When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 374

Or even worse, slipped something into her drink... Her mind was spiraling, but the point stood: compared to Joaquin, Aster was a saint. He was young and naive, lacking that predatory edge.

Lost in her thoughts, the drive back to Elysium Manor passed in a blur. They walked into the master bedroom.

Yosef gestured toward the lounge area. "Sit."

Henrietta sank into the sofa.

Instead of joining her immediately, Yosef walked over to the liquor cabinet, uncorked a bottle of red wine, and poured himself a glass. When he finally sat down, he didn't sit next to her. He sat directly across from her.

Henrietta looked at him calmly, pressing her lips together. Why did this feel like an interrogation? When Yosef fully unleashed that commanding, billionaire aura, it was suffocating. Even she felt a flicker of intimidation.

Yosef fixed her with a cool stare, taking a slow sip of his wine. "Henrietta..." his deep voice resonated through the room. "What's going on? Are you willing to talk?"

She met his gaze directly. "If I say no... will you drop it?"

Yosef seemed genuinely caught off guard by the response.

A moment later, his dark brows drew together. He leaned back into the sofa, crossing his long legs. "Are you trying to protect him?"

Henrietta stayed silent.

Yosef didn't push. Instead, he simply tapped his finger against the crystal wine glass, a slow, rhythmic clinking that filled the quiet room. His eyes never left her, radiating an oppressive intensity.

After a long, tense minute, he broke eye contact. He stared down at his glass, then knocked back half the wine in one swallow. "If you really don't want to talk about it, I won't force you."

Furthermore, and most importantly, if Yosef knew the full truth, it would force an answer to the very question she'd been avoiding. Ignoring Joaquin was one thing; he could play his one-man game all he wanted. But both brothers harassing her? That crossed a line.

As a man, and as her husband, Yosef would have to react. And that reaction... would ultimately reveal who he prioritized more: her, or Britney Leland.

The thought made her stomach twist. She lowered her gaze, stealing another glance at Yosef's broad back as he slept facing away from her. She had already kept the secret this long. Britney's past with Yosef complicated everything, tying his hands. Henrietta... refused to be the catalyst for that inevitable fallout.

Pulling the covers up to her chin, she rolled onto her side. Just sleep, she told herself. As long as the sky wasn't falling, ignorance truly was bliss. If you just refused to dwell on a problem, it ceased to exist.

But she had barely closed her eyes when she felt Yosef shift behind her. A second later, his solid chest pressed against her back, his strong arms pulling her tight against him.

Henrietta froze. Before she could process the sudden affection, his lips found the nape of her neck, trailing warm, lingering kisses down her skin.