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

him excitedly and switched his

Thaddeus‘ files, and he meets our admission criteria. Do you agree to his enrollment?” The assistant principal asked, 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 ordered

was so afraid that she would change her mind that he

don’t go out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver

grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got

That was a school that money

son into that nursery school but failed despite pulling many strings. Rumor had it that

true! It’s true!” Dorian felt like he was dreaming. He never thought that such

back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery Vivienne is our family’s lucky star.”

kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself, “Please don’t!

In the afternoon.

family’s old

head of the table, with Joseph and Michael on either side of

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

three days. We need to get Dorian to agree soon,

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

she been at the Emerald Monastery since she was a child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years

to share the perfume formula, the company’s performance has plummeted. Now, only our old customers still use our perfume. If we don’t invest in researching a new formula soon, the

a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I taught you anything? You have to stay calm to

“Joseph, your relationship with Dorian is