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.”

staring at him excitedly and switched his phone

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

she would change her mind that he answered

out today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the

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

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

had tried to get Michael and Joseph’s son into that nursery school but failed despite pulling many strings.

He never thought that

only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into

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

In the afternoon.

the Hawthorn family’s old

at the head of the table, with Joseph

on with Dorian? Why haven’t

been three days. We need to get Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph said, looking

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 mastermind, she had to get those three out. Thankfully, not many people knew about the incident, so it didn’t affect

the Emerald Monastery since she was a child? She had heard that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years and probably hadn’t been

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 perfume. If we don’t invest in researching

eyes and said in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I taught you anything? You have to stay calm

and turned to Joseph. “Joseph, your relationship with Dorian is

irritated. He had called Dorian many times over the past few days, but

in. “Beatrice, there are two people at the door. They say they’re