When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 302

How could anyone be comfortable with that? And so, Yosef remained silent, his face a thundercloud. The main players, of course, were the parents, who were happily chatting and settling on a wedding date. Henrietta’s stomach was in knots, and she couldn't decide whether she should give her soon-to-be sister-in-law the gift she had chosen. She ought to. It was already prepared. If she didn't give it, what was she supposed to do with it? Keep it for herself? Henrietta wasn’t in the habit of keeping gifts she’d intended for others. But to give it… to a girl who seemed to be a stand-in for herself… Henrietta couldn’t quite process the feeling. The wedding date was nearly settled. Quinton was insistent on setting the date as soon as their schedules allowed.

In short, the sooner the better. The Bennett family were practically grinning from ear to ear. Sherry remained shy, still not saying much. Sabrina laughed. “Sherry is a wonderful girl, so quiet and reserved. She reminds me a bit of our Henrietta. It’s a great quality to have, very steady.” Sabrina had no idea her words landed like a blow to both Henrietta and Yosef. Yosef’s face hardened. He turned to Henrietta. “Henrietta, come with me. I need to talk to you.” He stood up without waiting for a reply. Henrietta’s brow furrowed, but she rose as well. “Alright.” Yosef strode out first. Sabrina just assumed they had some business to attend to. After all, Yosef was a busy man, and sudden work emergencies were normal. “Let’s keep eating,” she said. “Henrietta and Yosef probably have something to take care of.” Yosef led Henrietta into the private lounge attached to their dining room. The moment the door closed, he pinned her against it. “You’re not blind, Henrietta. You see the game he’s playing.” Henrietta was momentarily speechless. “He deliberately found a woman who looks like you,” Yosef seethed, “and he’s going to marry her, bring her into the Sargent family, let her enjoy everything the Sargents have to offer! He’s bringing a ghost of you into his bed, into his life. Tell me, how am I supposed to just stand by and watch that?” Henrietta stared at him for a second, then asked directly, “So what do you want to do?” Yosef considered it for a moment, his expression as cold as ice. “We tell your parents. Sever the adoption. He has his own birth family to go back to. Let him go wherever he wants.” Henrietta frowned. “You were just defending him the other day,” Yosef continued, his voice laced with fury. “Look at what he’s doing! Is this something a decent person would do? He’s still provoking you! How are you supposed to feel, seeing that woman?” Henrietta took a deep breath. “But… what if he genuinely likes her?” Yosef let out a cold laugh. “Oh, he likes her, alright. He likes *this type*, doesn't he?” Henrietta fell silent. Yosef tilted her chin up and kissed her. Her mind was still racing, but his kiss soon muddled her thoughts, leaving her dizzy. Then… Henrietta realized something was wrong. He was actually trying to… here? She pushed against his chest, her voice a hushed whisper. “What are you doing? This… this isn’t appropriate.” The dining room was just on the other side of a single door, a single wall. The soundproofing was good, yes, but… this was too much. Yosef locked the door. “What’s not appropriate?” he challenged. Henrietta was speechless. He pressed her back against the door. “Henrietta, you are my wife.” She was no match for him. She was struck by the contrast. Most of the time, he was so self-disciplined and composed. But on the rare occasions he lost control… he became utterly dominant and wild. This was the second time. And both times, it was because of Quinton. He was acting completely without restraint. And this time was even more… But Henrietta… was powerless. She knew, with perfect clarity, that this act, with only a door separating them from the others, was a high-stakes game. He was playing it his way—forcefully, possessively. He was telling Quinton, on the other side of that door, that this was his territory. The room was his. The lounge was his. And the woman… was most certainly his. Wasn't he always the cool, self-possessed man? Yet here he was, aggressively staking his claim. For a man of his status and standing to do something like this… it was almost unthinkable. In a daze, a thought bloomed in Henrietta’s mind. Was he… starting to like her? A strange tightness coiled in her chest… Her heart began to race. Did he really… like her? The way you like someone in… love? A short while later, a calm stillness returned. Yosef claimed her mouth with a searing, predatory hunger, as if he could never truly have enough of her. When they walked back into the dining room hand in hand, the person with the dark, stormy expression was now Quinton. Sabrina chatted idly, “Henrietta, did you and Yosef have some urgent business to handle?” Before Henrietta could speak, Yosef answered calmly, “It was just a work matter, Mom. Don’t worry, it’s all been taken care of.” Sabrina smiled and nodded. “Good, good.” Sherry’s parents chimed in with more flattery. “Mr. Nash is so busy, with so many complex issues to deal with. It’s no wonder it took some time.” Yosef didn’t reply, just offered a slight smile and raised his glass to Sherry’s parents. “You flatter me.” Overjoyed, they shuffled to raise their own glasses, nodding with excessive deference. “Not at all, not at all! You manage a million things!” After the drink, Yosef raised his glass toward Quinton. “Congratulations.” Quinton’s face grew even uglier, a sickly mix of pale and green. But he eventually managed to force out, “Thanks.” Standing by, Henrietta felt a headache brewing, but also a sense of relief. She didn't yet understand that showdowns between men were often brutal and bloody. Clearly, Yosef had won again. Then, Henrietta turned to Quinton and said directly, “Quinton, can we talk for a minute?” Quinton hesitated, a flicker of raw vulnerability crossing his face before he managed a stiff nod. “Alright.” Yosef’s hand tightened on hers, a clear sign of his displeasure. Henrietta leaned in and, in front of everyone, gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. “You keep Mom and Dad company.” That seemed to placate him. He nodded. “Okay.”