When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 301

Strictly speaking, he did. The blackmail scheme with the explicit photos had thrown that family into chaos, just piling on more misery. One had to admit, it was deeply satisfying. But… to call it a favor was complicated. Besides, Joaquin Leland was trying to use it as leverage, demanding she have dinner with him alone. That was absolutely out of the question. She had no reason to dine alone with Joaquin. Lost in thought, a sharp throb of frustration pulsed behind Henrietta’s temples, and she let out a weary sigh.

“I… I don’t know. He’s… a very complicated man. Too complicated.” Twice last night, she had wanted to ask Yosef Nash what Joaquin’s words meant, but in the end, she didn't. Her relationship with Yosef was growing better and better, filled with a quiet, warm happiness she was reluctant to disrupt. They had agreed from the start not to expect any emotional attachment, so she didn't want the past to interfere with their present. She even found herself thinking… even if Yosef still held some lingering affection for Britney Leland, wasn't that normal? After all, their breakup had been peaceful and dignified, not a vortex of hatred like her split with Matteo Coleman, or Jethro Nash’s with Artina Harmon. So… she let it go. Hearing her out, Winona Stetson said simply, “Then just ignore him.” Henrietta nodded. Meanwhile, Jolie Coleman was at a dead end, her dreams shattered. Torn between her pride and her desperate need for money, she finally resorted to selling the luxury goods Joaquin had once bought her, along with some older items from Artina. Every little bit helped. Fortunately, the items from Joaquin hadn't depreciated too much. The things from Artina weren’t worth much, but they still brought in some cash. After scraping everything together, she was still more than three million short. In the end, Jolie had to sell the house and car Matteo had bought for her, and add nearly all of the couple’s life savings. Only then did she manage to amass the thirty million. But now they were completely wiped out. They had nothing left, with only a few thousand in their savings account. Fortunately, Leon Lynn hadn't lost his job yet, and Matteo promised that his series would wrap in a few days. The online buzz for the show was already massive, and he assured her that once it aired and became a hit, he’d be flooded with offers for events and endorsements. Then, they wouldn't have to worry about money anymore. This seemed to stabilize Jolie's mood a little, but she drifted through the days like a ghost, ignoring everyone, a walking shell of her former self. Sometimes she would just start laughing, muttering to herself that she was a big star. With their house sold, they had nowhere to live and had to move into Leon’s parents’ three-bedroom apartment. Suddenly, the small space was bustling. Matteo and Artina shared a room, Leon and Jolie another, and the older couple took the third with their grandchild. She thought back to the sprawling villa, so spacious and luxurious they each had their own floor. The garden had been beautiful, with both indoor and outdoor pools. They could go for a swim or work out whenever they pleased. Now… they had absolutely nothing left. Not a damn thing. Before she knew it, Saturday arrived. It was the day they were to set Quinton Sargent’s wedding date. The families were meeting for dinner in Yosef’s exclusive VIP room at the Nash Hotel, which Henrietta had booked at Yosef’s suggestion. Since they had decided to do things with the utmost propriety, this display of respect was essential. Henrietta’s marriage into the Nash family had placed her in an elite social stratum, making this formal meeting all the more significant. Sherry Bennett, the woman Quinton was about to marry, would soon be her sister-in-law. Since this was a formal occasion, the jewelry couldn't be just anything. It couldn't seem cheap, but there was no need for it to be excessively expensive either. Henrietta settled on a set from a renowned luxury brand's new holiday limited edition collection. The holidays were only two months away, after all. At the appointed time, Henrietta and Yosef walked into the private room, hand in hand. The young woman’s name was Sherry Bennett. Her family had naturally heard that Henrietta was now Mrs. Nash, and seeing them in such an opulent setting, they swarmed the couple, their sycophantic praise reaching a fever pitch. Sherry herself seemed to have a quiet, introverted personality. She stood beside Quinton, blushing, saying nothing as she watched her parents fawn over Henrietta and Yosef. Yosef spoke up. “Everyone, please, sit.” He then turned to Hector Sargent and Sabrina Needham. “Mom, Dad, you first.” He even guided Henrietta to sit with her parents, ever the thoughtful and filial son-in-law. Sherry's parents broke into another round of effusive praise. As everyone settled, Sherry sat beside Quinton, her gaze drifting curiously toward Henrietta and Yosef. Her parents’ fawning had been so over-the-top that neither Yosef nor Henrietta had paid her much mind. But now, seeing her clearly… Yosef’s striking features hardened into an icy mask of displeasure. Henrietta, too, felt an involuntary frown crease her brow, though she tried not to dwell on it, or rather, actively tried to push the thought away. Yosef took her hand, his grip tightening as he leaned in to whisper, his voice thick with displeasure, “So this is your ‘good’ brother.” A jolt went through Henrietta. She quickly leaned closer to him. “Mr. Nash, please… don’t overthink it.” “Henrietta,” Yosef whispered back, “I have no choice but to overthink it.” Henrietta took a deep breath, at a loss for what to say. This Sherry… bore a striking resemblance to her. Not that their features were identical, or that Sherry was as beautiful. She wasn't. It was more that Sherry had that simple, unadorned look, a type of understated beauty that came with a naturally cool demeanor. If she had an outgoing, lively personality, it might have been fine. But the crucial part was… she seemed to be a woman of few words. Since they had entered the room, the girl hadn't said a single thing. This made the “similarity” to Henrietta even more pronounced. And considering Quinton’s well-known feelings… choosing a girl like this, without any regard for her family's status… one could say his intentions were painfully obvious. A substitute? Or something else? Yosef’s fury was perfectly understandable. His own wife was the unrequited love of his brother-in-law, who was now marrying someone with an uncanny resemblance to her.