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”

and said

excitedly and switched his phone to speaker

and she would not have repeated herself so many times. But this was Thaddeus! The higher–ups had personally ordered his admission. So,

afraid that she would change her mind that he answered quickly and loudly.

for someone to deliver the related documents to your home.” After that, the assistant hung

is it true? Is

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

pulling many strings. Rumor had

He never thought that such

lucky charm!” Cordelia was all smiles. “Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates,

that she almost ran over to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions,

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old

with Joseph and Michael on either side

Dorian? Why haven’t we heard anything?” Michael

agree soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph

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, she had to get those three out. Thankfully, not many people knew about the incident, so it didn’t affect her much. But she had no idea that Vivienne was so good with computers that she could recover deleted

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

refused to share the perfume formula, the company’s performance has

said in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I taught you

teacup and turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with Dorian is