The Million-Dollar Heart

The eyes of the four people pinned Leopold down like he was under an X-ray, seeing right through him.

Feeling guilty, he stuttered, "Um, I..."

"Spit it out, and if you misspeak, I'll break your legs!" Douglas roared, sending shivers down Leopold's already trembling spine.

Stammering, Leopold recounted the events of the day before yesterday in a rushed manner.

Concerned Vivienne might not grasp the whole story, he emphasized, "Vivienne, I swear I didn't say anything. But Griffin, she just stopped in her tracks, didn't even let me in the house, and called off the engagement."

Vivienne listened, baffled but knowing Griffin well, she asked directly, "Do you not want to marry her, or do you not love her?"

Caught off guard by Vivienne's sudden question, Leopold was taken aback, despite the seriousness in her tone.

Faced with the interrogation from the four, he felt an odd sense of déjà vu but compelled by Vivienne's authoritative tone, he managed to say, "I...I like her, Vivienne, you know that..."

"Then why hesitate?" Vivienne cut him off.

"Huh?" Leopold was confused. "Hesitate about what?"

Vivienne was speechless.

Percival thought about smacking Leopold himself, wondering if his head was just for show.

That's why they called him Husky, and it was fitting.

"When Griffin asked you to formally propose at the Martinez estate, why did you hesitate?" Vivienne pressed.

Leopold's face flushed, mumbling, "Isn't it too soon?"

Kellan threw a cup in frustration, "Too soon? That girl from the Martinez family has been head over heels for you for nearly twenty years, and you've been clueless, acting like you don't know. If your eyes don't work, might as well throw them away."

Douglas quickly calmed his father, "Dad, don't get worked up over this fool; it's not worth your health."

Leopold wondered, wasn't he the beloved youngest son of the Sterling family anymore?

Kellan to rest, assuring him they could handle Leopold and make him

fetch his blood pressure medication, fearing he'd

sent a package over," the butler announced,

really leave me. She was just

he took the package from the butler, the

had already gone to the backyard; seeing the package might have darkened

swallowed hard and stepped back, "Dad, we

the package on the table, picking up a riding crop, "As long

"Ah!"

package then handed it to

narrowed upon seeing

for keeps this time? An invitation was

either win big or lose everything." "Choosing this moment to send it, she's clearly made up her

"Vivienne, Percival, where are you going? What about

him, "Chill out. They've sent an invitation;

"What invitation?"

the crop but seemed unfazed. He followed Vivienne, dumping the package's contents on the

gold-embossed red lettering hurt his

invitation? To whose

to open it fully, tossing it aside and turning away, his eyes reddening, "I don't believe it. How could Griffin just call it quits with

than two

clenched his fists, storming

Douglas called after him, his

to

were you

everything. Going there now would only embarrass yourself and potentially ruin their wedding, wouldn't it?" Leopold stopped

many years. If she truly chose someone else, you have no right to

hesitated outside the Martinez estate. It seemed Griffin sensed his hesitation and suddenly let go

mind, Griffin was either fiercely claiming she would marry him

marry someone else

for