Possessed No More: The True Star Returns to Claim Her Throne-Chapter 21: Teasing

Director Quinn: "Didn’t say. Just that her surname is Chen, and that it’s a woman. My production isn’t short on investors, but she tried to tempt me with one anyway. Feels like she has a pretty high opinion of herself."

The kind of person who thinks the world revolves around her, that everyone has to listen to whatever she says.

To put it bluntly, a moron.

Riley Perry gave Director Quinn a solemn bow. "Director Quinn, thank you so much."

Director Quinn was known for stringing together profanities on set, chewing people out in the nastiest ways possible. But when the cameras weren’t rolling, he wasn’t so difficult to get along with. "If you really want to thank me, you can do it when you’re famous. It won’t be too late then."

Riley Perry hadn’t expected Director Quinn to think so highly of her. "In that case, I’ll take that as a good omen, Director."

Soon, it was Riley Perry’s turn. The scene was actually quite simple: the moment Shannon Sutton is sold to The Elysian by her stepmother.

Mrs. Sutton: "Manager Lee, this daughter of mine was pampered since birth. She takes after her low-born mother, with a face that knows how to seduce men. You definitely won’t lose out by buying her."

Manager Lee chuckled lightly. "Even so, Mrs. Sutton, you can’t ask for the moon. How about this: fifty silver coins, and I’ll take her off your hands."

Mrs. Sutton’s expression changed instantly. "Fifty silver coins? This is a living person, and she’s only worth fifty silver coins?"

Shannon Sutton had been gagged and tied up by Mrs. Sutton. Seeing that she was about to be sold to a place like this, she struggled violently, tears streaming down her face, but she couldn’t escape. She wanted to beg for help but couldn’t speak. In the end, she could only watch helplessly as Mrs. Sutton sold her for eighty silver coins.

After Mrs. Sutton left, Manager Lee ripped the cloth from Shannon Sutton’s mouth. Shannon Sutton pleaded, "Manager Lee, I’m begging you, please let me go! I... I still have to go to school. If I’m forced to stay here, my life is ruined!"

Her eyes were filled with tears and her tone was humble, but her heart was full of defiance. She was desperate to escape her situation, yet had no one to turn to for help.

Manager Lee ignored her pleas. She reached out with a finger painted with bright red polish and lifted Shannon Sutton’s chin. "Tsk, tsk. The way your little face looks when you cry is enough to break anyone’s heart. If your stepmother had held out a little longer, I would have paid double the price for you."

She raised her hand and patted Shannon Sutton’s cheek, looking at her with a ’you’re-so-naive’ expression. "Silly girl, I’ve been in this business for so many years. When have I ever made a losing deal? I finally got my hands on a stunner like you; why would I ever let you go?"

Shannon Sutton’s eyes instantly filled with despair, as if she had fallen into an abyss. She even felt the will to die.

Manager Lee had seen plenty of scenes like this and saw right through her. "Silly girl, do you really think dying will solve everything? If you die, I’ll go to the Sutton Family and demand back the silver coins I paid for you. Have you thought about what will happen to your mother then?"

At the mention of her mother, Shannon Sutton deflated like a popped balloon and became docile. She knew Mrs. Sutton all too well. If she dared to die, her own mother wouldn’t be allowed to live, either.

"A bad life is better than a good death. I guarantee, as long as you do as I say, with a face like yours, you’ll become the darling of Seaborne’s high society, with everyone clamoring for your attention!"

Director Quinn: "Cut! That’s a take."

The onlooking staff started murmuring. "Who was it that said Riley Perry’s acting was bad? I thought she’d need a few takes, but she got it in one."

"But this scene is simple. You just have to know how to cry."

"I don’t know about that. She’s a phenomenal crier. Watching her almost made me tear up."

This was Riley Perry’s first real acting role. Hearing the director call the take, she immediately ran to the monitor to watch the playback.

Director Quinn had a smooth day of shooting, so he was in a genuinely good mood. He even teased Riley Perry, "This scene was simple, that’s why it was an easy take. Your acting still has a long way to go. You better watch yourself. When I start yelling, I don’t care if you’re pretty or ugly!"

Riley Perry: ...For a moment, she couldn’t tell if the director was criticizing her or praising her!

Riley Perry stayed on set until almost six before heading back to her hotel. In a rare turn of events, she had actually received a message from her patron.

Cole Sinclair: Where are you?

Riley Perry decided to video call him directly. A few seconds later, the call connected, and a man in a sharp suit appeared on the screen. She leaned forward, a smile in her eyes as she looked at the man on the screen. "Mr. Sinclair, how rare. This is the first time you’ve messaged me first! Did you miss me?"

Cole Sinclair: ... ’This is the second time, actually.’

He wore his usual deadpan expression. "You’re at the hotel? Are you done with work?"

"Yep, just got back."

Cole Sinclair’s eyes narrowed slightly. The woman on the screen was wearing a pink V-neck top. As she leaned forward, he saw her beautiful collarbones and a flash of fair skin.

He frowned imperceptibly and averted his gaze, but then quickly looked back. ’The woman before me is entirely mine,’ he thought. ’Why shouldn’t I be able to look?’

"Have you had dinner?"

Riley Perry let her hair down. The phone shook with her movement, and Cole Sinclair thought he saw a flash of her fair waist.

"I’m all sweaty and gross. I need to take a shower before I go down to eat."

Cole Sinclair was silent for a moment. ’If I had called a little later,’ he thought, ’would I have been able to see her bathing?’

"Hmm? Why aren’t you talking, Mr. Sinclair? Thinking about some little temptress?"

Cole Sinclair thought to himself: ’Aren’t you the little temptress I’m thinking of?’

"Don’t be ridiculous."

Riley Perry arched a lovely brow and shot the man on screen a wink. "Then you must have missed me! So, Mr. Sinclair can get shy after all!"

The woman was too beautiful, her voice too seductive. The man, flustered and annoyed, said, "Go take your shower. I’m hanging up."

Riley Perry looked at the now-dark screen and curled her lips into a silent smile. ’He’s caving already? I haven’t even done anything yet!’

’He’s so innocent. Any other man would have at least waited until I was in the bathroom before hanging up, right?’

Just as Cole Sinclair’s call ended, Riley Perry’s phone chimed again. It was a message from William West: "Family emergency, had to head back. I’ll treat you to a meal next time I’m free."

Riley Perry replied: "Okay, be safe on the road. Drive carefully."

After getting back last night, she had done a quick search on him. William West... a rich second-generation kid from a finance family—a very wealthy one. He had an older brother who managed the family company.

William West had no interest whatsoever in the company. And since no one knew he was a hacker, he was just considered a spoiled playboy in their social circle. His reputation was so bad that he was even excluded from consideration for marriage alliances.

’But,’ she thought, ’it’s not like that kid cares about his reputation anyway.’

After a simple dinner at the hotel, Riley Perry opened her laptop to take on more jobs. Because she had been more active on the site recently and had completed several jobs beautifully, some pickier clients had started seeking her out directly.

And they offered exceptionally high prices. As long as it didn’t violate her principles, she picked the ones that paid the most.

’If I want to bring my family to Dragonspire, a small amount of money certainly won’t be enough.’

...