When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 352

Yosef looked at her in silence. After a long moment, he didn't lose his temper.

His demeanor remained remarkably calm. "I understand the difficult position you're in and how you feel. I'm not taking this to heart. I just hope you won't take Britney's actions to heart either. Let's get some sleep."

Henrietta didn't reply. She lay down and pulled the covers over herself.

Yosef, however, threw off the blankets and stepped out onto the balcony for a smoke.

Both of them were suffocating under a heavy blanket of frustration.

They had initially agreed, so easily and clearly, to be respectful partners.

But now, things seemed to be spiraling just slightly out of control.

To say Yosef wasn't bothered at all by the photos Britney sent would be a lie.

A deep, instinctual possessiveness made him thoroughly displeased.

Quinton wasn't just some random man on the street. He was part of the Sargent family, a constant presence that would linger for the rest of their lives.

The fact that Sherry's cool demeanor so strikingly resembled Henrietta's already sat wrong with him.

It felt like a thorn in his side.

His wife was her adoptive brother's unattainable first love. What kind of twisted joke was that?

If word ever got out, it would be an absolute scandal.

Yosef smoked two cigarettes back-to-back, letting the cool night air slowly settle his racing thoughts.

He hated this feeling. The lack of control, the uncomfortable jealousy...

He absolutely loathed it.

Maintaining a respectful, boundary-driven marriage was supposed to be the perfect arrangement.

Just as Yosef turned to head back inside, he saw Henrietta standing by the balcony doors, holding a thick, long coat.

He paused for a second before closing the distance between them.

"It's chilly out here," she said, her tone completely even.

Yosef took the coat. He didn't reach out to pull her close, knowing his hands were freezing.

"Yeah. Go back inside. Get some rest," he murmured, his voice low and raspy.

They returned to bed, a deliberate gap of space left between them.

Yosef didn't pull her into his arms, his skin still cold from the night air.

Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she fought desperately to drag her thoughts back on track.

This was the first time since they had crossed the line into intimacy that they felt this distant.

They weren't even holding each other, separated by that small, cold stretch of mattress.

The physical distance made the knot of anxiety in her stomach tighten.

After a few more moments of agonizing over it, Henrietta made the first move. She rolled over and pressed herself against him.

She settled against his back, sliding her arm around his waist.

Immediately, she felt the rigid tension lock up his spine.

Henrietta froze.

An indescribable pang hit her chest, a sharp, suffocating wave of despair.

Her arm, which had just curled around him, suddenly felt entirely unwelcome.

She had fixed her mindset, swallowed her pride, and fought like hell to get their relationship back on solid ground.

But that one tiny, stiff reaction from him was all it took to send her spiraling all over again.