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 or

If I dared to elope, they'd skin

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

to be the godfather of your two kids. Let's see who dares to

Vivienne was speechless.

being

prison, Leopold

alone, facing his stoic expression, she calmly stated,

body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through,

said nothing but threw a photo into his

it, a tumult of emotions flashed in his

any chances

a whole was debatable. How could she

involved, her

as he muttered, "She never

"What final step? Who is

hadn't laid a hand on Declan, guessing there was some

this deal wouldn't surface until the

know," Declan's voice

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

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

was chosen by her, or related

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

regarded you as expendable. Yet,

could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets,

"Name the person, and

bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is

narrowed, but it was too

inner energy, struck his

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

shocked at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies,