Antonio could hardly contain his fear as he faced Charlie’s fierce demeanor and icy presence.


    Charlie’s chilling words only amplified his terror; he understood that Charlie’s promise not to kill him was merely temporary. His fate rested entirely on Charlie’s unpredictable mood.


    Desperate, Antonio pleaded, “Mr. Wade, we’ve merely had a small misunderstanding today. You’ve already broken my knee, and I’ve paid a steep price for it. I hope you can see my sincerity and not hold this against me… I truly recognize my mistakes…”


    With a sly smile, Charlie replied, “Why are you crying? Sicilian men bleed and sweat but do not shed tears. If you cry like this in front of your daughter, how can you im to represent the Sicilian people?”<fn3459> Official source is FιndNovel</fn3459>


    Antonio felt a wave of shame wash over him.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Though he often boasted about the Sicilian spirit, facing the threat of death made him forget everything. At that moment, all he wanted was for Charlie to spare his life. He would have been willing to do anything—run naked from here to Manhattan and circle Central Park three times—if it meant survival.


    Very few sessful individuals are truly unafraid of death.


    Despite his rise from a life of violence, Antonio no longer possessed the reckless courage of his youth.


    In his younger days, much like other boys of fourteen and fifteen, he came from a poor background, had no money, and had never knownfort. When he embarked on violent missions, he couldn’t even afford a taxi; he would take the bus with a machete strapped to his back, often dodging the fare.


    At that time, he had little understanding of life’s value. He lived a life where he could only take the bus tomit crimes and, if he died, would end up in an ambnce; a knife wound to the forehead held no fear for him.


    However, as he wed his way up to be the most powerful mafia boss in New York, fear of death consumed him.


    His bravery only surfaced when he felt utterly dominant over his foes. Just ten minutes earlier, when he perceived Charlie as a mere insect beneath his heel, he felt invincible.


    Yet, now that he found himself in a vulnerable position, the courage he once had vanished without a trace.


    To save himself from pain, Antonio resorted to tears, saying, “Mr. Wade, if you’re still dissatisfied, I’m willing to offer you five million dors. It’s a small gesture…”


    Charlie chuckled and asked, “Antonio, how much money do you really have?”


    Antonio panicked, avoiding Charlie’s gaze as he stammered, “I… I… I have a worth of tens of millions of dors…”


    Charlie raised his pistol, pressing the barrel against Antonio’s right cheek, sneering, “Are you more afraid of dying or losing money?”


    Antonio, trembling, quickly corrected himself, “No, no… I misspoke! Mr. Wade, I… I probably have hundreds of millions…”


    He quickly added, “But most of it is tied up in real estate…”


    With a cold stare, Charlie suddenly pulled the trigger, the deafening sound echoing in Antonio’s ear. The shockwave left his right ear buzzing. He couldn’t tell if it was the gunshot or something else, but soon he felt warmth trickling down his cheek.


    In horror, he touched his ear only to discover that it had been shot off!