When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 313

But in that split second, just as the blade was about to strike, Matteo lunged forward. He wrapped his arms around Henrietta, taking the full force of the deadly blow himself. He let out a muffled grunt, his body suddenly going limp as he held onto her. Henrietta's eyes widened in shock, her body reacting with pure, instinctual fear. The man had stabbed Matteo in the back. He yanked the dagger out with visceral, gut-wrenching sound, ready to strike again. Thankfully, the rest of the room finally snapped out of their shock. Several male staff members instinctively rushed forward, grabbing the crazed man. His second strike was stopped just inches from Matteo's back. It had been dangerously close. Henrietta was still frozen, completely unable to process what had just happened. People were shouting all around her. 'Grab him! Get the knife away from him!' 'Call the police!' 'Call an ambulance!' In the ensuing chaos, the attacker was wrestled to the ground and the dagger was kicked aside. Four or five men pinned him down, rendering him immobile. The man continued to howl in a feral rage, “Henrietta, you entitled bitch! Why do you get to drown in gold while the rest of us starve in the dirt?” Why are we all human, but we can work ourselves to death and not even earn a tenth of what you have?! Why?! People like you who just got lucky at birth should all die! All of you parasites! You're nothing without your parents! What gives you the right?!' The scene was pure chaos. Henrietta remained in a daze. The shock was too much for her. Just moments ago, that dagger had been inches from her own heart. Now, Matteo, who was still holding her, suddenly slumped to the floor. Blood pooled around them. Artina was screaming in terror, 'Matteo! Matteo! The ambulance, where's the ambulance? Did anyone call?' By the time the paramedics arrived and lifted Matteo onto a stretcher, rushing him away, Henrietta heard one of them say, 'Let's move, he's lost a lot of blood.' Artina ran after the stretcher like a woman possessed, crying hysterically, 'Faster! Go faster!' Henrietta's mind was a complete blank. It wasn't until Winona Stetson and Charlotte knelt in front of her, each taking one of her cold hands, and repeatedly whispered, 'It's okay, Henrietta,' and 'You're safe,' that she slowly began to return to reality. She instinctively stood up. 'Let's go. To the hospital.' She was so shaken that she stumbled, and they had to support her. Winona and Charlotte didn't say much, just held her hands firmly and nodded. 'Okay, let's go see how he is.' The three of them got into the car. As the driver pulled away, they sat with Henrietta in the back, asking the driver to turn up the heat. 'That man...' Henrietta began, her voice low, still trapped in the terror of the attack. Winona squeezed her hand. 'He's been restrained, and the weapon is gone. The police will be there soon to investigate everything thoroughly. Don't worry.' Henrietta nodded, then fell silent. Charlotte, however, spoke with a lingering sense of fear. 'I can't believe... Matteo actually jumped in front of you to protect you. I can't imagine how horrible it would have been if that knife... had hit you.' Henrietta's thoughts were a tangled mess. 'I never expected him to...' she whispered. 'Even if he did protect you, he should have!' Winona declared. 'Consider it a debt repaid!' 'Exactly,' Henrietta agreed with a nod. Charlotte thought for a moment before adding, 'Or maybe he only did it to protect his meal ticket. After all, if something happened to you... he’d have no one left to count on in Juno City.'