Possessed No More: The True Star Returns to Claim Her Throne-Chapter 84: The Banquet

He’d eaten his fair share at the Stardust cafeteria over the past two days, a privilege the drivers and bodyguards of other celebrities certainly didn’t enjoy. Miss Perry was different from the other stars in the entertainment industry.

Perhaps that was why Eldest Master Sinclair was able to accept her.

Riley Perry’s eyes narrowed in enjoyment. "Their dipping sauces are blended differently than at other places, and the broth is so savory. I can’t get enough. I seriously can’t get enough."

Rhona patted her stomach. "That’s an easy fix. We’ll just come back next time. It’ll be my treat."

Riley Perry nodded. "Deal. Who am I to argue? You’re richer than I am, after all, The Eldest Miss Lee!"

Samson Sinclair: "...Her last name is Lee?"

Rhona was so incensed her eyes went wide. "What else would it be? You didn’t actually think my last name was Rhona, did you?"

Samson Sinclair: ...

After lunch, Riley Perry and Rhona went for a full-body spa treatment and got their hair done. Perhaps feeling she’d gone a bit too far at noon, Riley dutifully went to pick up Cole Sinclair from work.

When Cole Sinclair came down, his face was stern. He was radiating a dark aura, clearly angry.

Riley Perry quickly got out of the car. After he got into his own vehicle, she swiftly followed and sat down in the back seat.

"Mr. Sinclair, are you mad at me? Please don’t be. I apologize. I was in the wrong at lunchtime; I shouldn’t have focused on my friend and ignored you. I’ll do better next time, alright?" ’It’s just a few words to placate him,’ she thought. ’It’s not like it costs me anything.’

Hearing her apology, Cole Sinclair’s expression finally thawed. He glanced down at Riley Perry’s hand tugging at the hem of his jacket. ’Good,’ he thought. ’She knows when to yield. She’s sensible enough.’

"Don’t forget, I’m your sponsor. If you dare stand me up again, I’ll dock your allowance."

Leaning against him, Riley Perry suddenly stiffened. The corner of her mouth twitched imperceptibly. ’Cole Sinclair, you just wait!’

Riley Perry raised her hand and swore solemnly, "Rest assured, Mr. Sinclair. I have a strong sense of professional ethics. I will absolutely not make the same mistake twice." ’I’ll stick strictly to the contract from now on,’ she added silently.

The banquet began at seven, so they went directly to get styled. Cole Sinclair had already arranged for her gown. It was a slim-fitting, ankle-length dress in a dark gold hue with a V-neck and long sleeves. A jade-accented belt cinched her waist, perfectly outlining her hourglass figure. Under the lights, the hem of the skirt glittered with what looked like countless specks of starlight. Crucially, the gown was exceptionally modest, revealing nothing but her slender neck.

She wore a pair of matching pointed-toe high heels, and her long hair was styled in glamorous waves. She’d only applied a layer of lip balm; her lips were a naturally beautiful shade of pink, and the balm made them glisten. They looked as supple as jelly, tempting anyone who saw them to lean in for a deep kiss just to taste them.

Cole Sinclair, for his part, had changed into the suit Riley Perry had bought for him, complete with the watch she had picked out. Her dress was dark gold, which perfectly matched the pattern on his shirt and the trim of his suit pocket. Standing together, they looked like a couple in matching outfits.

Riley Perry placed one hand on Cole Sinclair’s shoulder and toyed with his tie with the other. "Mr. Sinclair," she praised in a low voice, "you look exceptionally handsome tonight."

Cole Sinclair was inwardly pleased by the compliment, but he kept his expression neutral. "So I didn’t look good before?" he asked.

"No, you’re always handsome. You’re the most handsome and charismatic man I’ve ever seen. No one in the world can compare to you."

Cole Sinclair could no longer suppress the smile playing on his lips. He took her hand from his tie. "I suppose you have good taste," he said.

Riley Perry: ’Heh. So he’s just a classic tsundere!’

Standing to the side, the stylist sighed in admiration. ’These two are like masterpieces meticulously carved by the Creator. If they were to marry, can you imagine how beautiful their children would be?’

At 7:10 PM, a bespoke Rolls-Royce pulled up outside The Solstice Hotel. When Riley Perry entered the Jacobs Family banquet on Cole Sinclair’s arm, she instantly became the focus of everyone’s attention.

In the banquet hall, Melanie Chenning was chatting with a few other women when she noticed the commotion and looked toward the entrance. Someone suddenly piped up, "Isn’t that Eldest Master Sinclair? Who’s that woman with him? I’ve never seen him bring a date to one of these things before!"

’She’s as beautiful as a vixen. I can’t believe a woman that stunning even exists!’

’President Sinclair has such a powerful presence, yet it doesn’t diminish her aura in the slightest. They almost seem evenly matched. How bizarre!’

’Where on earth did this woman pop up from?’

Melanie Chenning’s gaze shot to the entrance, and her expression immediately soured. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

A woman beside her sneered, "She looks vaguely familiar... I think she’s some D-list starlet. What’s wrong with Eldest Master Sinclair’s taste, ignoring our Melanie for a woman like that?"

It sounded like she was defending Melanie—and she genuinely was, as her family had business dealings with the Chenning Family, and she’d been instructed to stay on Melanie’s good side.

However, her choice of words was a direct offense to Melanie.

’What does she mean, *ignoring* our Melanie?’ she fumed inwardly. ’If she doesn’t know how to talk, she should just keep her mouth shut.’

"By the way, Melanie," the woman continued, "I heard Mrs. Sinclair wants to set you up with Eldest Master Sinclair. Your families are a perfect match, and you’re childhood sweethearts. You can’t let some little vixen steal your man."

"All those women in the entertainment industry are gold diggers. They just want to marry rich and climb the social ladder. You have to keep a close eye on him!"

Melanie Chenning sneered inwardly. ’As if the Sinclair Family would ever allow a mere actress through their doors.’

She took a glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray, took a delicate sip, and chuckled softly. "Don’t talk nonsense. I’ve just returned to the country, and I’m completely focused on my company’s affairs. Anything else is outside my consideration for now."

Sylvia Lee felt a surge of frustration at her friend’s passivity. She and Melanie Chenning were best friends who’d grown up together; how could she not know what Melanie was thinking?

’She went to study abroad all by herself, and the moment she came back, she threw herself into the family business—all just to be a worthy match for Eldest Master Sinclair.’

’And now Eldest Master Sinclair was with someone else. Melanie must be heartbroken.’

"You’re being foolish," Sylvia said. "If you like someone, you have to go after them. This whole ’hiding in a corner and admiring from afar’ act is completely outdated."

Melanie Chenning sighed in resignation. "Don’t be ridiculous. I’m simply respecting Colt’s choice."

...

Cole Sinclair was, of course, oblivious to the gossip. After leading Riley Perry into the hall, he was immediately greeted by the head of the Jacobs Family, Dustin Jacobs.

’This man was the president of the Sinclair Group, the crown prince of Dragonspire himself. He’d never dreamed that President Sinclair would personally make an appearance for his father’s eightieth birthday. His presence truly brought honor to their humble event.’

"I never expected you to grace us with your presence, President Sinclair," he said. "I heard the Sinclair Group’s exploration team discovered another oil field. Congratulations."

Cole Sinclair nodded calmly, as if business deals worth hundreds of billions were an everyday affair for him.

’To Dustin Jacobs, that calm expression was a mark of profound maturity. The man was around the same age as his own son, yet he had already reached a level even their generation of elders couldn’t touch. To say he was envious would be a gross understatement.’