The Godfather's Love Has Expired Chapter 1

I entered into a family alliance with the same man seven times.

And seven times, my husband tore up our contract for the woman he truly loved.

The first time we made our vows, he looked me in the eye.

"From now on, my loyalty belongs only to you," he said.

But the moment his beloved Serafina returned to the city, his tone changed completely.

"Can't you look at the big picture?" he snapped.

"Do you really want Serafina to be blamed for breaking the family alliance? Do you want to start a war?"

The first time he broke our pact, I tried to end my life to make him stay.

I slashed my wrists.

The family surgeon saved me just in time.

But my husband didn't even come to see me.

The third time he broke the pact, I gave up my status as an heiress.

I went to work at his headquarters as a lowly assistant, just for the chance to see him.

The sixth time he broke the pact, I had learned my lesson.

I quietly packed my things and moved out of the manor we shared.

My hysteria, my constant compromises, my absolute obedience...

All it got me was that man renewing our contract like clockwork, only to betray me again.

But this time was different.

When I got the news that his beloved mistress was coming back, I didn't wait.

I handed the termination agreement to him myself.

He assumed we would just set a date to renew the marriage later.

He didn't know that this time, I was leaving his world forever.

...

"Serafina is back. Let's dissolve the alliance."

My face was expressionless as I pushed the papers toward my husband, Julian Costello.

For a second, the man looked stunned.

But his cold mask returned quickly.

He signed his name on the agreement with a practiced hand.

This was the first time I had ever initiated the breakup.

But just like the previous six times, he made a casual promise.

"She'll leave in a month. We'll hold the ceremony again then."

In the past, that sentence would have terrified me.

I would have forced him to swear on his family's honor.

But this time, I felt nothing.

I didn't even have the energy to respond.

"Ava, are you listening to me?"

Julian frowned, clearly annoyed by my silence.

I just nodded.

"Yeah."

I didn't stop folding my clothes and placing them into my suitcase.

Julian believed that if he said we would remarry, we would remarry.

In the underworld, he was famous for keeping his word.

Besides, we weren't really like a husband and wife.

We were more like business partners who had to renew a contract periodically.

We signed marriage certificates and divorce papers like they were routine office forms.

I had signed twelve of those useless papers so far.

I still remember our wedding.

He told me he would never betray me while the alliance was active.

And technically, he kept that promise.

Because every time he wanted to be with her, he divorced me first.

The price was that I became a joke in the city's elite circles.

I was the toy he could pick up and throw away whenever he pleased.

But my calm behavior today seemed to make Julian uncomfortable.

He still remembered how I used to scream, cry, and hurt myself.

He watched me pack my luggage with practiced speed.

"Maybe I should move out this time..." he mumbled awkwardly.

Click.

I snapped the large suitcase shut, cutting him off.

"I talked to Chloe. I'm staying at her place for a few days."

Julian's face darkened, as if he suddenly remembered something.

"Don't try any tricks, Ava."

"Don't try to sneak into my headquarters dressed as some low-level assistant again."

"Ava Sterling, can't you have a life of your own? Can't you survive without a man?"

I understood his hidden meaning immediately.

He didn't want me interrupting his time with Serafina.

After the second divorce, I had used my family connections to become his assistant.

I had walked into his office with his favorite espresso, full of hope.

I walked in on him making out with Serafina, who was sitting on his lap.

I lost my mind and tried to hit her.

Julian slapped me to the floor.

The entire office staff saw it.

Everyone thought I was still the mistress of the Costello family, yet they looked at me with pity.

To protect Serafina's reputation, Julian dumped the contents of my purse onto the floor.

The dark red divorce papers spilled out for everyone to see.

From then on, every time he divorced me, he announced it to the whole underground world.

Everyone knew Julian loved Serafina.

And everyone knew I was the shameless ex-wife who refused to leave.

But this time, Julian's worry was unnecessary.

I picked up my suitcase without hesitation.

"Don't worry. I won't disturb you."

Julian looked at me suspiciously.

As I stepped out the door, he called out with a hint of urgency.

"We renew the alliance on the 13th of next month. Don't forget."

I paused for a moment.

What a coincidence.

The 13th was the day I was scheduled to leave this country forever.