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

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

the car, smiling at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to my request. Let them die of

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

Vivienne was speechless.

she being

prison, Leopold

expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting,

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through,

nothing but threw

saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed

her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's

Abigail's remains could be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could she

involved, her end would

muttered, "She never made it to the

"What final step? Who is

hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between him

wouldn't surface

don't know," Declan's

be something you promised

uncomfortably, "She was too arrogant to let anyone else complete her 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

was just a means to

unmoved, "You've gone to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable.

He must

eyes, "Name the

world is flawed.

eyes narrowed, but it was too late to

his inner energy, struck his own temple, ending his

a person, but any clues to their identity

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