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

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

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

godfather of your two kids. Let's see who dares

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged

the prison, Leopold

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

tensed, his hoarse voice

threw

tumult of

an eyebrow, "I personally dealt with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances

into a whole was

her end would

muttered, "She never

final step?

a hand on Declan, guessing there was some

this deal wouldn't surface

Declan's

must be something you promised her. How could

she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy

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

looked down, "You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do

you as expendable. Yet,

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

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

is flawed. After my

narrowed, but it was too late to

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

death confirmed there was indeed such a person,

scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My