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, Vivienne.”

excitedly and switched his

person, and she would

afraid that she would change her mind

arrange for someone to deliver the

ended, Cordelia excitedly grabbed Dorian’s arm. “Dorian, is it true? Is it really true? Thaddeus… got into

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

son into that nursery school but failed despite pulling many strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s son was preparing to take the entrance

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

not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial

excited that she almost ran over to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself,

In the afternoon.

family’s old

the table, with

on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard

soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph said, looking at Beatrice.

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

had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years and probably hadn’t been

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 perfume. If we don’t invest in researching

the rush? Haven’t

to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with Dorian