Possessed No More: The True Star Returns to Claim Her Throne-Chapter 48: How Dare She Marry Someone Else?

Cole Sinclair meticulously re-bandaged her wrist, then passionately kissed the woman with the charming smile.

The kiss left Riley Perry breathless, forcing her to push hard against the man’s chest. Cole Sinclair reluctantly released her. Her eyes were teary, her cheeks flushed, and her chest heaved as she gasped for air. The sight of the rosy blush on her pale skin was dazzling, and he almost dove in for another kiss.

Riley Perry huffed coquettishly, pulling her rumpled clothes closed. "Behave yourself. We’re in a hospital."

"Then let’s go to a hotel," Cole Sinclair’s voice grew husky as he reached out to fasten her buttons.

Riley Perry wasn’t having it. She bristled, glaring as she jabbed a finger into Cole Sinclair’s chest. "What’s that supposed to mean?" she demanded, poking him with every word. "I’m still sick, and all you can think about is *that*. You really don’t care about me at all, do you? What do you take me for?"

"You’re going to be the death of me!" Despite her fierce expression, her voice was delicate, making even her accusation sound like a pout. Cole Sinclair couldn’t resist. He caught the small hand jabbing his chest, a smile playing on his lips. "That’s not what I meant. The accommodations here are just a bit lacking. I want to take you back to the hotel so I can personally take care of you tonight."

’His pampered darling... she didn’t even have anyone here to look after her. Is this how Stardust operates?’

Riley Perry planted her hands on her hips. "That’s more like it!" Then, a second later, she added, "Well, let’s go, then! I don’t want to stay here either. The sheets and blankets are so scratchy, they’ve chafed my skin. The bathroom is tiny, and there’s no carpet in the room."

"And another thing, people are always walking around during the day, so I can’t sleep soundly. The air smells weird, too, and it’s ruined my appetite. Honestly, I wanted to be discharged already, but the doctor won’t let me leave."

Cole Sinclair chuckled softly. ’Isn’t your nausea from the concussion? Her file clearly said she grew up in the countryside. I have no idea where she developed this pampered attitude.’

’Who cares, though.’ He swept her into his arms and started walking out. He couldn’t let his pampered darling feel slighted.

Seeing this, Henry Hayes quickly scurried after them. He sighed to himself. ’It seems Miss Perry’s place in Mr. Sinclair’s heart is becoming more and more important.’

A little over ten minutes later, they arrived back at the hotel Cole Sinclair had booked in advance.

The two hadn’t seen each other since Riley Perry had come here for filming. Cole, especially, had been through a lot—surviving an assassination attempt and having a falling-out with his biological mother—and he deeply missed the sense of peace he only felt when he was by her side. As a result, he craved her closeness.

This time, without Riley Perry even having to ask, he took the initiative to help her bathe and dress, attending to her every need.

He had intended to behave, but Riley Perry wasn’t actually feeling unwell. And in a place like the bathroom, with her teasing him—whether intentionally or not—it was an explosive mix. "Mmm... I feel so dizzy..."

His breathing grew heavy. "And you still dare to tempt me? Hm?" ’This girl is just asking to be disciplined.’

Her fingers raked a long scratch down his back, and a thin line of blood quickly welled in its wake.

The man’s eyes darkened, the faint sting of pain seeming to ignite his primal instincts. The sound of splashing in the bathroom intensified.

...

More than an hour later, Cole Sinclair carried Riley Perry back to the bed. The woman, who had been limp with exhaustion, rolled over and picked up the hotel phone.

"What are you doing?"

Riley Perry’s voice was so soft it was barely a whisper. "What do you think? You came over so late, you must not have eaten dinner. I’m having the hotel send something up."

Cole Sinclair, who had been drying his hair, paused. He leaned down to kiss her face, but to his surprise, Riley Perry playfully slapped him away.

"Go on, stop messing around. A grown man like you who can’t even take care of himself. I bet it feels just great when your stomach problems flare up, right?"

Cole Sinclair’s eyes flickered. ’Just look at this,’ he thought. ’How long had he and Riley Perry even been together? Not counting the time they were apart, it was only a few nights in total. Yet she knew he had stomach problems, while his own family had never shown the slightest concern for his health.’

Riley Perry had no idea he was busy falling for her all on his own. The call connected, and she quickly rattled off her request before hanging up.

Cole Sinclair returned from the bathroom. The towel was gone, replaced by a hairdryer in his hand.

On the bed, Riley Perry had already closed her eyes, looking utterly exhausted.

"Sit up. I’ll dry your hair for you, or you’ll get a headache."

Riley Perry protested, "I’m too tired. My back is sore... I don’t wanna dry it. I don’t want to move."

The next second, she was being lifted into a sitting position, leaning back against the man’s chest as he gathered her into his arms.

Looking at the boneless woman in his arms, Cole Sinclair sighed in resignation and began to dry her hair.

His movements were clumsy, however, and he kept snagging her hair, making her hiss in pain from time to time, but she never complained.

When her hair was finally almost dry, he asked, "Aren’t you afraid of pain?" ’He’d tugged her hair so many times; why wasn’t she kicking him?’

"Of course I am. But when I think about how you’re only hurting me because you’re so clumsy at this, I can’t stay mad."

Cole Sinclair was speechless. ’...Is she calling me a total amateur, implying I’ve never done this for anyone before? Well, she’s right. He hadn’t. This was a first.’

Unable to help himself, he turned her around and pressed a hard kiss to her lips.

Riley Perry smiled like a sly fox. She hooked a finger under Cole Sinclair’s chin and ordered, "But you have to remember this. From now on, you’re only allowed to dry my hair. Even if you get a girlfriend, or a wife in the future, you’re forbidden. Got it?"

The hairdryer was still whirring. Cole Sinclair dipped his head slightly, staring at the woman who dared to give him orders. "And what about you? Will you let anyone else dry your hair for you?"

At the thought of another man taking his place, holding her just like this while drying her hair, and even... doing all the other things they’d done together, a sudden, nameless rage flared in Cole Sinclair’s chest.

Riley Perry paid his dark expression no mind, saying with infuriating nonchalance, "Of course I will! If someone wants to pamper me, why would I refuse? Do you think I’m an idiot?"

The sound of the hairdryer died. Riley Perry felt the world spin, and the next thing she knew, she was pinned beneath him on the bed. "Say that again."

Riley Perry looked up at the grim-faced man with a puzzled expression. "Are you angry? We’re just a patron and his lover. Besides, the contract is up in a year. Our ending was already decided from the start."

"I’m going to get married someday, and so will you. I was born to enjoy the finer things in life. Why would I refuse someone who wants to pamper me?"

’Right,’ Cole thought. ’They were just a patron and his lover. They would part ways in a year. She would get married, and her husband would take care of her. That was perfectly normal!’

’But who said she could marry someone else?’

"Do you think the contract is too short? We can change it!"

’It wouldn’t be so bad,’ he thought, ’if this woman stayed by his side forever.’

Riley Perry’s tone suddenly turned dismissive. "No. I won’t change it."