When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 311

The emcee took the stage, his energetic hosting quickly livening up the atmosphere. Exquisite, lavish dishes were brought to the tables, but no one could touch them yet. First came the speeches. Charlotte Tatum was invited up first, and after she spoke, other key members of the production team followed, culminating with the stars of the show. Each of them delivered a few polished, flattering remarks. Finally, it was time for the woman behind the empire, Henrietta Sargent, to speak. It was all part of the formal procedure. Tonight, Henrietta wore a stunning white couture gown with a delicate feathered trim, making her look absolutely ethereal. As she gracefully walked to the stage, the crowd watched, mesmerized. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and her list of accolades only added to her allure: billionaire heiress, CEO, the formidable wife of Yosef Nash, and the undisputed diamond of Juno City. Yet, she was known for being down-to-earth and compassionate toward her employees. To call her a goddess was no exaggeration. Matteo Coleman stared, his breath hitching as the very world seemed to tilt. He was a man haunted, his eyes anchored to her as if she were his only salvation. An overwhelming impulse surged within him—a desire to rush over, embrace her, kiss her, possess her. He wanted to scoop her into his arms and run away to a place where no one could ever find them, where they could start over. He would love her properly this time, cherish her with everything he had. He now realized that without her, he was nothing. This glamorous wrap party, this moment of triumph—it was all because of her. The impulse was so intense it made his head throb and his chest ache. But no matter how powerful the urge, it was crushed by the weight of his grim reality. What resources did he have to take her away and hide her? He had no money, no power. What could he possibly do? Nothing. He could do absolutely nothing. The fiery impulse was doused by a bucket of cold water. Reality was just that cruel. Amid the audience's awestruck gazes, Henrietta reached the stage and took the microphone from the emcee. With a faint smile, she kept her words brief and to the point. 'Thank you to every single person for your hard work and dedication. I won't waste time with formalities or sentimental speeches. I just hope everyone eats well and has a great time tonight.' And that was it. She didn't take credit for anything. She didn't even bother wishing the show success, because it was already a hit before it had even aired—a victory financed and orchestrated entirely by her fortune.. Everyone in the room knew it. And because of that, every single person there had seen their own professional value increase; it wasn't an exaggeration to say that job offers were already pouring in. Their gratitude toward Henrietta was palpable, and they all felt a tremendous sense of pride for having been part of the project. A thunderous round of applause erupted from the floor, with some people shouting uncontrollably, 'Thank you, Ms. Sargent! You're the best!' 'Ms. Sargent, you're so beautiful!' The air filled with a chorus of praise and adoration for Henrietta, the energy in the room electric and deeply moving. Still on stage, Henrietta paused, slightly taken aback. She then smiled, took the microphone again, and added, 'And I thank every one of you here.' The moment she finished, the applause and cheers grew even louder. She was truly adored. Both Artina Harmon and Matteo watched, stunned. Artina frowned, a bitter wave of envy washing over her. What was so great about Henrietta? All she did was throw money around. This fawning adoration was bought and paid for. For some reason, Matteo’s eyes reddened, welling up with tears he couldn't control. He didn't know if he was moved or just filled with a regret so profound it felt like his insides were being torn apart. His gaze remained fixed on Henrietta, not blinking for a second. But her eyes no longer held a place for him; she didn't spare him even a single glance. Afterward, Charlotte and Henrietta walked off the stage together, the applause continuing as every eye in the room followed Henrietta.