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Chapter_16
The silence in the room was thick with shock. Beatrice’s face turned pale, her smile frozen in place as she struggled to process what she had just heard. “Thaddeus? You mean… Dorian’s son?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, though she tried to mask it with forced composure.
“Yes,” one of the teachers confirmed, handing over the admission packet. “Thaddeus Hawthorn has been accepted into Imperial Blossom Nursery. The principal personally ordered it, and we were instructed to deliver the materials to his father, Mr. Dorian.”
The words seemed to echo in Beatrice’s mind, reverberating with disbelief. Thaddeus—Dorian’s son—had been accepted into Imperial Blossom Nursery? The prestigious school that everyone knew was near impossible to get into, even for the most connected families?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Joseph took a step forward, his face a mix of confusion and frustration. “But… why him?” he muttered under his breath. “Thaddeus? This doesn’t make sense.”
Michael, on the other hand, was visibly angry, his hand clenched tightly at his side. “Are you telling me that Thaddeus, who barely even knows how to tie his shoes, got into a school that my son couldn’t even get into with all of our connections? This is insane!”
The teachers exchanged nervous glances, clearly uncomfortable under the mounting tension. One of them cleared their throat and spoke again, trying to keep the situation calm. “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. It’s the decision of the higher-ups at Imperial Blossom Nursery. I’m just here to deliver the documents.”
Beatrice’s mind was racing. This was not just a simple misunderstanding. Someone had ensured Thaddeus’ admission into this school, someone with significant influence. And she knew exactly who that someone was—Vivienne.
She could feel her blood boiling. Vivienne had done something—she’d pulled some strings, used her connections, maybe even gotten someone on the inside. But how had she managed to accomplish all of this? Vivienne, who had practically been raised in seclusion, had suddenly turned into a force to be reckoned with. Beatrice couldn’t believe it.
Trying to maintain her composure, Beatrice managed a tight smile. “Well, thank you for delivering this, but there must be some mistake. We were expecting Andrew to be accepted. Please, you should double-check the paperwork. I’m sure it’s just a clerical error.”
The teacher glanced at the documents in his hand, then back at Beatrice. “I’m afraid everything is in order, madam. The principal personally approved Thaddeus’ application. If you have any concerns, you can contact the school directly.”
Beatrice felt a cold wave of dread wash over her. Her plan was falling apart. Vivienne had taken a step she hadn’t anticipated, and now she was one step ahead. How could this have happened?
Michael shot his mother an incredulous look. “What are you going to do now? This… this changes everything!”
Beatrice could feel the walls closing in. She needed a way to turn this situation around, and fast. If Thaddeus started attending Imperial Blossom, it would be a blow to her plans. Not only would it diminish her leverage over Dorian, but it would also give Vivienne even more standing within the family.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Beatrice said, her voice controlled but steely. “We’ll deal with this later. For now, I think we need to focus on securing our position with the Ellingtons. This… this is just a minor setback.”
But even as she spoke, a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. The situation was spiraling out of her control, and Beatrice hated feeling helpless. She couldn’t afford to lose her influence over Dorian, especially now that Vivienne was clearly maneuvering for more control.
Meanwhile, Joseph stood there, staring at the paperwork in his hands, his face darkening with confusion. “I don’t get it. Thaddeus is Dorian’s son, right? Why is this so important to us?”
Beatrice’s eyes flickered toward the teachers, who were politely waiting for any further instructions. “This isn’t just about Thaddeus,” she said tightly. “It’s about Dorian. We need to keep him on our side. If this gets out, it will complicate everything we’ve worked for with the Ellington family.”
Michael crossed his arms, his mind already working to connect the dots. “But what if Vivienne’s behind all of this? She’s the one who’s been getting all the attention. She’s the one who’s been making things happen for Dorian. I bet she’s behind this. She’s playing us all.”
Beatrice’s jaw clenched. “I don’t care who’s behind it. What matters now is keeping Dorian close. We’ll find a way to use this to our advantage. We always do.”
Her words were more for herself than for anyone else in the room. She could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her, but Beatrice was no stranger to adversity. She would find a way to turn the tide back in her favor. After all, she always had.
