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,

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

reviewed 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

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

go out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the related documents to your home.” After that, the assistant

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

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

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

like he was dreaming. He never thought that such unbelievable good fortune would come their

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

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

In the afternoon.

family’s old mansion.

at the head of the table, with Joseph and Michael on

going on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard

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

up her teacup. Her gaze filled with hardship and her face grim. The nursery school 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

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

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

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

her teacup and turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with