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.

and Griffin Martinez elope or

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

the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged into

the prison, Leopold

Declan alone, facing his stoic expression,

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

threw

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed

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

into a whole was

her

muttered, "She

final

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

deal wouldn't surface until

don't know," Declan's voice was

spared your life, there must be something you promised her.

arrogant to let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was

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

looked down, "You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with me as you

yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you

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

the

death matter? The world is flawed. After my death,

but it was too

inner energy,

person, but any clues to their identity were

in, shocked at the scene. Draven