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

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

a package over,"

Griffin wouldn't really leave me. She was

from the butler, the Sterling family patriarch's

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

hard and stepped back, "Dad, we can talk this out; violence isn't

the table, picking up a riding crop, "As long as it eases

"Ah!"

package then handed it to

upon seeing its

keeps this time? An invitation

either win big or lose everything."

Percival, where are you going? What

him, "Chill out.

"What invitation?"

paused, feeling the sting of the crop but seemed unfazed. He followed

gold-embossed red lettering hurt his

invitation? To

aside and turning away, his eyes reddening, "I don't believe it. How could Griffin just call

less than two days.

his fists, storming

Douglas called after him, his voice

"Dad, I need to confront the

were you

ready for everything. Going there now would only embarrass

has loved you for so many years. If she truly chose someone else, you

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

claiming she would marry him or coolly chasing after him on

she marry someone else at this

disagreed; he just hesitated for a