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

saw Cordelia staring at him excitedly and switched his phone to speaker mode.

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 his admission. So, she

Dorian was so afraid that she would change

please don’t go out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the related documents to

is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got into Imperial Blossom

a school that money couldn’t buy! A school that even connections couldn’t

get Michael and Joseph’s son into that nursery school but failed despite pulling many strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s son was

He never thought that such unbelievable good

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

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

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old

of the table, with Joseph and Michael on either side

going on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard

been three days. We need to get Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage

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.

a child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years and probably hadn’t been to school,

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

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

and turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with