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

we’ve reviewed Thaddeus‘ files, and he meets 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 many times. But this was Thaddeus! The higher–ups had personally ordered his admission. So, she had to be

agreed!” Dorian was so afraid that she would change her mind

will arrange for someone to deliver the

it

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

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

dreaming. He never thought that such

lucky charm!” Cordelia was all smiles. “Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into

to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s

head of the table, with Joseph and Michael on

Why haven’t

agree soon, or this marriage is off,” Joseph said,

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

that Vivienne hadn’t left there for ten years

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 a new formula soon, the company won’t

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

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

calls. How am I supposed to find out anything?” Joseph was irritated. He had called Dorian many times over the past few days, but Dorian never picked up. He’d tried everything, but Dorian just refused to see him. He was at his

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