When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 306

The money from the subsequent business collaborations was a decent windfall, enough to get them back on their feet, but it was nothing compared to what they once had. In his prime, Matteo had spent two years not only funding the lavish lifestyle of a top-tier celebrity but also buying houses and cars for his parents and Jolie, not to mention his own eight-hundred-thousand-dollar Mercedes G-Wagon. Even after all that, he’d still had tens of millions in savings. The memory of that prosperity made his current situation unbearable. He had lost two-thirds of the fortune it had taken him two years to build. The commercial deals he landed after this show wrapped would net him about ten million at most. It was a good sum, but comparison is the thief of joy. The thought of spending another two years just to rebuild was crushing. It was then he finally understood the old saying: peace and stability are the true blessings. This whole ordeal had taken a massive toll on him. Both he and Artina were miserable. They were supposed to be relieved that the show was ending and money was coming in, a sign of hope for the future. Yet, they couldn't bring themselves to feel happy. The future felt like an endless, exhausting climb with no peak in sight. Two years… their contract with Henrietta wasn't even that long. What if she didn't renew it? The thought filled them with dread. To make matters worse, with Jolie acting erratically, Pamela Lynn had suggested that once Matteo got his money, he should fund a small production for Jolie. It would be an investment in their own family, a way for Jolie to ride his coattails to fame and solve all their problems. But to Matteo, it all sounded so exhausting. When would it end? When could he finally achieve buying their way out of this hell and stop bowing to others? At this rate, even if he toiled away in Juno City for the rest of his life, he would never come close to Henrietta's level. She was a world away, forever out of reach. That night, they lay in bed, unable to sleep, their minds churning with a bitter stew of resentment and anger that had nowhere to go. They had argued so much in recent days that they were too tired to fight anymore. Artina tossed and turned before finally sitting up. "Matteo, I don't think we can just let this go." Matteo said nothing. A part of him wanted her to just be quiet. As draining as it was, their situation was still better than that of most people. They could still live comfortably. But greed, once tasted, is a hungry beast. He found this life unbearable, the constant struggle with no end in sight. Seeing his silence, Artina knew he was just as unwilling to surrender. "Your sister is a wreck because of them," she pressed. "We've lost everything. Are we really going to spend the rest of our lives working for Henrietta?" Matteo let out a self-deprecating laugh. "The rest of our lives? You're optimistic. What are you to her? Why would she sign you for life? In a few years, when you get older, your value will depreciate. Our contract isn't even that long, and whether she renews it depends entirely on her mood." He turned to Artina. "And it all depends on how well you can play the part of her obedient little puppet. If you don't perform, she has a thousand ways to strip you of everything." The raw power of money and influence was a terrifying, cruel reality, and Matteo hated it. But Artina still had fight in her. She clenched her fist. "That's why we can't give up!" Matteo rolled his eyes. "Go to sleep and stop daydreaming. If you had a brilliant plan, you wouldn't be stuck here with me." Artina considered this, then beckoned him closer with a sly finger. "Actually, I do have a plan." Matteo’s feelings for Artina were a complicated knot of hatred and dependence. He loathed her; if it weren't for her, he would already be the son-in-law to a billionaire, living at the pinnacle of society. But now they were trapped together, each holding leverage over the other. He didn't dare kick her to the curb, fearing she would retaliate and expose everything in a blaze of mutual destruction. And if he were brutally honest with himself, he needed someone to satisfy his physical needs. In his heart, though, he knew he was in love with Henrietta. He truly loved her. Only now did he realize how… pure she was. Her lofty, cool demeanor was not arrogance; it was earned, it was right. Compared to her, Artina wasn't even in the same league; she couldn't hold a candle to Henrietta. But he was powerless, his hands tied. His body was here, but his heart was with Henrietta. "Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth," Matteo grumbled, turning away. "I'm going to sleep." Unfazed, Artina climbed on top of him and whispered her plan into his ear for a long time. Gradually, the gloom in Matteo's eyes gave way to a glimmer of light. "Are you sure this will work?" he asked, hesitant. "She's married now… to a man like that. Why on earth would she get back with me? I think it's useless." "How will we know if we don't try?" Artina countered. "People's feelings are strange. You don't always love someone just because they're 'the best.' I've watched them, and while they seem to get along, I don't see any intense passion. This is our last chance! We have to act now, while they're still newly married. Even if she doesn't divorce him, we might be able to reignite her feelings for you. As long as she feels something for you, that's all we need! We can make a comeback!" Matteo furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. You handle it. And remember, no one can know about this." "Don't worry," Artina said with a confident smile. She had lost her chance to climb the social ladder through love, but Matteo still had his.