Chapter 1

My wife's enemy had me. I was bleeding out. Meanwhile, she rallied her men to save her suicidal ex.

The abandoned warehouse reeked of blood.

Bruno pressed his combat knife against my throat. He had already slashed me five times. My expensive custom white shirt was soaked red.

Bruno snarled. The blade dug into my skin.

"Call her!" His eyes burned with hate. "Tell Valeria, that cold-blooded bitch, to come save you!"

I looked at Valeria's number on the screen. A bitter taste filled my mouth.

Before the reset, I made the call. I begged like a dog. She left Julian and came for me. I lived. Julian "accidentally" died in his condo. Then, on our anniversary, she sliced me to pieces.

"What are you waiting for?" Bruno kept the blade on my neck. "Scared she won't come?"

I slowly shook my head. "No. I'm wondering if she even cares."

I dialed her private line. Three rings.

"What is it?" Her voice was ice.

Julian was sobbing in the background. "Val... I can't take this... The bloody bullets and death threats from the Dons... I'm so scared..."

I took a deep breath. "Valeria. Bruno took me. Southside abandoned warehouse. He slashed me five times."

Silence on the line. Then, a harsh, mocking laugh.

"Caspian, you're the Consigliere of the Costa Family. The smartest man I know. When did your acting get so sloppy?"

Bruno's face twisted. The blade pressed harder. It drew blood.

"You get 'attacked' right when Julian gets death threats? Right when he's breaking down?" Valeria sounded annoyed. "Stop it. I know you're jealous. But do I look like a child to you?"

My chest wounds burned. But her cold words hurt more.

"Val, please... I'm losing my mind..." Julian cried louder.

"Your safe house has top-tier security and firepower. I know that," Valeria sneered. "Bruno is a nobody. How could he hack your codes? Unless you let him in to stage this little pity play!"

Her cold words echoed through the speaker. Bruno's bloodshot eyes flared with pure hate. He pushed the knife deeper.

A red line opened on my neck.

My hands shook in fear. But I held onto my last shred of calm.

"I'm not stopping you from saving Julian. Send two soldiers to check if you don't believe me..."

"Enough!" Valeria cut me off.

"I don't have time for your games. I'm staying with Julian. Marco!"

"Yes, Boss." The Capo's voice came through.

"Stand down on the Southside hit. Tell the guards to ignore the Consigliere's childish stunts."

My heart clenched. "Valeria, you can't—"

"I have real business to handle." Her tone was a death sentence. "Julian needs me. I'm not listening to your fairy tales."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

She hung up.

Bruno's hate boiled over. Suffocating despair gripped my throat.

I never thought Valeria could be this ruthless.

Last time, right here, I called her countless times. I begged like a dog.

She finally ditched Julian and stormed the warehouse.

Julian broke down. He set his penthouse on fire and burned to death.

That night, in my hospital bed, I noticed she was acting weird. I asked if she was mad.

Valeria lost her usual impatience. She leaned over me gently. But her eyes held a chilling obsession. She traced my lips.

"Why would I be mad at you, baby? He died. He deserved it. Don't overthink."

"Our anniversary is in a week, right? Darling, I have a surprise you'll never forget."

She played the loving wife then. I was foolish enough to think she finally saw my worth.

Until our anniversary. She drugged me. Tied me to a steel chair in the torture room. Her eyes were bloodshot. She carved my flesh, piece by piece. She told me to go to hell and apologize to Julian!

"It was just a few cuts! You weren't dying! Why did you force me to save you?"

"I wouldn't have left him if you didn't lie! I actually believed your bullshit! I was so stupid!"

"He died alone! He was scared of the dark. Scared of being alone. He was so desperate!"

"Caspian, do you know what it feels like to lose your true love? Do you?!"

Valeria kept slashing. My blood poured like a fountain. It painted the torture room red.

I broke down and tried to explain. I was in real danger. But she just tortured me harder!

She never believed me!

Half an hour later, I was ruined. My ribs were showing. I was dying.

Valeria pulled out Julian's black-and-white funeral photo. She forced my head down. She made me kneel to it.

Then, she burned down the entire estate. She let me burn to death. Just like Julian.

Remembering that mind-shattering despair, I almost went insane.

Bruno saw Valeria wasn't coming. His eyes went red. He carved into my flesh a dozen more times.

Blood dripped down my shirt. It pooled on the rough concrete.

Just as I lost all hope, the old Godfather stormed in with his guards! He was Valeria's father.

He saw me covered in blood. The old Don stumbled. His face turned pale with shock!