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

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 the goofy

the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to my request. Let

kids. Let's see who

Vivienne was speechless.

was she being dragged

the prison,

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

hoarse voice breaking through, "She

said nothing but threw a photo into

tumult of

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

into a whole was

Anna involved, her end would

as he muttered, "She never made it to

"What final step? Who

a hand on Declan, guessing

this deal wouldn't surface

Declan's voice was

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

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

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. Now that Abigail is dead,

yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you

He must harbor some of

"Name the person, and

death matter? The world is flawed. After my death, someone else will complete our

eyes narrowed, but it was too late

with the last of his inner energy, struck his own temple,

person, but any clues to their identity were now

at the scene. Draven bowed deeply, "My