Chapter 1

On her birthday, I waited all night for Valentina, but only received one notification.

"By decision of the godmother, the partnership with Adrian Colombo is dissolved effective immediately."

The sender was my wife, Valentina de Luca, the undisputed ruler of the New York underworld and an unerring executioner.

My godmother brought me back from the orphanage because nine-year-old Valentina felt lonely and wanted a playmate.

From that moment on, I tied my life to hers, shielded her from bullets, helped her purge the family's traitors, and gradually pushed her onto the throne of godmother.

Now, with a single notice, she has unilaterally ended our marriage.

Reason? I don't even need to ask.

Because just a second before the notification was issued, the medical report of Antonio Rizzo, the family's second-in-command, had also been circulated among the upper echelons.

The "hero" who once shielded Valentina from a stray bullet claimed that his old shrapnel wound had recurred and he only had three months to live.

His "only" wish before he died was to stand dignified beside Valentina and have a grand wedding.

I dialed Valentina's private number.

The phone rang five times before it was answered.

"You saw the notification I posted on the channel, right?" Valentina's cold voice came through the receiver, carrying the unquestionable authority unique to those in a superior position.

She's always so busy that she doesn't even come home to have a meal with me.

“I saw it.” I leaned back in my chair, my voice cold and devoid of deference. “So, you made my seat vacant so he could rightfully become the head of the Kolob family? Don’t you think that’s a rather crude method, Godmother?”

"Stop being sarcastic, Adrian." Her tone revealed a hint of irritation. "Antonio is dying! He took a bullet for me back then and that's how he got this illness. Is it wrong for me to fulfill his last wish? It's just a ritual, so he can't die as a mistress who can't be seen in public! You're a man, can't you be a little more magnanimous?"

Just then, the sound of running water came from the other end of the phone, followed by Antonio's voice: "Godmother, I've prepared your bathwater, the temperature is just right, please come in..."

My gaze instantly turned icy.

"Are you at his house?" I spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Valentina explained, "I just dealt with a disobedient traitor myself, and I got blood on my clothes. I just happened to be passing by Antonio's place and wanted to take a shower. You wouldn't be jealous of something like this, would you?"

She was taking a bath in the middle of the night at the home of the man who was about to become her "new husband".

She would never have said such a lame excuse to me before.

Once she said that, it proved that she no longer cared about my feelings at all.

“Valentina,” I interrupted her perfunctory explanation, my tone unusually calm, “according to the rules set by the 'system,' once we have officially signed the documents to dissolve our partnership, I will ‘disappear.’”

"Who are you trying to scare?!" Valentina's voice suddenly rose, her tone filled with disgust and arrogant certainty. "Adrian, you're really getting more and more regressive. Trying to force me with 'death'? You think just because you keep talking about that damn 'system' will stop me from making you sign anything? Let me tell you, don't act like a child!"

"I didn't force you."

"Then shut up!" she gave the final, forceful order. "Go to the family law firm this Friday and sign the papers. Don't be late."

She immediately cut off the communication.

Only a deathly silent dial tone remained in the receiver.

I felt no anger at all; on the contrary, I felt a great sense of relief.

Fifteen years of relationship seemed to be cleanly severed by a sharp knife at this moment.

I then opened my social media and the first thing I saw was Antonio's post.

The photo shows a plate of perfectly cut Wagyu beef, captioned: "The hands of my godmother, which once held an execution pistol, were now used to cut steak for me."

Was it just for him to take the knife?

Looking at this post, I didn't get angry; instead, I smiled silently. I was completely heartbroken.

Since Valentina feels my love is a shackle, and Antonio finds my position in their way, I will generously make room for them.

"System," I said in my mind.

"Host, I'm here." A cold, mechanical voice immediately responded.

"Initiating the exit procedure. I abandon my mission in this world."

[Warning: Abandoning the mission will trigger the world annihilation mechanism within 72 hours. The host will completely lose all vital signs in this plane. Confirm?]

"Confirmed." I replied without hesitation.

[The exit procedure has been initiated. As the host is a core influencer in this plane, the system grants you the privilege of choosing your 'disappearance method' (method of death). Options include: death from illness, accidental death, and being shot. Please select.]

Died of illness? That's too lenient on them.

An accident? Not profound enough.

I turned my head and glanced at the empty nail on the wall where a photo of the two of us used to hang, and the arrogant and disbelieving face of Valentina on the phone just now flashed through my mind.

You don't believe I'll disappear, do you? You think I'm threatening you with my life, right?

“I choose to be shot.” A chilling smile curved my lips, my eyes revealing undisguised pressure and determination. “The one who will carry out my death is my godmother, Valentina de Luca.”

The system was silent for half a second.

[Command entered. Death method locked: Godmother Valentina personally shoots him. Please note that once set, it cannot be changed.]

“No changes are needed.” I looked out the window at the dark New York night. “Let her come herself, and with her most prized gun, shoot me through the heart with her own hands.”

I want to see what happens when the truth comes out, when she finally realizes that she herself pulled the trigger, completely erasing the man who had always protected and loved her from this world—

How fascinating must that haughty expression of hers be?