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.”

at him excitedly and switched his phone to

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

afraid that she would

today. I will arrange for someone to deliver the

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

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

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

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

came back, we’ve not only moved into Tranquil Estates, but Thaddeus

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

In the afternoon.

Hawthorn family’s old

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

Why haven’t we heard

need to get Dorian to agree soon, or this marriage

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 her much. But she had no idea that Vivienne

been at 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 to school, so who taught

with 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 still use our perfume. If we don’t invest in researching a new

her eyes and said in a low voice, “What’s the rush? Haven’t I taught you

relationship with Dorian is

irritated. He had called Dorian many times over the past few days, but Dorian never picked up. He’d tried everything, but

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