When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 336

But was there anywhere Britney hadn't traveled?

She wasn't planning on visiting Fiora anytime soon, so she turned him down.

This sent her old university friend into a panic, and he began to actively “pursue” her.

They started chatting more, and he invited her to visit again, promising to tell her a secret.

He framed this “secret” as something related to his personal life.

At first, Britney didn't pay it much mind, but he brought it up so often that her curiosity was piqued.

Wanting to see what he was really up to, she finally went to Fiora. While they were out seeing the sights, he told her everything.

After that, they spent a few more days together, their dynamic like that of a suitor and the one being pursued, before Britney returned home.

Sometime later, she secretly contacted the relevant government agencies.

So now, the government's plan was to have this man immigrate back home under a private, personal pretext so his research could be continued here.

It was crucial that Fiora not discover the real reason for his departure.

That's why the government agencies decided to use a business cover.

They approached Yosef, asking him to leverage his business interests to bring the man back to the country.

The thing about research facilities is that some are state-run, while others are private.

Private labs are fundamentally driven by commercial interests, like developing new beauty products, weight-loss drugs, and so on.

And the lab this man worked at was a private one, owned by a pharmaceutical magnate in Fiora.

While the Fiora government monitors the activities of such researchers, the oversight isn't nearly as strict as it is for state-run labs.

So, the plan was for Yosef to announce his expansion into the pharmaceutical industry, with Britney joining the venture.

With Britney as the connection, the man's decision to immigrate would seem natural.

It was a logical and reasonable cover story that wouldn't arouse undue suspicion from Fiora.

Once the man was back home, the rest would be easy.

Henrietta caught her breath. With a laugh that was hard to decipher—perhaps self-deprecating, perhaps something else—she said, “Is that so? That's quite close.”

Yosef reached out and pulled her into his arms. “It's the most secure location.”

Henrietta was at a loss for words for a moment. After a long silence, she finally managed, “Right.”

Henrietta couldn't begin to sort out the tangle of feelings inside her.

It was too... chaotic.

Insecurity, sensitivity, sadness, worry—emotions she had never felt before now surfaced.

For the first time, she wondered... was she really not as good as Britney?

Just a short while ago, Yosef had rushed straight to her hospital room upon his return, standing by her side, protecting her.

From the passionate kiss in the car to their lovemaking at home, the fervor he showed had made her heart race.

But now, learning that he would be deeply tied to Britney for this project, she... couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort.