American variety show: Sniper Elite

Chapter 92 Solution
On the terrace in the night, a cold land breeze swept by. Beta and Ashley's hair danced in the dim light, like their tangled thoughts.

Beta stared at the fragmented moonlight on the distant sea, but couldn't find the right words to begin.

Ashley turned her head to the side, the moonlight casting dappled silver light into her eyes. She gazed at the man who had captivated her, her fingertips lightly tracing his jawline.

"Nothing needs to be said, Salong."

She rose, her suit jacket slipping onto the wicker chair. Her holster and leather belt clattered onto the round table. One by one, the buttons of her shirt were undone, revealing a winding scar along her collarbone and her perfectly proportioned body.

Ashley bent down and cupped Beta's face in her hands, her calloused thumb stroking his lips before kissing him earnestly.

The wind suddenly stilled as their lips touched. They exchanged their burning breaths, their heartbeats deafening. When they parted, Ashley's lip gloss had left its mark on Beta's lips, like a blooming flower.

Beta suddenly tightened his arms, and Ashley fell onto his lap. Beta held Ashley's soft waist tightly.

In the darkness, the heat emanating from their bodies dispelled the chill. Their intermittent breaths, mingled with the sound of the waves, ignited a spark in a corner untouched by moonlight.
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When Gianna saw the two young people kissing on the terrace below her window, she turned around and drew the curtains.

Her office, located in the former main hall of the castle, is a grand and spacious space. The medieval-style windows, inlaid with bulletproof glass, cast dappled light and shadow, and the floor is made of meticulously polished stone slabs, smooth as a mirror.

Apart from the antique-style furniture placed along the walls, the most eye-catching feature of the entire space is the tall screen behind the desk, which divides the office into two areas, front and back.

This exquisite screen perfectly blocked all views from the front hall.

Behind the screen, a low-lying bathhouse built of stone sits quietly, its design breaking away from the traditional long and narrow layout of bathhouses, presenting a square outline of 6 meters by 6 meters.

The dark blue LED strips embedded in the pool walls swirl in the misty steam, while the constant-temperature heater at the bottom of the pool continuously emits warm currents. Together with the gently pulsating massage device, they create a comfortable experience inspired by modern technology.

This bath, which perfectly blends medieval charm with modern technology, complements the retro style of the entire office, preserving the historical weight of the castle while cleverly incorporating contemporary comfort elements.

Jaina walked slowly around the screen, her high heels clicking crisply on the smooth stone slabs. Reaching the back of the screen, she slightly lifted her foot, slipped off her heels, and casually tossed them behind it, leaving them to slump at its base.

She turned around to face the five full-length mirrors behind the screen, her fingertips finding the zipper on the back, and gently pulled it down. The silk dress slid down her body, piling up at her feet into a soft heap of fabric.

She raised her hand and removed the hair clip that held her hair back, and her long, light golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, falling onto her slightly thin shoulders.

The woman reflected in the mirror was no longer the alluring underworld princess of yesteryear. Time had left its mark on her; her skin was no longer firm, her figure had slightly changed, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes spoke of the passage of time.

Jaina looked at herself in the mirror, a self-deprecating smile appearing on her lips.

She removed the remaining clothes and stepped into the bath. As the warm water washed over her body, she slowly lay down, supporting herself on the side of the tub. Her pale golden hair spread out on the surface of the water, like a flower in its twilight years.

Daisies? No, that was last season.

Jaina submerged herself in the water, the warm current enveloping every inch of her skin. The brief feeling of suffocation sharpened her mind, and she quickly sketched out a plan to eliminate Santino, while simultaneously calculating how to pave the way for her son's succession. The opposition within the family was no longer a threat. When she seized the position of patriarch, the die-hards were thoroughly purged, leaving only opportunistic cowards. These people remained silent while she was in power, only daring to cautiously emerge when Santino held the upper hand.

The real threat comes from the High Table.

Santino made absurd promises to those seat holders at the expense of the family's long-term interests, in exchange for their tacit approval or support. These are the people Jaina needs to focus her efforts on dealing with.

She categorized her enemies into three groups: first, the Antonio family's arch-enemies, who were eager to see internal strife within the family; second, the covetous opportunists, who were waiting for an opportunity to annex the Antonio family's power; and most chillingly, the so-called allies, who chose to stand by and watch after receiving benefits from Santino.

Beneath the surface, Jaina knew very well that to defeat this alliance, she had to adopt a strategy of division and disintegration.

The feeling of suffocation intensified, and just as she was about to break through her limit, Jaina abruptly sat up in the water. Water droplets rolled down her wet, pale golden hair, meandering along the curves of her skin.

She gathered all her long hair behind her head, crossed her legs, and slowly leaned against the massager by the pool. The warm water enveloped her body, bringing a moment of relaxation and tranquility.

The third type of people, the opportunistic "allies," are the easiest to win over. They only care about their own interests and have no other designs on the Antonio family. As long as their current predicament can be resolved, or if they are offered more attractive terms than Santino, these fence-sitters will quickly switch sides again.

Gianna gently closed her eyes, the warm water softly patting her skin, echoing her gradually taking shape plan.

Jaina had already identified the first High Table member she wanted to recruit.

Regardless of which seat holder she chooses, she decides to have Saron personally undertake this task. To smoothly succeed to the throne under the watchful eyes of the family and the High Table, he must prove his abilities to everyone.

Within his family, he needs to demonstrate strong leadership; within the High Table, he must establish an unassailable authority.

Every succession to the throne requires corresponding achievements. In a power system like the Antonio family, only an heir who can win the approval of the High Table, forcefully quell family crises, and inspire awe in the outside world is truly qualified to sit on that throne.

The warm water rippled gently as Jaina's fingers traced its surface. This mission was not only about the immediate struggle for power, but also Sauron's best chance to prove himself.

Jaina had unwavering faith in Saron's abilities, a confidence stemming from her deepest understanding of her son as a mother.

In fact, Sauron's eventual transformation into a professional assassin was a result of Jaina's deliberate indulgence.

She had countless opportunities to stop her son from going down this path, but she always chose to acquiesce. Because she had been waiting for this very moment.

The power of the Antonio family was something Gianna earned by sacrificing her entire life's happiness and her youth. This hard-won power must, and can only, be inherited by her bloodline.

Her resolute gaze was reflected in the water.

To achieve this goal, she was willing to let her son's hands be stained with blood, and even more willing to become the most ruthless mother.

(End of this chapter)