and could only buckle down and do his job.

Matteo’s parents, Dexter and Pamela, rushed to the hospital. The moment Jolie saw them, she threw herself into Pamela’s arms, sobbing. “It’s over! Everything is over! That bitch Henrietta fired me, and she’s definitely not going to fund my movie! My dream of being a star is shattered… I have nothing left!”

Jolie cried hysterically, as if her world had ended. It was clear the blow was severe.

Pamela was stunned. “How… How could this happen? How could she go back on her word?”

After a dramatic scene at the hospital, the family returned home, their faces clouded with despair. Pamela and Jolie were still crying.

“Who in God’s name would do this?” Pamela wailed. “Thirty million! Where are we going to find thirty million? They won’t let her be a star… they’re trying to ruin us!”

The mother and daughter clung to each other, weeping all afternoon, unable to cope with the double blow. They had thought they were on the verge of striking it rich. Now, their son had lost his villa and his savings. Their daughter’s dreams were crushed, and she was being blackmailed for thirty million.

They had hoped to rely on Artina, but Artina was in a miserable state herself, saddled with millions in debt and waiting to finish her current project so she could take on commercials and endorsements to slowly pay it back. Now she was living in their house, eating their food, using their resources.

Matteo and Artina, still technically celebrities, were used to a life of luxury. They complained and threw tantrums if the food and living conditions weren't up to their standards. Pamela and Dexter had already drained their life savings to keep them comfortable. They had pinned all their hopes on Jolie to quickly become famous and bring in some money.

But now, Jolie was in an even worse situation. Someone had taken compromising photos and was demanding a price they couldn’t possibly pay, even if they sold everything they owned.

The family was at their wit’s end, waiting for Matteo and the others to get home. When the trio returned from work that afternoon, Pamela recounted Jolie’s ordeal with loud, theatrical sobs. Matteo, Artina, and Leon were all shocked. It was truly a case of when it rains, it pours.

Dexter suggested calling the police.

“Call the police for what?” Matteo shot back. “You think the police have nothing better to do? Jolie isn’t even famous; she’s a normal person. Even if we report it, there’s no guarantee they’ll catch the culprit!”

“Then what do we do?” Pamela cried. “We don’t have thirty million to give them!”

Artina added, “The people who do this kind of thing are vicious. Even if the police catch them, they would have already sold or leaked the photos.”

“Then you tell us what to do!” Pamela shrieked, pointing a finger at Artina’s face. “It’s all your fault, you jinx! If you hadn’t seduced my son, he would have married into the Sargent family and become the perfect son-in-law! We wouldn’t be in this mess! It’s all your fault!”

It was the brutal reality of the luxury market. Precious when bought, but depreciated the moment they were sold. A little loss here, a little loss there, and the gap would only grow wider.

Artina scoffed. “She’s not even a celebrity! Who cares about some indecent photos? Are a few pictures more important than money?”

Jolie was furious. “It’s not your pictures they took! It’s easy for you to stand there and talk!”

Jolie glared at Artina. As miserable as Artina was, she was still a minor celebrity. Jolie, on the other hand, had nothing.

In a blind rage, she launched herself at Artina. “My mom was right! You are a jinx! If it weren’t for you, our family would be on top of the world by now! Henrietta would have given us everything! This is all your fault!”

Matteo had to pull Jolie off her. “I told you not to hit her, she has to film!”

Jolie was thrown to the floor. The mention of filming sent her into another fit of thunderous sobs, as if she were dying.