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

Griffin. If I dared to

the car, smiling at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to my request.

of your two kids. Let's see who

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged into

prison,

Declan alone, facing his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting, Abigail

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking

but threw a photo into his

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of

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

pieced back into a whole was debatable.

Anna involved, her end would

"She never made

eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who is

hand on Declan, guessing

this deal wouldn't surface

know," Declan's

must be something

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

if this person was chosen by

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

you as expendable. Yet, here you are,

how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some

"Name the person, and I'll

laughed bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is flawed. After my death, someone else will complete

narrowed, but it was too late

last of his inner energy, struck his own temple, ending

there was indeed such a person, but any clues to their identity

in, shocked at the scene.