Chapter 002: Her sister's husband

Amelia's head spun as she stared at the photograph. Her gaze slowly drifted down to the name “Khalifa Sinclair” written beneath the photograph.

“This can't be a coincidence, can it?” Amelia frowned.

The dossier nearly fell from her hands the moment her eyes caught sight of the attached family registry showing her elder sister—Hailey Mourer-Sinclair.

Amelia's head snapped toward Orton, but he had an unreadable expression on his face as he scrolled through his phone.

She looked at the wall clock and immediately sprang to her feet.

“I'd like to take my leave now,” Amelia said with her back already facing Orton.

“Keep in mind that your espionage mission has officially started.” Orton looked up from his phone screen and continued.

“The fortune you successfully siphoned from your Sterling city mission has been deposited into our offshore accounts and your percentage will be sent to you before dawn tomorrow," Orton murmured, dropping his phone to open his laptop.

Amelia cast one more confused look at Orton before sprinting out of the door into the hallway.

Ignoring the chorus of greetings from Orton's subordinate and underlings, Amelia hastened towards her sports car without sparing them a glance.

Before long, the engine of her sports car roared to life as she sped through the bustling, neon-lit streets of Ardenton City like a whirlwind. Her gaze flickered to the address displayed on her GPS every few seconds.

Amelia's brows creased in confusion.

“What if the man Hailey told me about—the very man whose photograph she sent me—is actually her husband…and my next target?” Amelia thought, frowning.

“What will you do, Amelia? Will it be your loyalty to Orton… or your loyalty to your only surviving family member in this world?” Amelia quickly shook her head, desperate to force the thought out of her mind.

Dragging her focus back to the road, Amelia brought her sports car to a stop. She presented her estate pass to the security guard, her well-polished nails tapping impatiently against the steering wheel.

After what felt like an eternity, her sleek matte-black sports car glided past the towering gates, where the words "Welcome to Khalifa's Paradise” were engraved across the gleaming steel in ornate lettering.

Amelia was stunned by the vast landscape of Khalifa's private estate the moment she stepped out of her sports car.

Her attention was instantly drawn to the heart of the courtyard, where the crystal-clear water from the grand fountain cascaded onto the polished travertine below.

“It really isn't just a house but a home,” Amelia muttered under her breath.

“Welcome sister.”

Amelia turned to where the sound came from and saw Hailey coming out from a sprawling penthouse with a towering palm tree swaying gently beside it. Amelia broke into a wide smile as she immediately ran toward Hailey.

Amelia and Hailey ran into each other's arms, peppering each other's cheeks with kisses as they shrieked excitedly.

Amelia's smile slowly stiffened as she saw the face of the tall lanky man that just emerged from the same Floor-to-ceiling glass door that Hailey had just come out from.

Every sound around Amelia faded into a distant murmur as her entire focus zeroed on the tall man walking towards her and Hailey.

“Amelia, that's my husband, Khalifa Sinclair. While you were away last year, we got married,” Hailey said, wrapping her slender arm around Khalifa's muscular arm.

“Khalifa Sinclair!” The words echoed in her head.

Amelia clenched the strap of her bag containing Khalifa's dossier.

“He really is the one! The formidable Khalifa Sinclair. My target and brother-in-law.” Amelia's throat tightened, but she refused to let her composure crack.

Khalifa held Amelia's gaze, staring intently into her soul without batting an eyelid.

“Have you met before?” Hailey's brows furrowed as she looked from Khalifa to Amelia.

“Ahem! Nice to meet you, Mr. Khalifa.” Amelia stretched her hand to Khalifa.

“Nice to meet you too,” Khalifa replied casually. “Your job as a corporate consultant must be really hectic,” Khalifa said, his gaze sharp enough to cut through steel.

“Yes, it really is.”

Amelia's brows knitted as she searched Khalifa's countenance for a crack in his composed expression.

“I thought as much.” Khalifa paused. “I mean you weren't able to attend your sister's wedding.” He adjusted the glasses resting on the bridge of his nose with practiced ease.

Steeling herself, Amelia replied unhurriedly. “I’m so sorry for not attending your wedding though I've already apologized to my sister. Working as a regular traveling corporate consultant isn't for the weak-willed.”

Khalifa gave Amelia one last look, before turning to Hailey.

“I'll head out now, babe. Make sure your sister is comfortable,” Khalifa said, affectionately pinching Hailey's full cheek.

“Hailey, please ask the residential concierge to get my baggage from the booth.” Amelia yawned lightly.

“I'll be having a mini staycation here away from work.” Without waiting for Khalifa and Hailey's reply, Amelia began walking toward the penthouse’s floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

“Babe, it's already late. Please ensure your headlights are on and drive safely. I love you.” Hailey planted a soft kiss on Khalifa's lips and quickly pulled away as he moved to deepen the kiss. Winking at Khalifa, she ran after Amelia.

Khalifa turned back, his eyes lingering on Amelia's receding silhouette as it gradually vanished from sight.

The sudden buzz of Khalifa's phone broke through his train of thought, drawing his attention back to the present.

Sliding his phone to the answer icon, Khalifa held it close to his ear. His face remained impassive as he spoke unhurriedly. “Make sure the basement is void of any living thing before I arrive.”

Still on the phone call, he slid behind the wheel of his gray supercar, his movements calm and practiced.

Without realizing it, the hardness in his voice faded. “How is my elder brother?”

The second the baritone voice on the other end replied to Khalifa's question, his face darkened.

Drawing in a sharp breath, he pressed the end-call icon and flung the phone onto the passenger seat.

Khalifa slumped into the leather seat of his car, his heart squeezing in his chest. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the photograph of his elder brother sent by his caregiver.

Khalifa turned toward the penthouse, barely restraining the urge to storm out of the car and charge inside.

Khalifa curled his hand into a fist. He let out a low hiss as his nails dug into his palm, but the pain was nothing compared to the pain clawing at his heart.

The sharp smell of iron hung heavily in the cabin. Winding down the tinted window, Khalifa let the cool night air sweep through as his car purred past the gigantic gates of his private estate and onto the tiered asphalt driveway.

Back at the penthouse, Amelia had already settled into the guest wing.

Taking the military-grade wiretaps and bugs from her leather duffel bag, Amelia tucked them into a disposable bag and concealed them under a layer of waste products. Flashing a sinister smile, she made for the door and headed toward Khalifa's private sanctum.