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

at him excitedly and switched his

our admission criteria. Do you agree to his enrollment?” The assistant principal asked, sounding a tad exasperated. Any other person, and she

Dorian was so afraid that she would change her mind that he answered quickly and

someone to deliver the related documents to your home.” After that, the

“Dorian, is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got

Nursery! That was a school that money couldn’t buy! A

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

felt like he was dreaming. He never thought that such

is truly 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 is our family’s

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

In the afternoon.

the Hawthorn family’s old mansion.

at the head of the table, with Joseph

on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard anything?”

days. We need to get Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage is off,”

had been arrested, and the principal and the teacher had been fired. As the mastermind,

since she was a child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years and

anxiously. “Ever since Dorian refused to share 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

the rush? Haven’t I

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