Rebirth: My CEO Husband's Thoughts Are Too Shameless

After moving her belongings into Dominic’s room, Clara slowly began unpacking.

One by one, she arranged her clothes inside the wardrobe before placing the rest of her personal items where they belonged.

In her previous life, even after two years of marriage, she had insisted on sleeping in a separate room.

She had done everything she could to keep her distance from Dominic.

Back then, she believed that the farther she stayed from him, the easier it would be to divorce him one day.

Now...

She had completely changed her mind.

If she wanted to understand her husband, she needed to stay close to him.

Very close.

After all, Dominic Sterling was a man who barely spoke out loud...

Yet his mind never stopped talking.

Sometimes, his thoughts were amusing.

Sometimes, they were unexpectedly sweet.

And occasionally...

They were so shameless that they left her completely speechless.

A smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

”I’ll make him hug me tonight,” she murmured to herself with quiet determination.

Satisfied with her plan, Clara knelt beside the remaining suitcase and unzipped it.

Unlike the others, this one wasn’t filled with clothes.

It contained dozens of neatly organized notebooks.

She carefully picked one up, gently brushing away the invisible dust on its cover.

Each notebook was filled with handwritten recipes.

Cake recipes.

Cookie recipes.

Bread recipes.

Desserts of every kind.

They were all written by her mother.

Clara’s fingers lingered on the familiar handwriting as countless memories came rushing back.

Her mother, Diana, had always dreamed of opening a small bakery.

She loved baking.

Not because it made money...

But because it made people smile.

Every birthday cake she decorated, every loaf of fresh bread she baked, every dessert she carefully prepared was made with love.

”I hope one day we’ll have our own little cake shop,” Diana would often say with a gentle smile.

”But even if that day never comes, I want you to know how to make these recipes.”

Back then, Clara had secretly promised herself that one day she would fulfill her mother’s dream.

Unfortunately...

That day never came.

Diana had fallen deeply in love with Vincent Hayes.

She had been young, innocent, and foolish enough to believe every promise he made.

He told her he loved her.

He promised he would marry her.

He swore she was the only woman in his heart.

Blinded by love, Diana gave him everything.

Only later did she discover the cruel truth.

Vincent was already married.

She had unknowingly become the other woman.

The moment she learned the truth, Diana was devastated.

Filled with guilt and regret, she immediately cut ties with Vincent and walked away without asking him for anything.

She wanted nothing more to do with him.

But by then...

It was already too late. She was carrying his child. The scandal spread quickly.

Unable to bear the humiliation of seeing their unmarried daughter become pregnant, Diana’s parents were shunned by the people around them.

The constant gossip and shame broke their hearts. Not long afterward, both of them passed away.

From that day on, Diana carried an unbearable burden of guilt. She never forgave herself. She often blamed her own naivety for destroying not only her own future, but also the lives of the people who had loved her the most. But she never gave up on her child or the dream she once saw.

Clara hugged the notebook tightly against her chest.

”Mom...” Her voice was barely above a whisper. ”This time...I’ll protect everything you left behind.”

The recipes. Her dream. And the family she had finally been given a second chance to cherish.

Clara wiped away the tears that had slipped down her cheeks before carefully placing her mother’s recipe book inside the drawer.

After making sure everything in the room was neatly arranged, she took one last glance around.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

”Come in.”

One of the maids stepped inside and bowed respectfully.

”Young Madam, your sister, Miss Julian, is here to see you.”

Clara paused for a moment but soon a faint smile slowly curved her lips.

”So... she couldn’t wait any longer.”

She had expected Julian to come sooner or later.

After all, Alex had been blocked.

If he couldn’t reach her, Julian would naturally be the next person sent to test the waters.

”I’ll be right down.”

The maid nodded before leaving the room.

Clara straightened her clothes, took a calming breath, and headed downstairs.

***

The moment Clara entered the living room, Julian hurried toward her.

”Oh my goodness, Clara!”

She threw her arms around her as though she had been worried sick.

”I’m so relieved you’re alright. I’ve been so worried about you. I couldn’t stop thinking about how you must be living here.”

Clara allowed the hug for a few seconds before gently stepping back.

A smile remained on her face.

Only she knew every word Julian had just spoken was a lie.

Julian wasn’t here because she cared.

She was here because Alex couldn’t contact her.

After hearing Alex’s version of what had happened at the Sterling Estate, Julian wanted to see with her own eyes whether Clara had truly accepted Dominic... or whether it had all been an act.

”Thank you for worrying about me,” Clara replied politely.

”But I’m doing very well.”

She smiled sweetly.

”Why wouldn’t I be? My husband takes such good care of me. He’d never let anything happen to me.”

Julian’s smile stiffened.

What nonsense is she talking about?

Had Clara hit her head?

Since when did she speak so fondly of Dominic?

Suppressing the confusion in her heart, Julian put on a sympathetic expression.

”Clara, you don’t have to pretend to be happy in front of me.”

She gently held Clara’s hand.

”I know you’re upset because Alex couldn’t make it to the airport.”

Her voice softened.

”But remember what I told you? Dominic’s men kidnapped him. That’s why he couldn’t come and take you away.”

She spoke with complete confidence, believing Clara would once again accept her explanation without question.

Instead...

Clara quietly asked,

”How did you know it was Dominic’s men?”

Julian froze.

”I...”

”You were with me the entire time,” Clara continued calmly. ”If you never left my side, how could you possibly know who kidnapped Alex?”

Julian’s expression changed almost imperceptibly.

A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

Something’s wrong...

Why is Clara asking questions instead of believing me?

Clara looked at her steadily.

In her previous life... She would never have questioned Julian.

Not once.

But this lifetime was different.

You fooled me once, Julian.

You won’t get another chance.

”You were the one who helped me leave the wedding venue,” Clara continued.

”So if you already knew Alex had supposedly been kidnapped...”

She tilted her head slightly.

”...why didn’t you tell me before I ran away?”

Julian opened her mouth.

No words came out.

”Wouldn’t it have made more sense to stop me?” Clara asked. ”Or at least tell me what had happened?”

Julian forced a laugh.

”I... I only found out afterward.”

”Really?”

Clara smiled.

”That’s strange.”

”You sounded awfully certain just now.”

The atmosphere in the living room instantly turned tense.

Standing near the doorway, Lily’s jaw nearly dropped.

She discreetly nudged Silvia.

”Am I hearing this correctly?” she whispered. ”Young Madam is actually defending Young Master... against her own sister.”

Silvia stared just as blankly.

”If I hadn’t heard it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

She quickly elbowed Lily again.

”Keep your voice down.”

”Do you want her to hear us again?”

Lily immediately remembered the two heavy suitcases they had been forced to carry upstairs earlier.

Her shoulders instinctively slumped.

”...You’re right.”

”I don’t think my back has recovered yet.”

Silvia nodded seriously.

”Let’s just stand here quietly.”

”The last thing I want is for Young Madam to suddenly remember another ’small favor’ she needs from us.”

The two maids instantly straightened their posture, silently praying they would remain invisible while the confrontation in the living room continued.