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”

at her and said politely, “Thanks, Vivienne.”

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

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 had to be very patient

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

will arrange for someone to deliver the related

arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got into Imperial Blossom

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

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

Dorian felt like he was dreaming. He never thought

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

Vivienne. Sensing her intentions,

In the afternoon.

family’s old mansion.

the table, with Joseph

going on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard

to get Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph said, looking at Beatrice.

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 the mastermind, she had to get those

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

“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 new formula

rush? Haven’t I taught

turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with Dorian