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 Martinez elope

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

car, smiling at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged

prison, Leopold waited

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

hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't

nothing but threw

it, a tumult of emotions flashed

"I personally dealt with her. 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

remains could be pieced back into a

Anna involved, her end would be

as he muttered, "She never made it to the

final step? Who is

hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between

surface until the

don't know," Declan's

something you promised her. How could you not know of this person's

anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was deliberately muddling the

chosen by

just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do

her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think I'd believe

could scheme. He

gleam in her eyes, "Name the person, and I'll grant you a quick

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

but it was too

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

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

team rushed in, shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies, we