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

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

the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you

two kids. Let's see

Vivienne was speechless.

she being

prison,

expression, she

hoarse voice breaking through,

threw

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in

for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The photo had been sent by Anna

into a whole was debatable. How could

her end would

he muttered, "She never

final step? Who is

laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was

deal wouldn't surface

know," Declan's voice

gaze turned icy, "She spared your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know

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

if this person was chosen by her, or related

down, "You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end

she regarded you as expendable.

He

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

is flawed. After my death, someone else will complete our

it was

energy, struck his own temple, ending his life

a person, but any clues

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