Chapter 1 My Dad Is the Richest Man?

"Caelan Vesper, based on the paternity test, your parentage index with the client, Orion Vesper, exceeds 99.99%. Congratulations. You have been confirmed as Orion Vesper's long-lost son."

Nextum City. Fanta Pharmaceuticals.

At a workstation tucked into the corner of the technical department, Caelan pulled his phone slightly away from his ear and glanced at the unfamiliar number on the screen.

There had been a surge of scam calls in Nextum City lately, but this script was a bit over the top.

"Orion?" He brought the phone back to his ear. "That name sounds familiar. Same as the richest man in Nextum City, right?"

The other party paused for a second, as if choosing his words carefully.

"Not the same name. It's him. The richest man—Orion Vesper.

"I understand this may be difficult to accept, but it's the truth. I'm Orion Vesper's legal representative. My name is Dexter Cross. I'll come pick you up later today."

Caelan let out a laugh.

These scammers might lack skill, but their nerve was impressive. Of all people to impersonate, they chose the richest man in the city?

"Sure," he said, leaning back in his chair and playing along. "Then go ahead and transfer that billion-dollar inheritance to me. I'm in a hurry to spend it."

"Mr. Vesper…"

With a tap of his finger, Caelan hung up. He blocked the number without hesitation, cursing silently.

Crazy lunatic.

He was thirty years old, with a background as clean as a blank sheet of paper, because there was nothing to write.

He had been abandoned at the entrance of an orphanage as an infant, in the dead of winter, nearly freezing to death.

The orphanage director had told him that when he was found, there was only a scrap of paper tucked into his blanket with the word "Vesper" written on it. His name had been given by the orphanage.

Growing up, he relied on his academic excellence to get into university, where he pursued and won over Serena Sterling, a campus beauty who was two years younger than him.

They married, bought a home, and had an adorable daughter.

Now, at twenty-eight, Serena worked as an English teacher at Kingston High. Even after having a child, she remained striking in figure and appearance. She turned heads wherever she went.

A loving wife, a sweet daughter, and a warm home—his life was already something others envied.

To trade it all for the identity of a wealthy family's heir? He wouldn't even consider it.

Still…

Sitting at his desk, Caelan found himself opening his phone browser almost unconsciously.

He typed in the name: Orion Vesper.

The screen instantly filled with results.

[Richest man in Nextum City, head of the Vesper Group.]

[Estimated net worth: 2 billion.]

[A low-profile business tycoon who rarely appears in the media.]

No photo.

But that wasn't important. What mattered was the related news below.

[Vesper Group Vice President Julian Vesper, the only son of Orion, is expected to become the successor…]

Caelan stared at the words "only son" on the screen and smiled faintly.

Heh. It was definitely a scam. The man already had a son—and he was a vice president in the company…

These scammers really didn't do their homework.

'Good thing I didn't fall for it,' Caelen thought.

…

At six in the evening, Caelan clocked out on time. He strode out of the company building and headed toward the parking shed.

A slightly worn electric scooter sat tucked in the corner. Two helmets hung from the handlebars—one blue, one pink. The pink one belonged to his wife, Serena.

He inserted the key and twisted the throttle.

The scooter creaked twice before moving forward sluggishly.

The battery was wearing out—he'd have to replace it soon.

Caelan didn't mind. Putting on his helmet, he hummed a tune as he merged into the evening rush.

…

At Kingston High, it was dismissal time. Cars filled the area outside the school gate—parents waiting to pick up their children.

Luxury cars were everywhere. These days, families connected to this school were rarely short on money.

Caelan skillfully parked his scooter under a large tree near the gate—out of the way but easy to spot.

Soon, a group of female teachers walked out. Graceful and lively, they made quite a sight.

Serena stood among them, wearing a beige trench coat over a simple white shirt and jeans. She wore no makeup, her face fresh and natural, her hair tied casually in a low ponytail. Even so, she stood out effortlessly.

Her clean, gentle elegance made the heavily made-up teachers beside her—carrying LV and Gucci bags—seem somewhat gaudy by comparison.

"Serena, your husband came to pick you up again?" one teacher with wavy hair, Bethany Solis, asked.

"Oh my, he's still riding that little scooter? It's getting dark, and the wind's picking up. Isn't it freezing to ride that thing?"

Another teacher with short hair chimed in, "Exactly. You should take better care of yourself. Teaching all day is tiring enough—why suffer the cold on the way home?"

Serena smiled lightly. "An electric scooter is fine. We get to skip the traffic jams, and it's eco-friendly."

"You're just comforting yourself," Bethany said, lowering her voice. "Honestly, Serena, with so many people chasing you back then, couldn't you have picked someone better?"

"Gregory Pickett from the construction business was asking about you at the last parent-teacher conference. Sure, he's divorced with a kid, but he's rich. He even drives a G-Class!"

"Exactly!" the short-haired teacher added. "For women, marrying well matters more than working hard. You've been enduring hardship with that poor guy for years. I feel bad for you."

The smile on Serena's face faded. She stopped walking and looked at the two of them seriously, her voice calm but firm.

"Bethany. Cassie. Caelan is not 'that poor guy.' He's my husband.

"I have hands and feet. I can earn my own living. I don't need marriage to change my fate.

"And honestly, sitting on the back of Caelan's scooter feels far more secure than riding in any G-Class."

With that, she ignored their stiff expressions and walked briskly toward the roadside.

…

Caelan, standing at a distance, hadn't heard their conversation. But he could read Serena's expression. She was clearly defending him.

"Honey!" he called, waving as he handed her the pink helmet.

Serena put it on with practiced ease, climbed onto the back seat, and wrapped her arms naturally around his waist, resting her cheek against his back.

"Cold?" Caelan asked.

"Not at all—you're blocking the wind," she replied with a smile in her voice.

"What were those two busybodies saying? Showing off their husbands' cars again?" he asked.

"Just ignore them." Serena pinched his waist lightly. "Does it make you feel inferior?"

"Inferior?" Caelan straightened his back. "My wife is a campus beauty. What do I have to feel inferior about? They're just jealous."

"Smooth talker." Serena laughed. "Let's go. Mira is waiting for us at the daycare."

"Oh, right. Let me tell you something funny."

"What is it?"

"Some scammer called me today, claiming I'm the son of Nextum City's richest man, Orion Vesper."

"Pfft—haha!" Serena burst into laughter. "Seriously? That's not even creative. So, are you going to go acknowledge your family?"

"Acknowledge what? I already blocked him." Caelan snorted. "If I were really the richest man's son, would I let you ride a scooter? I'd be picking you up in a luxury car by now."

Serena rubbed her cheek against his back. "Exactly! It'd have to be something flashy—at least a BMW or Mercedes, right?"

Caelan's chest puffed with mock pride.

"BMW or Mercedes? That's too ordinary! If I really were Orion's son, I'd get you a Rolls-Royce—an extended one!

"And a helicopter too—landing on your school field every day to pick you up! Let those other teachers stare their eyes out!"

"Hahaha—"

The two burst into laughter at the intersection, drawing curious glances from passersby.

Just then, the light turned green. Caelan was about to twist the throttle when a deep, resonant engine roar sounded from behind. It wasn't the sharp growl of an ordinary car—it was a restrained, powerful rumble.

The surrounding traffic seemed to part instinctively, slowing and making way.

A black sedan approached slowly, its long body gleaming coldly under the streetlights.

At the front, a golden Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament shone brilliantly. It was a Rolls-Royce Phantom, with an extended wheelbase. But the most shocking part was the rare license plate.

Pedestrians along the road stopped in their tracks, pulling out their phones to take photos.

"Holy crap! A Rolls-Royce with a rare license plate!"

"That plate alone must cost more than the car!"

"Who is in there? Some big shot?"

…

Caelan froze, instinctively squeezing the brake and pulling his scooter to the side to make way.

After all, even a scratch on that car would make the news.

But the Rolls-Royce didn't pass him. Instead, it drove straight toward him. Then stopped, less than half a meter in front of his scooter.

Silence fell over the entire scene. Every eye locked onto them.

Serena tightened her grip on his clothes. "Honey… are we blocking the road?"

Before Caelan could respond, the rear door opened.

A polished black leather shoe stepped onto the ground.

Then, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit and gold-rimmed glasses stepped out.

He scanned the area, his gaze landing precisely on Caelan. Then he strode forward.

Under countless staring eyes, he bowed deeply. And in a clear, resonant voice that echoed through the crowd, he said, "Sir. Madam. I am Orion Vesper's lawyer, Dexter Cross. We spoke on the phone this afternoon. My client has sent me to bring you home."