The Million-Dollar Heart

The chat group was quiet at first, filled with question marks. Then, like a stone thrown into a pond, messages began to flood in.

It was like a bomb had gone off.

Jerry Perez, the second oldest, chimed in: "Leopold, that trick won't work on us!"

Daniel, the third, added: "No offense, Leopold, but you're just not in the same league as us."

Eric, the fourth, joked: "Leopold's definitely got some delusions of grandeur."

Old-man Dawson couldn't believe it: "Has Leopold lost his mind? ... The nerve to say that, did you eat lion's heart and leopard's courage?"

Donald, the sixth, laughed: "Leopold, you're trying to kill us with laughter. If Vivienne would let her kid call you godfather, I'd call you godfather too!" Enzo agreed: "Seconded!"

Larry, the eighth, added: "Seconded +1!"

Gary sent a long voice message, laughing so hard he couldn't even speak.

Leopold, feeling smug, was driving with one hand and replied with a voice message, specifically tagging Donald.

"Come on, Donald, the master is still here. If you call me godfather... that's like shortening my life!"

"And if you dared, I wouldn't dare accept."

The group went silent.

Then, Old-man Dawson sent a message, "Leopold, did Vivienne confirm this herself?"

Leopold couldn't suppress his grin. "Dawson, you too? Would I dare share the news with you guys if Vivienne hadn't agreed?"

With that, Leopold closed his phone, feeling victorious as the group's messages kept coming.

He had secured his position as godfather.

got into the car, she saw Leopold grinning from ear

"Did you and Griffin Martinez elope

are you teasing me too? You know how tightly the Martinez family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "Then what's with

"I told the guys about you agreeing to

the godfather of your two kids. Let's see who dares to

Vivienne was speechless.

she being

prison, Leopold waited

his stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop waiting, Abigail

Declan's body tensed, his hoarse voice

but threw a photo into

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions

her. Her body is now in the research lab. As for any chances of her making a comeback, it's almost

could be pieced back into a whole was debatable. How could she

her end

darkened as he muttered, "She never made it

"What final

hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between him

this deal wouldn't surface until the

don't know," Declan's

spared your life, there must be something you promised her. How could you not know

shifted uncomfortably, "She was too arrogant to let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with her, she'd destroy with her own hands." Vivienne scoffed, knowing Declan was deliberately muddling

was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a different

down, "You're barking up the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for

her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do

knew how deep Declan could scheme. He must harbor

restrained the gleam in her eyes, "Name the person, and

world is flawed. After my death,