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.

and Griffin Martinez elope or

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

at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys

two kids. Let's see who

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged

prison, Leopold

approached Declan alone, facing his stoic expression,

his hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't

nothing but threw a photo

it, a tumult of emotions flashed

personally dealt with her. Her body is now in 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

be pieced back into a

involved, her end would

darkened as he muttered, "She never

"What final step?

hand on Declan, guessing there was some

wouldn't surface until the very

Declan's voice

spared your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not

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

not, but if this person was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a different

barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her.

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

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

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

"What does death matter? The world is flawed. After my death, someone else will

eyes narrowed, but it was too late

inner energy, struck his own temple, ending

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

the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My apologies, we failed in our