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

blushed, "Vivienne, why are you teasing me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me

Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys

godfather of your two kids. Let's

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged into

the prison, Leopold waited

his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting, Abigail is

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

said nothing but threw a photo into

a tumult

As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The photo had been sent by Anna

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

involved, her

as he muttered, "She

eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who

laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between him

deal wouldn't surface until

know," Declan's voice was

gaze turned icy, "She spared your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know of this person's

too arrogant to let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her

but if this person was chosen by

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

remained unmoved, "You've gone to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are,

scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets,

"Name the person,

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

narrowed, but it was

last of his inner energy,

person, but any clues to their identity were now

at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My