When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 323

Winona hung up and said, "Sounds like he's out of the woods, or at least his life isn't in danger anymore."

Henrietta, however, remarked, "If his life were in danger... it wouldn't have mattered, would it? If he had died, well, he would have died."

To her surprise, Winona and Charlotte both nodded in unison. "True!"

"It just would have ruined our plan," Charlotte added.

"It doesn't matter," Henrietta said. "Plans change. It happens."

"He would have deserved it," Winona stated. "He's no saint anyway."

HENRIETTA fell silent.

Charlotte asked gently, "Henrietta, do you really not feel... anything at all?"

HENRIETTA paused for a moment before answering, "I did at first. But not anymore."

In the beginning, she had been in a state of panic. Someone had taken a knife for her. It would be impossible to claim she wasn't shocked or moved in that split second. It was a basic human reaction. In that moment, she had undoubtedly felt a surge of gratitude. That feeling of complex emotion had followed her in the car, to the hospital, and even when the doctor announced he was in critical condition from blood loss.

Her memories were a chaotic jumble. At first, she instinctively recalled the sweet, beautiful moments, the clear, transparent love in their eyes. But then, as she was being dragged away to give blood, the raw, jagged memory of his betrayal came rushing back, tearing through her like a blade. That was when she snapped back to her senses and refused so forcefully, her behavior shifting from 'cold' to 'heartless'.

So yes, she had been moved at first. But then, just as quickly, that feeling had vanished without a trace.

"I get it," Charlotte said. "That's completely normal."

HENRIETTA nodded. "Let's get some sleep. We're all exhausted."

At one in the morning, Winona's phone rang. It was Leon. He told her the surgery was complete and Matteo had been moved to the ICU. If he made it through the night, he would be out of danger.