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 politely, “Thanks,

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

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

she would change her mind that he answered quickly and

arrange for someone to deliver the related

Cordelia excitedly grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got into Imperial Blossom Nursery?”

Imperial Blossom Nursery! That was a school that money couldn’t buy! A school that even connections couldn’t get you

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

never thought that such unbelievable good fortune

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

was so excited that she almost ran over to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself,

In the afternoon.

family’s

table, with Joseph and

Why haven’t we

soon, or this marriage is off,”

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

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

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

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

down her teacup and turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with Dorian is still good. Why don’t you check on him?”