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 politely, “Thanks,

and

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

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

out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the

arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is it really

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

school but failed despite pulling many strings. Rumor had it

Dorian felt like he was dreaming. He never thought that such unbelievable good fortune would come

since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery Vivienne is our

Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself,

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old mansion.

the table, with Joseph and Michael on

Dorian? Why haven’t we

Dorian to agree soon,

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,

left there for ten years and probably hadn’t been to

share the perfume formula, the company’s performance has plummeted. Now, only our old customers still use our

in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I

your relationship with Dorian is still good. Why don’t you