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

"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 what's

rearview mirror, "I told the

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being

prison,

Declan alone, facing his stoic expression,

his hoarse voice breaking through, "She

nothing but threw a photo

saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in his

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

into a

involved, her end would be

"She never made it

narrowed, "What final step? Who is

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

deal wouldn't surface until the

Declan's voice was

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

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

not, but if this person was chosen by her, or

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

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

He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets,

eyes, "Name the person, and I'll grant you

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

eyes narrowed, but it was too late to

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

a person, but any clues to their identity

scene. Draven