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?

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

medication, fearing he'd drop dead from anger

a package over," the

Leopold's face brightened, "See, I told you Griffin wouldn't really leave me. She was just angry, saying she'd

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

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

and stepped back, "Dad, we can talk this

on the table, picking up a

"Ah!"

the package then

upon seeing its

keeps this time? An invitation was

move, it's either win big or lose everything." "Choosing this moment to send

are you

him, "Chill out. They've sent an

"What invitation?"

crop but seemed unfazed. He followed Vivienne,

red lettering hurt

invitation? To

reddening, "I don't believe it. How could Griffin just call it quits with me,

two days. What was she

his fists, storming

after

I need to

you doing

invitation reached us, it means they're ready for everything. Going there now would only embarrass

truly chose someone

only hesitated outside the Martinez estate. It seemed Griffin sensed his

Griffin was either fiercely claiming she would marry him or

marry someone else at

disagreed; he just hesitated for