Gianna

Beta stood up, leaving Matilda where she was. "Keep this little girl with you for a while. Look after her for me."

Sophia glanced up at him. "Do you know where Gianna is?"

Beta replied, "She knows where I am."

With that, he left Matilda behind and walked out of the office alone.

The hotel's rooftop was an open-air bar, empty at this hour.

Beta sat quietly beneath a parasol, the night breeze cool against his skin. A few minutes later, the crisp click of high heels sounded behind him, drawing nearer.

A familiar fragrance wafted over. Before Beta could turn around, a pair of soft hands settled gently on his shoulders, their fingers tenderly stroking him.

A warm kiss landed on his cheek. Then the woman walked around him and gracefully took a seat in the chair opposite.

She looked to be in her forties or fifties. A simple-colored dress outlined her still-slender figure, and long, pale-gold waves fell over her shoulders. Her understated lipstick complemented the necklace at her throat and the gold earrings at her ears. Pale-gold heels added to her elegance.

The years had etched fine lines around her eyes and mouth, but they could not hide the tenderness and delight in her gaze as she looked at Beta. Her eyes traced his features, as if she wanted to commit every change to memory.

Though her youth had passed, it was clear she must have been a captivating beauty.

Unfortunately, Beta seemed to have inherited only her pale-gold hair, not her striking looks. His features were utterly ordinary, nothing remarkable about them. He had probably inherited more of his appearance from his other genetic parent.

Gianna reached out and gently smoothed the tousled blond hair over Beta's forehead, her fingers carrying their characteristic tenderness. "I heard you caused quite a stir in the United Kingdom."

Beta gave a slight nod. "I did. I just didn't expect to run into you here, or to..."

He paused. "To have a brief moment together like this."

Gianna smiled, her expression like the warm winter sun, melting the gloom knotted in Beta's heart. Unable to resist, she cupped his face in both hands and kissed each cheek, then left a light kiss on his forehead.

As she studied Beta closely, she noticed the faint red marks on his neck.

"What's this?" A teasing smile flickered in her eyes as she lightly touched the marks. "Does Salong have someone special? Who's the lucky girl?"

Beta smiled. "When the time is right, I'll bring her to meet you."

Gianna nodded knowingly, the lines at the corners of her eyes softening with her smile.

Gianna took out her phone to check the time, then stood and moved to Beta's side. Gently, she rested his head against her abdomen and combed her fingers through his hair. "I have to go. My flight's about to take off."

Beta stood and reached to steady her by the arm. "I'll walk you to the tarmac."

But Gianna shook her head, giving his palm a gentle squeeze. "Just see me off here. It's better if we're not seen together."

Her voice grew quieter, tinged with reluctance and restraint.

Beta nodded. "All right."

Gianna turned and headed for the elevator, her heels clicking crisply across the marble floor.

She pressed the button and, in the few seconds of waiting, rubbed her fingertips along the edge of her phone. When the elevator chimed and its doors slid open, she didn't step inside right away. Instead, she turned and looked down the hall at Beta.

The corners of her lips lifted in a tender but slightly bitter smile. There was so much she had left unsaid in her eyes.

The elevator doors began to close automatically. Her slender figure was gradually obscured by the metal panels, until at last a soft click sounded and she disappeared behind the shut doors.

Silence settled over the hallway once more. Beta stood where he was, seeming to catch the faint trace of her fragrance still lingering in the air.

Beta rubbed his face hard, crushing all his feelings in his palm. He stared down at the floor, his Adam's apple bobbing once. When he looked up again, the longing that had churned in his eyes had been forcibly snuffed out.

When Beta pushed open the office door, Sophia was standing behind Matilda, wrapping her arms around her as she showed her how to tame her two fierce mastiffs.

The light fell across them, and Sophia's voice was impossibly gentle. "That's right. Make them remember who's in charge."

Her movements were practiced and patient. She guided Matilda's wrist with her fingertips, helping her make the right command gestures.

Beta knew that Sophia had a daughter the same age as Matilda. Like him and Gianna, Sophia had been forced to sever her own tender ties as manager of the Continental Hotel. That girl was probably somewhere safe now, living a life in which she could rarely see her mother.

"Bite here." Sophia took Matilda's little hand and drew a red circle on the training dummy. "The third leg."

She spoke softly into the girl's ear, as tenderly as if she were teaching her daughter to bake cookies, though her words were horrifying. The two mastiffs bared their gleaming fangs, poised at their feet.

Sophia gave Matilda's wrist a slight lift, and the two mastiffs lunged forward. They sank their teeth precisely into the dummy's crimson-marked spot. The height had been carefully calculated so that, whether the target was male or female, their sharp teeth would strike the most vulnerable point in an instant.

Matilda's eyes widened as she watched the two powerful dogs shake the training dummy violently, rubber stuffing bursting out through the tears.

"See?" Sophia whispered in her ear, gently smoothing the girl's hair. "Even the fiercest enemy will go limp like a rag doll if you hit this spot."

Her voice still held a mother's tenderness. The two mastiffs released the dummy, their mouths covered in scraps of fabric, and sat at their feet with their red tongues lolling out, as if they had just finished a pleasant game.

Sophia glanced up and spotted Beta. Her fingertips lightly brushed Matilda's hair. "How did it go?"

Beta sank into the sofa. The two mastiffs came over, their damp noses rubbing against his trouser legs.

He reached out and patted one of them on the head. "Which part are you asking about?"

Sophia led Matilda to sit opposite him. The two mastiffs immediately abandoned Beta and crawled to her feet, tails wagging. Her slender fingers scratched one under the chin, though her gaze stayed on Beta. "Are you all right?"

She spoke very softly. "It's always like this. A hurried meeting with family, then another hurried goodbye."

Matilda leaned obediently against her side, and Sophia rested her other hand lightly on the girl's shoulder. "It's the same for me and my daughter."

Her final words were almost a sigh, swallowed by the dogs' warm breathing.

Beta gave her a carefree smile. "I'm great."

He reached out to tease the mastiff, running his knuckles through its coarse fur. "I'm used to it, Sophia. I'm already twenty-nine."

The mastiff raised its head and licked his wrist. Beta chuckled softly, but the smile never reached his eyes.