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?

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

fearing he'd drop dead from anger at

sent a package over,"

Griffin wouldn't really leave me. She

he took the package from the butler, the Sterling family patriarch's face

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

grim expression, Leopold swallowed hard and stepped back, "Dad, we can talk this

the package on the table, picking up a riding crop,

"Ah!"

package then

narrowed upon seeing

playing for keeps this time?

down at Leopold, who was taking the punishment, his brows furrowed, "He's not an idiot. With Griffin's move, it's either win big or lose everything." "Choosing this moment to

Percival, where are you going?

scoffed at him, "Chill out. They've

"What invitation?"

the sting of the crop but seemed unfazed. He

gold-embossed red lettering hurt

To whose

fully, tossing it aside and turning away, his eyes reddening,

than two days. What was she

clenched his fists,

Douglas called after him, his

"Dad, I need to confront the

you

for everything. Going there now would

truly chose someone else, you have no

Martinez estate. It seemed Griffin sensed his hesitation and suddenly let

mind, Griffin was either fiercely claiming she would marry him or coolly chasing after him on her

could she marry someone else at this

he just hesitated for a few seconds,