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

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

mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing

your two kids. Let's

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged

the prison, Leopold

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

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking

said nothing but threw a photo into his

it, a tumult of

an eyebrow, "I personally dealt with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost

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

involved, her end

as he muttered, "She never made it to the final

final step? Who

on Declan, guessing there was

this deal wouldn't surface

don't know," Declan's voice was

something you promised her.

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

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

the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with me as

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

Declan could scheme. He

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

world is flawed. After

narrowed, but it was too

last of his inner energy, struck his own temple,

was indeed such a person, but any clues to their

scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies, we