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.

you and Griffin Martinez elope or

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

Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to my request. Let them

to be the godfather of your two kids. Let's

Vivienne was speechless.

being

the prison,

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

tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't

but threw a photo

tumult of emotions flashed

observed, slightly raising 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 before the deed was

pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could

involved, her end would be

eyes darkened as he muttered, "She never made

final step? Who is

Declan, guessing there was

this deal wouldn't surface

don't know," Declan's voice was

be something you promised her. How could you

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

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

looked down, "You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an

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

could scheme. He must harbor some of

restrained the gleam in her eyes, "Name the person,

is flawed. After my death, someone else will complete

eyes narrowed, but it was too late

his inner energy, struck his own temple, ending his

a person, but any clues to their identity were

at the scene. Draven