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”

smiled at her and said

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

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 had to be very patient with this.

would change her mind that he answered quickly and

I will arrange for someone to deliver the related documents

the call ended, Cordelia excitedly grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got into Imperial

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

despite pulling many strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s son was preparing to take the entrance exam

like he was dreaming. He never thought that

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

to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing

In the afternoon.

the Hawthorn family’s old

table, with Joseph and Michael

Dorian? Why haven’t we heard

agree soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph

been arrested, and the principal and the teacher had been fired. As the mastermind, she had to get those three out. Thankfully, not many

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

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

low voice, “What’s the rush?

Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with Dorian is still good. Why don’t you check