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

how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin

the rearview mirror, "I told the guys

be the godfather of your two kids. Let's see who dares to mess with me

Vivienne was speechless.

being

prison, Leopold

facing his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop

those words, Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice

threw a photo

Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed

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 nil." The photo had been sent by Anna

a whole was debatable. How could she

Anna involved, her end

darkened as he muttered, "She never made it to

narrowed, "What final step? Who

a hand on Declan, guessing there was

this deal wouldn't surface until

know," Declan's voice was

be something you promised her. How could you not know of

uncomfortably, "She was too arrogant to let anyone 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 different

a means to an end for her. Now that

to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you

knew how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor

the person, and I'll grant

is flawed. After my death, someone else

but it was too late to

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

confirmed there was indeed such a person,

shocked at the scene.