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 elope

teasing me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then what's with the

"I told the guys about you agreeing to my

kids. Let's see

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged

prison, Leopold waited

his stoic expression,

his hoarse voice breaking

threw a photo into

saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in his

her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The

pieced back into a whole

involved, her end would be

muttered, "She never made

narrowed, "What final step? Who

hand on Declan, guessing there

surface until

know," Declan's voice

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

she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with

this person was chosen by her, or related to her,

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

for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think I'd believe

knew how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's

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

"What does death matter? The world is flawed. After my death,

eyes narrowed, but it was

with the last of his inner energy, struck his

person, but any clues

his team rushed in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies, we failed in