American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 190 Good News from the Family

Weston smiled and filled in the numbers as Matilda suggested, his glasses chain swaying slightly as he looked up: "Ah, you've come."

Matilda turned her head at the sound, and her eyes lit up when she saw Beta.

She rushed over, completely disregarding her ladylike demeanor, and grabbed Beta's shoulder with such force that Beta stumbled a step, caught off guard: "Salong! Did you miss me!"

Beta steadied himself and looked down at the girl who reached his chest: "What am I thinking about? Waiting for you to come here and continue to torment me? Hmm?"

Matilda pouted unhappily, released Beta's shoulder, and instead put her arm around Katalia's, looking up at her and asking, "Have you missed me?"

Katalia raised an eyebrow, pointing at herself: "Me? Have you forgotten that we don't get along?"

Matilda clicked her tongue: "Boring!"

She opened her arms wide: "Can't you guys show that dramatic, long-awaited joy of reunion? Ha?"

Beta chuckled softly, "No, because you're still the same as always. I don't know what kind of trouble you're going to cause next."

Matilda gave a soft snort, pretending not to care about Beta, but still reached out and grabbed his shoulder, leaning close affectionately: "Where's Ashley? Where did she go?"

Beta looked at Katalia; he didn't know where Ashley was either.

Katalia's fingers gently ran through Matilda's long hair: "Ashley said she's going to another place for a follow-up examination to confirm the results."

Beta frowned and asked, "What exactly is wrong with Ashley's health? When I asked her, she was being secretive and wouldn't give me a clear answer."

Katalia shrugged. "If Ashley doesn't want to say, I can't either. But I can tell you it's not a bad thing."

Beta walked over to John and sat down next to him.

He carefully examined the man beside him, a man known for his stubbornness.

John now sports a neatly slicked-back hairstyle, each strand falling smoothly backward. He wears custom-made clothing without any conspicuous logos; the fine cashmere fabric and stitching exude understated luxury.

This assassin, who once struck fear into the hearts of the underworld, now exudes the aura of a successful businessman, even his nails are meticulously manicured.

Beta's gaze fell on John's eyes, those once sharp eyes now as calm as a lake.

Beta's voice held a touch of emotion: "You've changed a lot, a great deal."

John's gaze lingered on Beta's face, as afternoon sunlight streamed through the French windows.

Beta's icy blue eyes are now like a frozen lake, calm on the surface but with deep currents hidden beneath, having lost that chilling sharpness.

John reached out and patted Beta on the shoulder, his palm gently resting on his shoulder: "You've changed a lot too."

Beta smiled. "Carolina said I would eventually change."

John said, "You've changed."

Beta didn't speak, he just nodded.

Matilda squeezed down next to Beta and asked, "What's it like to be in charge of the entire New York underworld?"

Her eyes lit up: "Isn't it awesome? So much fun?"

Beta's gaze drifted through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the towering Chrysler Building in the distance: "It wasn't actually that fun. On the contrary, it was very stressful. If it weren't for Ashley and Katalia helping me..."

He turned to Catalia: "I probably spend all night staring at the ceiling." Beta turned to Matilda and asked, "And you? How's it going in Italy?"

Matilda said, “It’s not bad, the students at school are all nice. It’s just that the school doesn’t really allow me to play around on campus, you know, the whole school is so lifeless, the rules are too rigid, the whole campus is like a medieval monastery.”

"Besides taking all sorts of elite courses, we also have to deal with exams. What I don't understand the most is why equestrianism is included in the grades? And we're required to take a musical instrument as a minor, and we have to pass it. I really don't understand why American elite schools don't require us to learn all this nonsense, even though they're also elite schools."

Beta reached out and ruffled Matilda's hair: "Because it is the oldest and most prestigious private academy in all of Italy, bar none."

Matilda shook her head, strands of hair swaying lightly between Beta's fingers: "I didn't feel any historical depth at all, I just found those teachers to be more and more annoying than the last."

Beta couldn't help but laugh out loud.
-
Ashley finally returned just before dinner.

The restaurant was only occupied by John, Matilda, Catalia, and Beta, their closest friends and family.

The six-seater mahogany dining table was set with exquisite silver cutlery, crystal goblets filled with amber wine, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of roasted truffles and rosemary.

Matilda sat to Beta's left—the little girl hadn't seen Beta in a long time and just wanted to sit next to him. Katalia sat to Beta's right. John sat opposite Beta; only four people were seated at the six-person table.

Matilda was resting her chin on one hand, scooping up her pre-dinner ice cream with the other, her eyes glued to the fashion show playing on the wall-mounted TV. When Beta suddenly nudged her elbow, she nearly fell headfirst into the glass bowl of vanilla ice cream.

"Saron!" she slammed her fist into Beta's arm as she turned around angrily. "I'm going to flatten you!"

Beta laughed and dodged Matilda's punch, then pulled Katalila into his arms to shield her.

John sat opposite them, watching them joke around with a smile.

Just then, Ashley walked into the restaurant: "John, Matilda, you're back?"

Hearing the sound, Matilda turned to look at the door and immediately ran over to hug Ashley: "Ashley! I missed you so much!"

Ashley smiled gently, pulling Matilda into her arms and running her fingers through the girl's long hair.

Beta released her arm from Katalia's and walked up to Ashley: "How is it? I asked Katalia what you were having a check-up for, but she wouldn't tell me."

Ashley released Matilda and took a medical report from her handbag. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she handed the paper to Beta: "I think... I'm pregnant."

This sentence silenced the entire restaurant instantly.

"What!" Matilda's exclamation broke the silence. She covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise.

Beta took the medical examination report, his icy blue eyes shimmering with emotion: "Just as I expected." His fingertips gently traced the diagnosis on the report.

Catalia shrugged, picked up her glass, and took a sip. "I knew it all along. Some people's morning sickness doesn't escape my notice."

Matilda covered her face with her hands, her eyes wide: "I'm pregnant! My Ashley!"

Her voice trembled with disbelief.

Katalia ruffled Matilda's hair: "Are you sad?"

Matilda's eyelashes fluttered slightly: "My Ashley."

She threw herself into Katalia's arms, her voice muffled by the fabric of Katalia's silk shirt: "She's going to be a mother, and she won't just be my Ashley anymore."

(End of this chapter)