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.

you and Griffin Martinez elope or

the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive."

"I told the guys

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

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged

prison, Leopold waited

his stoic expression, she

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't

said nothing but threw a photo into his

tumult of

now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's

remains could be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could she

her

"She never made it to the final

final step? Who

guessing there was some

deal wouldn't surface until

don't know," Declan's voice

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

else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her,

if this person was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a

just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with me as you

remained unmoved, "You've gone to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think I'd believe

scheme. He must

in her eyes, "Name the person, and

world is flawed. After my death, someone

it was too

inner energy, struck his own temple,

such a person, but any clues to their identity were now

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