But Vernon— at least the drunk Vernon— wanted her body, lusting over her as if she was a goddess he took from heaven. And she liked it… 'Ah, what are you doing, Chloe? Vernon is so drunk right now. Of course, he'll do stuff. All men do this when drunk— no matter who is the woman on their bed…' Chloe thought. But Vernon didn't allow her to overthink her worry. Because he suddenly pinched her chin and stared deep into her eyes, "Don't make that self-deprecating expression. My woman… my woman, is the brightest woman I've ever met. She is the most beautiful. No matter how many women I've met, she is irreplaceable." 'Yeah, that's not me at all…' Chloe thought. She was quite bright when she was young, but her fire fizzled out when she married and got bullied into total submission to Vincent.