Rebirth: My CEO Husband's Thoughts Are Too Shameless

Later that evening, the five women gathered at a lively restaurant to celebrate Clara’s first major business deal.

The table was already filled with food, drinks, and enough desserts to make Clara proudly declare they were ”conducting quality control”.

Their cheerful conversation came to an abrupt halt when Hannah quietly placed a wedding invitation on the table.

Clara picked it up. The moment she read the names printed on it, her eyes widened.

”What?!” She nearly dropped the card. ”That son of a bitch is already getting married?”

Lily and Silvia immediately leaned over to read it. ”...Eric Swan and Ruby Vance.”

Both women stared at each other. ”It hasn’t even been that long since you dumped him,” Silvia muttered in disbelief. ”And he’s already getting married?”

”What efficiency,” Clara deadpanned.

”If only he’d shown this level of commitment while dating.” Lily snorted into her juice.

Across the table, Hannah simply took a calm sip of her drink. ”Well...”

She shrugged. ”They suit each other. So I’m not particularly surprised.”

When Ruby had first handed her the invitation that morning, Hannah had admittedly been caught off guard. But after everything that happened afterward, especially...

She unconsciously thought of Mark. The shock she’d initially felt had somehow faded into the background.

Lily hesitated before asking carefully,

”Young Miss...”

”Are you... planning to attend the wedding?”

Before Hannah could answer, Silvia elbowed Lily.

”What kind of question is that?” She glared dramatically.

”Why would Young Miss voluntarily attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding? That’s emotional self-destruction with a complimentary buffet.”

Lily rubbed her arm. ”I was just asking.”

”Well, don’t.” Silvia folded her arms. Then she looked at Hannah.

”Young Miss...ignore those two. Let them marry. They deserve each other.”

Hannah couldn’t help smiling. Looking at the two women arguing over her somehow made her heart feel lighter.

Earlier, she’d hired Lily and Silvia to secretly keep an eye on Clara. Instead... the two had somehow become her closest confidantes.

Life certainly had an odd sense of humour.

She set her glass down. ”I actually plan to attend.”

”...”

”...”

”...What?”

Three voices rang out in perfect unison.

Clara blinked. Lily blinked, and Silvia looked like she had forgotten how to breathe.

”You... what?” Clara repeated.

”I’m going,” Hannah answered calmly.

”I was personally invited. It would be rude not to show up.”

Silvia immediately shook her head. ”No. Absolutely not. I refuse.”

Lily nodded vigorously. ”I second that refusal.”

Hannah laughed. ”Someone recently told me...not to let my past keep hurting me. So I thought... I’d go and congratulate them. And then move on completely.”

Clara narrowed her eyes. ”...Someone?” Her expression suddenly became suspicious. ”Who exactly is this ’someone’?”

Hannah blinked innocently. ”What someone?”

”The someone who suddenly gives life advice.”

Clara leaned across the table. ”Hannah... I’ve known you long enough. You don’t suddenly become philosophical.”

She pointed accusingly. ”Confess. Who is he?”

Hannah almost choked on her drink.

”W-What? I’m just saying...”

Clara continued. ”The last time you calmly smiled like this...Eric ended up publicly exposing himself in front of the entire Sterling family.”

Silvia nodded seriously. ”That’s true.”

Lily raised a finger. ”And before that... you smiled before firing three maids in one afternoon because they failed to keep your coffee hot”

Hannah sighed helplessly. ”Can none of you remember my good deeds?”

”No.”

The three answered together.

Clara folded her arms triumphantly.

”So...” She leaned even closer. ”Either you’re planning something...or someone has been influencing you.”

Her eyes sparkled mischievously. ”My money is on the second option.”

Hannah’s ears turned faintly red.

”Nonsense.”

”Oh?”

Clara grinned. ”Then tell us. Who gave you that advice?”

”...”

Hannah remained suspiciously quiet. Clara slowly gasped.

”Girls...” She looked around the table dramatically.

”I smell romance.”

Silvia’s eyes widened.

”So do I!”

Lily enthusiastically joined in. ”I smell tea!”

Clara slapped the table. ”Exactly!” She pointed at Hannah. ”Talk. Immediately. Who is he? If you’re planning something... I want in.”

She looked at Lily, Silvia and Gen.

”What do you say?”

The four women raised their hands without hesitation.

”Count us in!”

Hannah looked at the four eager faces surrounding her and covered her forehead with one hand.

She had a feeling... this dinner was no longer about celebrating Clara’s business success. It had somehow become an interrogation.

***

Meanwhile, outside Heaven International...

Dominic finally wrapped up the day’s work and walked out of the company lobby with Mark following a step behind.

As soon as the chauffeur opened the car door, Dominic glanced at his watch and muttered to himself,

”I should get home before my wife scolds me.”

Mark heard every word.

A few months ago, he would’ve been left speechless hearing the mighty Dominic Sterling worry about being scolded by his wife.

Now...

He was completely used to it.

”There isn’t any need to rush, Boss,” Mark replied naturally. ”Madam is celebrating with her team tonight. I don’t think she’ll be home anytime soon.”

Dominic’s hand froze on the car door.

Slowly...

He turned to look at Mark.

”...How do you know my wife isn’t home yet?”

Mark’s smile instantly disappeared.

...Oops.

”I don’t remember asking you to keep tabs on her.”

”I-I wasn’t!” Mark said so quickly that he almost bit his tongue.

”I just happened to hear Miss Hannah mention it earlier when I visited the hotel.”

Dominic narrowed his eyes.

”The hotel?”

”Yes.”

”What were you doing there?” Dominic furrowed only to leave Mark speechless.

Boss did you forget you were the one to send me there

”Delivering the delegate list.”

”And?”

”And... that’s all.”

Dominic continued staring at him.

Mark could practically feel cold sweat forming on his back.

Please don’t ask another question... Please...

Instead... Dominic asked the one question Mark least wanted to hear.

”So...” He folded his arms.

”Have you and Hannah become good friends?”

Mark nearly choked on his own saliva.

”Friends? N-No. Not at all.”

Dominic remained unconvinced. He still remembered the day Hannah got drunk. He’d honestly expected Mark to lose his life that night. Yet somehow... his assistant had walked away completely unharmed.

Considering Hannah’s temper, Dominic had quietly concluded that she probably didn’t dislike Mark.

Little did he know... that very afternoon, after Mark had misunderstood Hannah’s silence... she had grabbed him by the collar... and kissed him.

The memory flashed through Mark’s mind so vividly that his ears instantly turned red.

Afterward, the two of them had spent several awkward minutes pretending nothing had happened before Clara’s phone call interrupted the moment.

That was how he’d learned about tonight’s celebration.

Mark immediately forced himself back to reality.

”Really, Boss. I only overheard their conversation. Miss Hannah and I aren’t... friends.”

Dominic studied his expression for a few more seconds before giving a small nod.

”I see.”

Mark secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Safe. Or so he thought. Just before getting into the car, Dominic spoke again.

”That’s probably for the best.”

Mark blinked. ”Huh?”

”If you ever become friends with Hannah...” Dominic looked at him with complete seriousness. ”...prepare yourself.”

Mark frowned. ”Prepare for what?”

”She’ll call you at all hours. When she’s angry. When she’s bored. When she needs help. And somehow... you’ll end up solving all of her problems.”

Dominic sighed from experience. ”My sister has always been troublesome.”

He then got into the car without another word, and the vehicle soon disappeared into the evening traffic.

Mark remained standing outside the building, wiping the sweat from his forehead, and let out a long breath.

”...That was close.”

He honestly thought his boss had figured everything out. Then... Dominic’s final words replayed in his mind.

”She’ll call you at all hours.”

A slow smile spread across Mark’s face. ”...I wouldn’t mind that.”

His smile widened even further.

”Actually... I’d answer every single call.”

With unusually light footsteps, Mark walked toward the parking lot.

For once... the thought of being bothered by someone didn’t sound troublesome at all.

***

Once Dominic reached home, he quickly freshened up, had dinner, and headed to his study.

Since Clara was out celebrating, there was nothing for him to worry about. Still, a small part of him couldn’t help feeling jealous. She had invited her sister—the very person who had once hated her—but not him, who had done nothing but stand by her side with unwavering devotion.

Shaking the thought away, Dominic forced himself to focus on work. He had barely spent fifteen minutes going through a file when the study door suddenly flew open and Clara stormed inside.

Startled, Dominic looked up at his wife. Before he could even process her unexpected arrival, Clara marched straight to his desk, slammed both hands onto the table, and declared,

”Dom! Eric is getting married, and Hannah... she’s actually going to attend his wedding!”

Dominic looked at his wife in surprise. Despite everything she had blurted out, it took him only a few moments to figure out what was really bothering her.

”You want to go with her, don’t you?” he asked knowingly.

Clara’s eyes widened before she threw her hands into the air.

”Yes! And the traitor refused to take me!”

”...”