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

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

would change her

deliver the related documents to your home.” After that, the assistant hung up.

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

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

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

dreaming. He never thought

“Ever since Vivienne came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus also got into Imperial Blossom Nursery Vivienne is our

excited that she almost ran over to hug and kiss Vivienne. Sensing her intentions, Vivienne thought to herself, “Please don’t! I don’t want to be kissed!”

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old

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

Why haven’t we heard anything?”

Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage

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

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

the 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

voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I

relationship with Dorian is still good.

answer my 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

there are two people at the door. They say they’re from Imperial Blossom Nursery. They’ve brought