The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The chat group was quiet at first, filled with question marks. Then, like a stone thrown into a pond, messages began to flood in.

It was like a bomb had gone off.

Jerry Perez, the second oldest, chimed in: "Leopold, that trick won't work on us!"

Daniel, the third, added: "No offense, Leopold, but you're just not in the same league as us."

Eric, the fourth, joked: "Leopold's definitely got some delusions of grandeur."

Old-man Dawson couldn't believe it: "Has Leopold lost his mind? ... The nerve to say that, did you eat lion's heart and leopard's courage?"

Donald, the sixth, laughed: "Leopold, you're trying to kill us with laughter. If Vivienne would let her kid call you godfather, I'd call you godfather too!" Enzo agreed: "Seconded!"

Larry, the eighth, added: "Seconded +1!"

Gary sent a long voice message, laughing so hard he couldn't even speak.

Leopold, feeling smug, was driving with one hand and replied with a voice message, specifically tagging Donald.

"Come on, Donald, the master is still here. If you call me godfather... that's like shortening my life!"

"And if you dared, I wouldn't dare accept."

The group went silent.

Then, Old-man Dawson sent a message, "Leopold, did Vivienne confirm this herself?"

Leopold couldn't suppress his grin. "Dawson, you too? Would I dare share the news with you guys if Vivienne hadn't agreed?"

With that, Leopold closed his phone, feeling victorious as the group's messages kept coming.

He had secured his position as godfather.

The next day, when Vivienne got into the car, she saw Leopold grinning from ear to ear as if he'd stumbled upon some great fortune.

asked, "Did you and Griffin Martinez

"Vivienne, why are you teasing me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd

started the car, smiling at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys

godfather of your two kids. Let's see who dares to

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged into

the prison, Leopold waited

stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting, Abigail is

those words, Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She

said nothing but threw a photo into his

tumult of

raising an eyebrow, "I personally dealt with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her

a

her end would

eyes darkened as he muttered, "She

"What final step?

hadn't laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal

deal wouldn't surface until the

Declan's voice

turned icy, "She spared your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know

grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was deliberately muddling the

this person was chosen by her, or

I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is

to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you

scheme. He must harbor some

gleam in her eyes, "Name the person, and I'll grant you a quick

does death matter? The world is flawed. After my death, someone else

but it was too

inner energy, struck his own

such a person, but

in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies,