Part 2The Conquest System’s Deadliest Target

Her acting was incredibly sloppy. Did she really think she could fool a top-tier corporate litigator like my brother?

Tristan took the stairs two at a time and grabbed my hands. His brow furrowed in genuine concern.

"Sylvia, you look terrible. You're so pale. Is James not taking care of you? If that bastard is neglecting you, tell me right now. I'll break his jaw."

I gently shook my head. "James is in Paris on business. He won't be back until tonight."

Whenever James traveled, he called me at least ten times a day. If I took longer than five minutes to text back, he would panic. Just to make sure I got to eat the fresh croissants from my favorite bakery in Montmartre, he was flying back on his private jet tonight.

Night fell.

James's Maybach pulled up to the driveway of the Sinclair estate. The heavy door swung open, and he stepped out. His tailored suit clung perfectly to his frame, and the moment his eyes found me, a hopelessly indulgent smile broke across his handsome face.

Standing nearby, Lindsay was mentally screaming.

[System, is this the male lead?! He is gorgeous! He is exactly my type! I hate to admit it, but the female lead really hit the jackpot.]

[Do not underestimate the male lead, Host,] the System warned. [His mind is dark and incredibly complex. He is not what he seems.]

Lindsay scoffed internally. [What is there to be afraid of? Look at Sylvia. She's a spineless coward who doesn't even have the guts to tell her own husband she's dying. All I need to do is plant a tiny seed of misunderstanding, and they'll tear each other apart.]

James walked straight past her and stopped in front of me.

He handed me a beautifully wrapped bakery box. "Baby, the pastry isn't as warm as it was out of the oven. Promise me you'll come with me next time?"

Tristan glared at him from the porch. "Flying across the Atlantic just to drag my sister to your boring meetings? Leave her alone."

James ignored him, wrapping his arms securely around my waist. He ducked his head, burying his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply.

He shot Tristan a provocative look over my shoulder. "I missed my wife. I can't sleep when she's not in my bed."

Tristan gritted his teeth, utterly helpless against James's shamelessness. He looked at me. "Don't listen to him, Sylvia. He's been clingy since he was ten years old. He has no boundaries."

James smirked. "Sylvia and I are actual family. You, brother-in-law, are just an extended relative at this point."

They had hated each other since childhood. Tristan guarded me from James like he was fending off a thief. On my wedding day, my tough, stoic brother locked himself in the bathroom and cried until he hyperventilated. He hated James even more after that.

I tugged on James's sleeve, silently pleading with him to dial it back.

But as I did, I noticed his eyes drift. He was looking at Lindsay.

Lindsay's inner voice shrieked with joy.

[System! He looked at me! Oh my god, those eyes could make anyone melt. Is he interested?!]

[Apologies, Host. Current scan shows the male lead's affection for you is negative one thousand percent.]

Lindsay refused to accept it. [But my DNA is identical to Sylvia's! I look at least seventy percent like her, and I'm younger. No man can resist a younger version of his first love!]

[Sylvia is only two years older than you,] the System stated flatly. Then, it hitched. [...Wait. Alert. The male lead's affection is rapidly rising. Negative eight hundred... negative five hundred... zero... positive one percent. Host, what did you just do? In less than a minute, his affection is in the green!]

Lindsay puffed her chest out with pride. [What's so surprising? I'm fresher, newer. They've been together for seven years and married for two. He's probably bored out of his mind by now.]