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 or

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

told the guys about you agreeing to my request. Let them die of

of your two kids. Let's see who dares to mess with me

Vivienne was speechless.

she being

prison, Leopold

his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop

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

said nothing but threw a photo into his

tumult

As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The

be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could she start

involved, her

as he muttered, "She never

eyes narrowed, "What final step?

guessing there was some deal between him

deal wouldn't surface

don't know," Declan's voice was

be something you

grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing

but if this person was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a different

wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her.

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

Declan could scheme. He must harbor some

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

world is flawed. After

narrowed, but it

energy, struck

confirmed there was indeed such a person, but

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