Chapter 224: A Fraud

The moment Caleb turned around, he saw a well-dressed man holding the kitten, his smile warm and pleasant. Every piece of clothing the man wore screamed luxury. Even the casually exposed wristwatch was worth millions, a price tag far beyond what ordinary people could ever dream of affording. When Caleb met his gaze, the man’s smile deepened.

“This is your cat, right? Here you go.”

The kitten in the box let out tiny meows, each one tugging at the softest parts of the heart. Without hesitation, Caleb reached out and took it.

“Thank you.”

During the fight, he had kicked the box out of the alley, afraid the fragile little creature might get hurt. Even though he’d controlled his strength, something so small and delicate could easily die from the slightest mishap. Luckily, it was unharmed, and someone had even rescued it.

The man asked, “I’m Kurt Yardley. And you are?”

Caleb’s eyes widened slightly. Yardley? Is it a coincidence, or…?

The man seemed to read his thoughts. “It’s exactly what you’re thinking. I’m Chelsea’s cousin. We haven’t seen each other in over a decade, so I doubt she even recognizes me now.”

At this point, the man revealed a bitter smile. Caleb furrowed his brows in deep thought. Pretending to be a cousin of Chelsea wasn’t exactly a smart move. Few would dare try it. Which meant this man might actually be telling the truth.

Caleb asked, “You haven’t met Ms. Yardley yet?”

The man grunted in acknowledgment. “No. I’ve always wanted to, but if we did meet, I wouldn’t even know what to say. So I kept putting it off.”

Oh, I see. Seemed like their relationship had been close. Otherwise, why would he miss her so much?

“I can take you to her. I have her number. I could even call her for you.”

Caleb pulled out his phone, ready to dial Chelsea’s number.

“No need for the trouble. When the time’s right, I’ll see her myself. Talking over the phone feels too impersonal. Some things are better said face to face.”

Caleb hadn’t actually planned on calling anyway. Seeing the man’s reluctance, he put his phone away.

“Then you two should talk in person. I’ve got some things to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked off with the kitten in his arms. Yet, even after putting considerable distance between them, he could still feel the man’s piercing gaze burning into his back.

Once home, Caleb sent Chelsea a message:

Caleb: Ms. Yardley, do you have a cousin? I met someone today who claims to be your cousin. His name is Kurt Yardley.

Within five seconds, Chelsea replied: I don’t have a cousin. He’s a fraud, so be careful.

Caleb: Got it.

For some reason, Caleb felt there was more to this. The man he’d met today had an unusual fixation on Chelsea. The moment her name came up, his expression had darkened, as if wrestling with something unspoken. Men like him, polished and refined, usually came from powerful backgrounds. There was a chance even the Yardley family couldn’t stand against whatever forces he represented. The path ahead was obscure, and the days to come promised only increased peril.

Caleb closed his eyes, ready to rest. At that moment, there was a sudden knock on his door. Frowning, he walked over and peered through the peephole.

“Jesse? What are you doing here?”