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

"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 alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then

at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about

two kids. Let's see who

Vivienne was speechless.

was she being dragged into

prison, Leopold waited

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

tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through,

said nothing but threw

saw it, a tumult of emotions

"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

a whole was debatable. How could she

involved, her end would be

muttered, "She never made it to

narrowed, "What final step? Who is

a hand on Declan, guessing

deal wouldn't surface

Declan's

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

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

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

to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do

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

knew how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets, deeply

"Name the person, and I'll

laughed bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is flawed. After my death, someone else will complete our

but it was

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

a person, but any clues to

and his team rushed in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My