The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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”

Thaddeus smiled at her and said politely, “Thanks, Vivienne.”

excitedly and switched his phone to

to his enrollment?” The assistant principal asked, sounding a tad exasperated. Any other person, and she

was so afraid that she would change her mind that he

out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the related

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

That was a school that money couldn’t buy! A school that even connections couldn’t get you

but failed despite pulling many strings. Rumor had it that Joseph’s son was

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

Cordelia was all smiles. “Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery Vivienne is our family’s lucky star.”

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

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old mansion.

sat at the head of the table, with Joseph and Michael on either

going on with Dorian? Why haven’t we heard anything?” Michael asked, frowning.

days. We need to get Dorian to agree soon,

up her teacup. Her gaze filled with 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

child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years and probably hadn’t

“Ever since Dorian refused to share the perfume formula, the company’s performance has plummeted. Now, only

the rush? Haven’t I taught you anything? You have to stay calm

and turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with

anything?” Joseph was irritated. He had called Dorian many times over the past few days, but Dorian never picked up. He’d

in. “Beatrice, there are two people at the door.