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

me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If

in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged

prison, Leopold waited

stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting, Abigail

hoarse voice breaking

threw

a tumult

lab. As for any chances of her making

be pieced back into a whole was debatable.

involved, her end would be

"She never made it

eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who

laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was some

surface until

know," Declan's voice

life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know of this

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

not, but if this person was chosen by her,

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

great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable.

how deep Declan could scheme. He

gleam in her eyes, "Name the person, and I'll

is flawed. After my death, someone else will

narrowed, but it was too late to

his inner energy, struck his own temple,

there was indeed such a person,

scene. Draven