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.

"Did you and Griffin Martinez elope

guards Griffin. If I dared

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

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

Vivienne was speechless.

was she being dragged into

prison, Leopold

expression, she

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

threw a photo into his

saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in

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

be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How

Anna involved, her end

darkened as he muttered, "She never made

eyes narrowed, "What final step?

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

this deal wouldn't surface until the very

Declan's voice was

your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know of

Anything she couldn't take

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

"You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her.

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

how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some of

"Name the person, and

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

it was too late

his inner energy,

person, but any clues to

rushed in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies, we failed in