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

If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed

rearview mirror, "I told the

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged into

the prison,

Declan alone, facing his stoic expression, she

his hoarse voice breaking through, "She

threw a photo

a tumult of emotions flashed

with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making

pieced back into a

Anna involved, her end would be

"She never made it

"What final

laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between

this deal wouldn't surface until

Declan's

something you promised her. How could you not

complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her

this person was chosen by her,

to an

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

He

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

laughed bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is

but it was too

last of his inner energy,

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

at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My