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

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

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

your two kids. Let's see who dares to

Vivienne was speechless.

she being

prison,

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

his hoarse voice breaking

said nothing but threw a

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

observed, slightly raising an eyebrow, "I personally dealt with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a

could be pieced back into a whole was debatable.

Anna involved, her end would

he muttered, "She never

narrowed, "What final step? Who is

a hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between

surface until the

know," Declan's voice was

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

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

chosen by her, or related to her, it's a

a means to an end for her.

to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think

knew how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets,

eyes, "Name the person, and I'll

world is

eyes narrowed, but it

with the last of his inner energy, struck

such a person, but any clues to their identity were

his team rushed in, shocked at the scene.