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,

at him excitedly and switched his phone

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 his admission. So, she

agreed!” Dorian was so afraid that she would

arrange for someone to deliver

“Dorian, is it true?

school that money couldn’t buy! A

pulling many strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s son was preparing

never thought that such unbelievable good

only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery

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

In the afternoon.

the Hawthorn family’s old

the table, with Joseph and

going on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard anything?” Michael asked, frowning.

Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph said,

principal and the teacher had been fired. As the mastermind, she had to get those three

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, so who taught her to use a

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 company won’t

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

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