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.

you and Griffin Martinez elope

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

the rearview mirror, "I told the guys

two kids. Let's see who

Vivienne was speechless.

was she being dragged into

the prison, Leopold waited

facing his stoic expression, she

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse

said nothing but threw a photo

a tumult of emotions flashed

the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost nil." The photo had been sent by Anna before the deed

Abigail's remains could be pieced back into a

her end

darkened as he muttered, "She never made it to the final

narrowed, "What final

on Declan, guessing there was some deal between him

this deal wouldn't surface

Declan's voice was

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

let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd

not, but if this person was chosen by

"You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with me

unmoved, "You've gone to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think I'd believe

deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor some of

"Name the person, and

The world is

but it was

his inner energy, struck his own

a person, but any clues to

in, shocked at the scene.