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

Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me

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

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

Vivienne was speechless.

was she being dragged

prison,

expression, she calmly stated,

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

said nothing but threw a photo

it, a tumult

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

back into a whole was debatable. How could

her

"She never made it

"What final step? Who

on Declan, guessing

this deal wouldn't surface until the very

don't know," Declan's

must be something you promised her. How could you not

was too arrogant to let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was deliberately

but if this person was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a different

I was just a means to an end

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

could scheme. He must

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

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

but it was

energy, struck his

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

team rushed in, shocked at the scene.