Possessed No More: The True Star Returns to Claim Her Throne-Chapter 44: Matchmaking

"...Your third aunt told me you were in an accident and that it’s all over the trending topics. I almost passed out! How are you really doing?"

Riley Perry answered honestly, "Mom, the video looks scary, but I’m actually fine. You can even tell from my voice. I just got a few scrapes on my arm. Really, I’m not hurt at all."

Hearing this, Ruby Marshall did breathe a sigh of relief. "As long as you’re okay. In that case, we won’t come over. Round-trip plane tickets for the three of us would cost ten or twenty thousand. That’s enough to pay for your brother’s tuition for a year."

"Someone tried to harm you intentionally. Have they found out who it was?"

"It won’t be that fast. We’ve already reported it to the police. The entire production has been halted pending the investigation."

"I told you a long time ago, the entertainment industry is no place for you, but you insisted on getting into it. For the past few years, all I’ve heard is about you offending people."

"This time it’s even more vicious—they’re trying to take your life. If you ask me, you should quit the business the second your contract expires. Anything is better than being an actress..."

"Mom~ I’ve booked two projects in the last two months and earned quite a bit. I’ll cover my brother’s school fees from now on. I’ll transfer some money to you in a minute. When you have time, you and Dad should go buy an apartment in the county seat. Anything you do in the city is better than farming every day."

On the other end of the line, Ruby Marshall’s eyes started to sting. ’Now, this is more like it. Her daughter was so good to her. That sharp-tongued, disdainful girl from before definitely wasn’t her daughter!’

"Do you still remember the account number? Or should I send it to you again?"

Riley Perry’s smile was a beautiful sight. ’Now *this* is my mom,’ she thought. "No need, I remember it."

Perhaps feeling that her daughter was finally back to normal, Ruby Marshall launched into a long spiel.

"If they find out who it was, can you get some kind of compensation? Don’t be a fool and turn it down!"

Riley Perry was speechless. ’The same old mom, the same old tune. Everything out of her mouth is about money!’

Riley Perry could only agree earnestly. "Mhm, mhm, yes, yes, Mom, you’re right."

After hanging up, Riley Perry immediately transferred two million to Ruby Marshall. She couldn’t send more. Her mom was no fool and was particularly sensitive when it came to money. Besides, real estate was cheap back home; a little over a million was enough to buy a very nice apartment. If she sent too much, her mom would be too frugal to spend it.

Just as she finished the transfer, a call came in from Joanna.

Riley Perry, afraid of getting an earful, immediately started whining the moment she answered the call. "Nana~ It hurts so much! My arm is scraped in several places, my wrist is bleeding, and I think I have a concussion from the fall. It even makes me nauseous to talk. Nana, when are you coming? I don’t have anyone here to take care of me. I’m just so miserable."

Joanna had been seething with anger and had a mountain of things to say, but now... it all vanished.

"Don’t cry! Won’t that just make you feel worse? I’ve already booked a flight. I’m on my way to see you! Don’t you worry about the rest of it. I’ll handle everything!"

With an incident like this happening on set, she had to discuss compensation with Director Miles. She couldn’t let her artist get injured for nothing.

...

「Inside a luxurious private room at a high-end hotel in Dragonspire.」

Cole Sinclair couldn’t believe his mother had actually sent him on a blind date, and with the eldest daughter of the Chenning family, no less.

If it weren’t for the relationship between the two families, he would have left long ago.

He and Melanie Chenning had grown up together. If there had been any spark between them, they would have gotten together ages ago. Why would they need someone to set them up now?

He impassively cut his steak, only half-listening as his mother showered Melanie Chenning with praise, simply waiting to finish his meal and return to the office.

"Cole, did you hear what I said? Don’t just think about work all day, every day. You can’t earn all the money in the world."

"After lunch, take Melanie shopping. She just got back from abroad and doesn’t have many friends here. You should spend more time with her."

Cole Sinclair instantly lost his appetite. ’Who was it that had whispered in his ear since he was three? "You must study hard. One day, you will inherit the family business. The company is your responsibility. You have to be more outstanding than everyone else..."’

When his gaze met Melanie Chenning’s, she gestured toward her phone.

He picked up his phone and glanced at it. At some point, he had received a text message: *Cole, it’s just an act. Let’s not upset Mrs. Wyatt. Just agree for now, and we can go our separate ways once we’re out of her sight.*

Cole Sinclair put down his phone. He looked at his mother, who was beaming warmly at Melanie Chenning, and said in a cold voice, "Fine."

Melanie Chenning gave Cole Sinclair a gentle smile. "I’ll be troubling you then, Cole."

Veronica Wyatt seemed particularly pleased by her son’s compliance and grew more talkative. "Remember to take Melanie to that private restaurant she likes for dinner tonight. And don’t walk around with such a long face all the time. It’s not the least bit charming."

Cole Sinclair pressed his lips together. His mother’s words dragged his thoughts back into the past. ’It seemed he had never received a single word of praise from his mother, and he likely never would.’

Melanie Chenning was well-acquainted with the Sinclair family’s dynamics. Hearing this, she immediately glanced at Cole Sinclair opposite her. As expected, his expression had grown even darker.

She quickly interjected, "Mrs. Wyatt, I actually like Cole’s cold demeanor. You mustn’t ask him to change!"

Veronica Wyatt’s expression stiffened for an instant before returning to normal. "Fine, fine. I suppose you’re the only one who could possibly like him. Otherwise, with an attitude like that, he’d probably be single for the rest of his life!"

Cole Sinclair stood up and said to Melanie Chenning, his face devoid of expression, "Are you finished? I’ll give you a ride."

Melanie Chenning quickly dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "Alright. Mrs. Wyatt, we’ll be leaving now."

"Yes, yes, you two go on."

Cole Sinclair strode away, completely ignoring the change in his dear mother’s expression behind him.

Melanie Chenning hurried after him, and they left the hotel together.

Seeing him walk faster and faster, Melanie Chenning quickly called out from behind, "Hey, wait! Cole, you’re not actually going to ditch me here, are you? We have to at least keep up appearances!"

Cole Sinclair did slow his pace. The driver pulled the car up to the entrance, and he got in with a single long stride. Melanie Chenning quickly scrambled in after him.

"Where to?"

The compliant expression she wore in the private room had vanished. Melanie Chenning’s face was now full of playful mockery. "Just as heartless as ever, I see. Take me to Sheng Yan."

Knowing that Mrs. Wyatt’s words in the private room had upset Cole, Melanie Chenning wisely said no more. The car sped toward Sheng Yan.

Cole Sinclair didn’t say another word. He sat there like an ice sculpture with his eyes closed, utterly silent.

His mother’s words replayed in his mind. ’It’s true, I’m not likable. Not like Eric Sinclair, who’s always like a warm little sun, filling every room he enters with joy and laughter.’

For some reason, his thoughts drifted to Riley Perry’s eyes, which never failed to lift his spirits whenever he saw them. ’Yes,’ he had to admit, ’when I’m with Riley Perry, it’s not just her eyes. Her entire being makes me feel... happy.’

’See? Even a cold, heartless person like him was drawn to someone as radiant as his brother. It was no wonder his parents had never been fond of him.’