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.

asked, "Did you and Griffin

the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then what's

the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to my request.

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged

prison, Leopold

alone, facing his stoic expression,

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't be

nothing but threw a photo

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in his

for any

a whole was debatable. How

her end would be

as he muttered, "She never made it to

final step?

guessing there was some deal between

wouldn't surface until the very

Declan's voice

gaze turned icy, "She spared your life, there must be something you promised her.

anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with

by her, or related to her,

a means to an end for her. Now

she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are,

could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's

gleam in her eyes, "Name the person, and I'll

bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is flawed.

narrowed, but it was too late to

of his inner energy, struck his

confirmed there was indeed such a person, but any clues to

in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply,