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

to fetch his blood pressure medication, fearing he'd drop dead from anger

a package over," the butler announced, entering

I told you Griffin wouldn't really leave me. She was just angry, saying she'd marry someone else

from the butler,

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

Leopold swallowed hard and stepped back, "Dad,

a riding crop, "As long

"Ah!"

glanced at the package

eyes narrowed upon

playing for keeps this

an idiot. With Griffin's move, it's either win big

where are you going? What

at him, "Chill out.

"What invitation?"

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

gold-embossed red lettering hurt his

To whose

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

been less than two days. What

clenched his

called after

replied, "Dad, I need to confront

you doing

they're ready for everything. Going there now would only embarrass yourself and potentially ruin their

truly chose someone else, you have no right to question her." Leopold's emotions

estate. It seemed Griffin sensed his hesitation and

either fiercely claiming she would

could she marry someone else at

hesitated for a few seconds, thinking