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

at him excitedly and switched his

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

she would change her mind that he answered

for someone to deliver the related documents to your home.”

“Dorian, is it true? Is

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

strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s

true! It’s true!” Dorian felt like he was dreaming. He never

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

Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself,

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old

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

Why haven’t we heard anything?” Michael asked,

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

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

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

Say something! We can’t let the marriage with the Ellington family slip away like this,” Michael said anxiously. “Ever since Dorian refused to share the perfume formula, the company’s

narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I taught you anything? You have to stay

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