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.

Vivienne got into the car, she saw Leopold grinning from ear to ear as if he'd stumbled

asked, "Did you and Griffin Martinez elope

family guards Griffin. If I dared to elope, they'd skin me alive." Vivienne narrowed her eyes,

smiling at Vivienne in the rearview mirror, "I told the guys about you agreeing to

kids. Let's see who dares to mess

Vivienne was speechless.

she being dragged into

prison,

stoic expression, she calmly stated, "Stop

body tensed, his hoarse voice breaking through, "She can't be

but threw

moment Declan saw it, a tumult of emotions flashed in his

the research lab. As for any chances of her making a

into a whole was debatable. How could

involved, her end would

eyes darkened as he muttered, "She never made

eyes narrowed, "What final step? Who is

a hand on Declan, guessing there was some deal between

deal wouldn't surface until the very

know," Declan's

something you promised her. How could you

"She was too arrogant to let anyone else complete her grand vision. Anything she couldn't take with

might not, but if this person was chosen by her, or related to her, it's a

the wrong tree. I was just a means to an end for her. Now that Abigail is dead, do with

to great lengths for her, yet she regarded you as expendable. Yet, here you are, alive. Do you think

could scheme. He must harbor some of Abigail's secrets,

in her eyes, "Name the person, and I'll grant you a

world is flawed. After my death, someone else will