The Million-Dollar Heart

Chapter 16

Day two

Just past eight in the morning, Dorian and his family were having breakfast when his cell phone rang. The caller ID showed a number he didn’t recognize Lately, Dorian had been getting a lot of calls from unknown numbers, so he was used to it. Most of them were from companies responding to his job applications. Usually, it was something like, “Sorry, Mr. Hawthorn, you don’t meet our recruitment criteria.”

Dorian sighed and answered the call.

“Are you Thaddeus‘ father?” The person on the other end of the line asked, in a friendly tone.

1 am Who’s this?” Dorian responded, while passing Vivienne her breakfast.

Tm the assistant principal at Imperial Blossom Nursery. We’d like to invite Thaddeus to join our school. Is that OK with you?”

Dorian froze, fork in hand. After a pause, he asked, his voice shaky. “Who did you say you are?”

Tm the assistant principal at Imperial Blossom Nursery.” The voice on the other end was still friendly.

Dorian’s mouth dropped open, and he jumped up excitedly. “Imperial Blossom Nursery? You mean, you want my Thaddeus to join your school?” Cordelia also jumped up, equally excited.

Vivienne just looked up and continued to enjoy her fried egg. She turned to Thaddeus, who was looking at her, passed him a piece of toast, and moved the blueberry jam in front of him, whispering, “Eat up, you’re too skinny”

her and said

excitedly and switched his phone to speaker mode.

sounding a tad exasperated. Any other person, and she would not have repeated herself so many times. But this was Thaddeus! The higher–ups had personally

Of course, agreed!” Dorian was so afraid that she would change her mind that

I will arrange for someone to deliver

grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is

God! Imperial Blossom Nursery! That was a school that money couldn’t buy! A

pulling many strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s son was preparing

he was dreaming. He never thought

Cordelia was all smiles. “Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery Vivienne is our family’s lucky star.”

that she almost ran over to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself, “Please don’t! I

In the afternoon.

family’s old mansion.

of the table, with Joseph

on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard anything?” Michael asked, frowning.

get Dorian to agree soon,

principal had called her yesterday to say that their plan had failed. The three people they had hired had been arrested, and the principal and the teacher had been fired. As the mastermind,

since she was a child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten

the perfume formula, the company’s performance has plummeted. Now, only our old customers

her eyes and said in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I

turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship