When Two Winters Met (Henrietta and Yosef) novel Chapter 61

“Mom’s right!” Jolie declared, taking a bite of food before downing a glass of wine. “This is all part of my brother’s destiny. He deserves this wealth! And once he gets his hands on the Sargent Group, I’m going to teach Henrietta a thing or two about how to be a proper wife and please a man. She’s beautiful, sure, but her personality is impossible. She barely says a word, let alone anything sweet. So quiet and stuck-up, who could possibly like that?”

“Exactly!” Pamela chimed in, quickly refilling her glass and taking several gulps.

The family raised their glasses in celebration, praising Matteo as if he were a conquering hero, their words inflating his ego to stratospheric heights.

After a few more drinks, Pamela set her glass down. “Matteo, Henrietta said you weren’t being sincere. So… I want you to give her all the money you’ve earned over the years.”

Matteo frowned. “All of it?”

Pamela nodded. “Yes, to show your loyalty. They say a man’s heart is where his money is. This is the perfect chance to prove your love for her.”

Matteo felt a flicker of unease, worried this grand gesture might end up being all for nothing. But he couldn't resist his mom's persuasion.

Leon added, “Matteo, giving the money to Henrietta is just a way to placate her, to get her to forgive you and take you back. Once she does, your status will change completely. You’ll be the boyfriend of the Sargent family heiress, their future son-in-law! And after you reconcile, everything she has will be yours, won’t it?”

Convinced, Matteo downed two more glasses of wine. “You’re right. Everything Henrietta has will be mine, so everything I have should be hers.”

Then, Pamela’s tone shifted. “Matteo, I know Henrietta can be difficult, which is why you were tempted by Artina. If she’s still disobedient after you’re married, and you don’t want to have a child with her… we can find another child for her. We don’t want a baby tying you down, making it harder to deal with her if we have to.”

Matteo’s eyes widened slightly. “Mom, what are you talking about?”

By the time dinner was over, the family was drunk on wine and ambition.

Matteo called for a driver to take him back to the villa, but as he pulled up, he saw Artina standing at the gate.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, annoyed. To him, Artina was a constant threat, a ticking time bomb.

“She broke up with you, so she’s not coming to your villa anyway,” Artina said, her voice laced with hurt. “Why can’t I be here?”

Matteo’s frown deepened. “You saw how much she loves me, and you’re benefiting from that! The Harmon family can’t make you an international star, can they? Only Henrietta and the Sargent family have that kind of power. Right now, all I care about is getting her back, so don’t interfere. If you do, you’ll ruin your own future. Can’t you just see the bigger picture and be patient for once? Do you really have to indulge your petty insecurities at a time like this?”