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.”

Cordelia staring at him excitedly and switched

and she would not

so afraid that she would change her

go out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver

Cordelia excitedly grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it

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

Michael and Joseph’s son into that nursery school but failed despite pulling many strings.

was dreaming. He never thought that such unbelievable good fortune would

smiles. “Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery Vivienne

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

In the afternoon.

family’s

table, with Joseph and

Why haven’t we

soon, or this marriage is off,”

had been arrested, and the principal and the teacher had been fired. As the mastermind, she had to get those three out. Thankfully, not many people knew about the incident, so it didn’t affect her much. But she had no idea that Vivienne was so good with computers that she could recover deleted

the Emerald Monastery since she was a child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left

“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 soon, the

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

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