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

know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne

told the guys about you agreeing to my request. Let

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

Vivienne was speechless.

was she being

the prison,

stoic expression, she calmly

those words, Declan's body tensed, his hoarse

said nothing but threw

it, a tumult of emotions flashed in

Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The photo had been

back into a whole was debatable.

her end

"She

eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who

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

deal wouldn't surface

Declan's voice was

spared your life, there must be something

couldn't take with her, she'd destroy

person was chosen by her, or

tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is

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

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

restrained the gleam in her eyes, "Name the

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

but it was too

inner energy, struck his own temple, ending his

was indeed such a person, but any clues to their identity were now

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