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 Martinez elope

why are you teasing me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then what's with

told the guys about you agreeing to my request.

the godfather of your two kids. Let's

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged

the prison,

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

his hoarse voice

but threw a

moment Declan saw it, a tumult

observed, slightly raising an eyebrow, "I personally dealt with her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a

be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How

involved, her end

he muttered, "She never made

narrowed, "What final step? Who is

hand on Declan, guessing there was

wouldn't surface until

don't know," Declan's voice was

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

her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was deliberately

not, but if this person was chosen by her,

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

for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here

how deep Declan could scheme. He

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

laughed bitterly, "What does death matter? The world is

eyes narrowed, but it

of his inner energy, struck

was indeed such a person, but

team rushed in, shocked at the scene.