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

Cordelia staring at him excitedly and switched his

our admission criteria. 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

afraid that she would change her

don’t go out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the related documents to your home.” After that,

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

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

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

He never thought that such unbelievable good fortune

Cordelia was all smiles. “Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates,

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

In the afternoon.

the Hawthorn family’s old mansion.

with Joseph and Michael on either

haven’t

been three days. We need to get Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage

hardship and her face grim. The nursery school 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

hadn’t left there for ten years and probably

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.

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

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