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”

and said politely, “Thanks,

at him excitedly and switched

asked, sounding a tad exasperated. Any other person, and she would not have repeated

she would change her mind that he answered quickly and

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

the call ended, Cordelia excitedly grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is

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

many strings. Rumor had

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

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

so excited that she almost ran over to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself, “Please don’t! I don’t want to be kissed!”

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old mansion.

sat at the head of the table, with Joseph

haven’t we heard

agree soon, or this marriage is off,”

been fired. As the mastermind, she had to get those three out. Thankfully, not many

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

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 performance has plummeted. Now, only our old customers still use our

“What’s the rush? Haven’t

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