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 or

the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then what's with the goofy

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

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

Vivienne was speechless.

being dragged into

the prison,

alone, facing his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting,

those words, Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She

said nothing but threw a photo into his

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions

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

remains could be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could

involved, her end

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

eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who

hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between him and

wouldn't surface until

Declan's voice was

life, there must be something you promised her. How could you

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

chosen by her, or related to her, it's a

to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with

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

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

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

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

but it was too

his inner energy, struck his own temple, ending his

death confirmed there was indeed such a person, but any clues to their

scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My