American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 24 Jaina

Beta stood up, leaving Matilda behind: "You can stay here with this little girl for a while and look after her for me."

Sofia looked up at him: "Do you know where Jaina is?"

Beta responded, "She knows where I am."

After saying that, he left Matilda behind and walked out of the office alone.
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The hotel's rooftop bar, which was currently empty, was deserted.

Beta sat quietly under the parasol, the night breeze slightly cool. A few minutes later, the crisp sound of high heels clicking on the ground came from behind her, growing louder as she approached.

A familiar scent of perfume wafted over, and before Beta could turn around, a pair of soft hands gently rested on his shoulders, their fingertips caressing him tenderly.

A warm kiss landed on his cheek, and then the woman walked around him and gracefully sat down in the chair opposite him.

She was around forty or fifty years old, and a simple white dress accentuated her still slender figure. Her long, wavy, light golden hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her delicate lip color complemented the necklace around her neck and the gold earrings at her ears, while a pair of light gold high heels added to her charm.

Time has etched fine lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth, but it cannot conceal the tenderness and smile in her eyes when she gazes at Beta. Her gaze carefully traces his face, as if she wants to remember every change in him.

Even though she has aged, it is still clear that she must have been a stunning beauty in her youth.

Unfortunately, Beta seems to have only inherited her light blonde hair, but not her outstanding beauty. His features are unremarkable and unremarkable, presumably inheriting more of the physical characteristics of another gene donor.

Jaina gently smoothed Beta's messy blond hair from his forehead, her fingertips carrying a unique tenderness: "I heard you caused quite a stir in England."

Beta nodded slightly: "That's true. I just didn't expect to meet you here, and even..."

He paused for a moment: "It's good to be able to meet like this, even for a short time."

Jaina smiled, a smile like the warm winter sun that melted away the gloom in Beta's heart. She couldn't help but cup Beta's face in her hands, placing a light kiss on each cheek, and finally leaving a faint lip print on his forehead.

As she examined Beta closely, she noticed a faint red mark on his neck.

“This is…” A mischievous smile flickered in her eyes as she lightly touched the mark with her fingertip. “Salong has someone he likes? Which lucky girl is it?”

Beta smiled and replied, "I'll bring her to see you when the time is right."

Jaina nodded knowingly, the smile lines at the corners of her eyes smoothing out.

Gianna checked the time on her phone, then got up and walked to Beta's side. She gently rested Beta's head against her stomach, her fingers lightly stroking his hair. "I have to go, the flight is about to take off."

Beta stood up and reached out to take her arm. "I'll take you to the tarmac."

Jaina shook her head, her fingertips lightly squeezing his palm: "Let's stop here. It's best if we don't show up together."

Her voice gradually lowered, carrying a hint of reluctance and restraint.

Beta nodded: "Okay."

Gianna turned and walked toward the elevator, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor.

She reached out and pressed the button, her fingertips tracing the edge of her phone as she waited. When the elevator doors slowly opened with a "ding," she didn't step inside immediately. Instead, she turned around, her gaze sweeping across the corridor to Beta.

A gentle, bittersweet smile played on her lips, her eyes holding unspoken words. The elevator doors began to close automatically, gradually obscuring her slender figure from view. Finally, with a soft click, she vanished completely behind the closing doors.

The corridor fell silent again, with only Beta standing there, as if she could still smell the faint fragrance lingering in the air.

Beta rubbed his face vigorously, crushing all his emotions in his palms. He stared down at the floor, his Adam's apple bobbing, and when he looked up again, the lingering affection in his eyes had been abruptly extinguished.

When Beta pushed open the office door, Sofia was hugging Matilda from behind, teaching her how to tame her two fierce Malinois.

The light shone on them, and Sophia's voice was incredibly gentle: "Yes, that's it. They need to remember who their owner is."

Her movements were skillful and patient, her fingertips gently guiding Matilda's wrist to give instructions.

Beta knew that Sofia had a daughter the same age as Matilda, and like him and Gianna, as the manager of the Continental Hotel, Sofia had to personally cut off her own vulnerability. That girl was probably somewhere safe now, living a life where she rarely saw her mother.

“Bite here.” Sofia held Matilda’s small hand and drew a red circle on the training target: “The third leg.”

She whispered in the girl's ear, her tone as gentle as if she were teaching her daughter to bake cookies, but the words were chilling. Two Malinois, baring their gleaming white fangs, stood poised at their feet.

Sofia gently lifted Matilda's wrist, and two Malinois darted out. They precisely bit the scarlet mark on the training target, at a height carefully calculated so that, regardless of whether the target was male or female, their sharp canines would instantly pierce the most vulnerable vitals.

Matilda stared wide-eyed as the two fierce dogs tore at the training target, causing it to shake violently, with rubber filler splattering out from the cracks.

"See that?" Sophia whispered in her ear, her fingers gently stroking the girl's hair. "From this spot, even the fiercest enemy would collapse like a rag doll."

Her voice still carried a mother's gentleness. The two Malinois released their mouths, which were covered in rags, and sat back down at their feet, their bright red tongues lolling out, as if they had just finished a heartwarming game.

Sofia glanced up and saw Beta's figure, her fingertips gently stroking Matilda's hair: "How is it?"

Beta sank into the sofa, and two Belgian Malinois came over, their wet noses rubbing against his trouser leg.

He reached out and ruffled one of their heads: "What aspect are you asking about?"

Sofia led Matilda to sit down opposite her, and the two fierce dogs immediately abandoned Beta, wagging their tails and crawling to her feet. She scratched one of their chins with her long, slender fingers, but her gaze remained fixed on Beta: "Are you alright?"

Her voice was very soft: "It's always like this. A hurried meeting with loved ones, and then a hurried parting."

Matilda nestled obediently against her side, while Sofia gently placed her other hand on the girl's shoulder: "My daughter and I are the same way."

The last sentence almost turned into a sigh, disappearing into the warm breath of the dog.

Beta gave a relaxed smile: "Very good."

He reached out and petted the Malinois, his knuckles running through its rough fur. "You're used to it, Sophia. I'm 29 now."

The Malinois tilted its head back and licked his wrist. Beta chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

　The AI-generated character design wasn't satisfactory for all readers, so it was deleted. Each reader has their own image of the protagonist, so there's no need for superfluous character designs.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)