He drove past the exclusive bar he usually visited before he reunited with Chloe. He knew that he shouldn''t use alcohol as an escape, but...


    "Ah, fuck it!"


    Vernon made a U-turn with his car and went to that bar.


    He parked the car and entered the bar.


    The sight of the handsome-but-intimidating Vernon Phoenix Gray caught the attention of everyone in the exclusive bar.


    A few of the waitresses and bartenders gasped because it had been a while since thest time Mr. Phoenix Gray visited the bar a few months ago.


    They knew from the owner that Mr. Phoenix Gray rejected the advance of a young waitress, even proiming that he already had a woman at home.


    So most of them assumed that Mr. Phoenix Gray simply had a serious rtionship with his new girlfriend, maybe even going as far as settling down soon.


    But it didn''t seem to be the case since he came to the bar tonight.


    Vernon''s eyes observed around the bar until he saw the owner eagerly walking towards him.


    "Wee, Mr. Phoenix Gray, may I escort you to the VIP room before taking your order?"


    "Hm," Vernon nodded. But he quickly added, "With a woman. Bring a waitress with long, chestnut hair, doe eyes, and with a sweet look. I want that type or I will not take anyone tonight."


    The owner was surprised by Vernon''s request. He thought Mr. Phoenix Gray wouldn''t take any woman since thest time he made a scene, refusing the advance of one desperate waitress.


    But he would never say no to the request of a VIP customer, "Certainly, Sir. I do have one simr to your type. But she''s in herte 20s, not young, if you don''t mind."


    "Perfect, I want her tonight."


    "Yes, Sir, this way please."


    The owner led Vernon to the same VIP room where Vernon was out drinking with that waitress. He barely remembered a thing, but he clearly remembered how that young woman was clinging desperately to him.


    "Please sit down and rx, Sir. The waitress wille soon," the bar owner said. He excused himself and closed the door.


    Vernon was left alone in the VIP room. He was gazing emptily at a random corner of the room as his mind was stillgging, thanks to Shailene and her theory that confused Vernon''s mind and heart.


    Ding!


    Vernon frowned when he felt a vibration in his chest. He fished out his phone and checked the text he had just received.


    His breath stiffened when he saw the text sender.


    --


    From: My Chloe.


    Vernon, it''s already nine.


    Where are you? Will youe home tonight?


    Please tell me when you''reing home, so I can reheat the dinner.


    --


    Vernon stared at the text for a while until he scoffed, "What do you care about me? You said that you''re disgusted with me. You can''t even eat when I''m around. I shouldn''t be around you."


    Vernon typed a reply for Chloe, but his thumb hovered when he was about to press the send button.


    He wondered if he should send it or not.


    After all, Chloe did not want his presence, "And she must''ve been asking my whereabouts because of her responsibility working as a maid in my penthouse. Not because she cares..."


    Vernon considered it for a while until he heard a knock on the door, "Excuse me, Sir. I''m the waitress you ordered tonight."


    "Ah, yeah,e in," Vernon replied. He threw his phone on the table as the door opened.


    The waitress came in with theplimentary drink. She stood before Vernon and introduced herself, "My name is Cynthia, Sir. I am the waitress that has been ordered to serve you tonight."


    Vernon observed the woman''s appearance for a while. She had features simr to Chloe, especially her long, wavy chestnut hair and doe eyes.


    Though this waitress, Cynthia, wasn''t as sweet-looking and gentle as Chloe, she would do it for the night.


    "Bring me the Seven Star Fantasy set, I want to get wasted tonight," Vernon ordered.


    Cynthia was surprised that Mr. Phoenix Gray knew about the Seven Star Fantasy. It was a set of seven drinks ranging that would make youpletely wasted by the sixth or seventh shot, depending on the person''s alcohol tolerance.


    It wasn''t something that was ordered often because beingpletely wasted wasn''t fun at all.


    But it wasn''t her ce to say no, so she bowed respectfully, "Certainly, Sir. Please wait for a moment."


    The waitress turned around and walked out of the room. Vernon watched her back, and his heart ached when he realized this waitress had a simr figure to Chloe from behind.


    "I can''t believe I have to find a recement when I have you at home, Chloe...." Vernon murmured. He wanted tough at himself, as he found it ridiculous that he would drink his night away to release his stress while embracing a woman that looked simr to Chloe.


    When he could juste home and embrace the real one.


    "Well, it''s not as easy as it sounds. She doesn''t want me around after all," Vernon reasoned.


    Cynthia entered the VIP room while pushing a fancy gold food trolley. The seven drinks had been neatly arranged on the three trays, giving a luxurious feel that didn''t awe Vernon.


    Because this wasn''t the first time, he had this set of drinks.


    "This is the Seven-star fantasy that you''ve ordered, Sir," Cynthia, the waitress, said. "Shall we start with the first shot?"


    "Hm," Vernon nodded and watched the waitress pour the drink from the bottle into a shot ss.


    She carefully served it on the table in front of Vernon and took a step back, waiting for Vernon to drink the first one.


    Vernon quickly nced at the ss and then at the waitress, "Is this how you will serve me today?"


    Cynthia''s heart jumped for a second, "E--Excuse me, Sir. I don''t quite understand--"


    Vernon patted the spot beside him on the sofa, "Sit here and apany me for the night."