Rebirth: My CEO Husband's Thoughts Are Too Shameless

While Clara was at home sulking over what she believed was Dominic deliberately ignoring her messages, her husband was operating on nothing but adrenaline.

So were Mark and every delegate trying to keep up with him.

The moment they landed in Country P, Dominic skipped every opportunity to rest and went straight from one meeting to another.

His reason was simple.

The sooner he finished his work, the sooner he could fly back home, wrap Clara in his arms, and make up for disappearing without replying to her messages.

”Congratulations, Mr. Sterling,” one of the executives said after signing the final document. ”We’re looking forward to working with Prestine Group.”

”The pleasure is mine.”

Dominic shook hands with him with his usual composed smile.

It was the fifth contract he had finalized within a few hours of landing.

Despite spending the entire flight reviewing reports instead of sleeping, he looked as energetic as ever.

Mark, on the other hand, was standing behind Dominic with half-open eyes, looking like a soul that had already left its body.

One strong breeze and he was convinced he’d collapse.

”Since this is your first visit to Country P,” another delegate said warmly, ”how about we show you around? You’ll be staying for another two days anyway.”

Mark’s exhausted eyes instantly lit up.

Please say yes, Boss. I beg you. If I don’t lie down within the next thirty minutes, I’ll become today’s biggest business casualty.

Unfortunately...

”Maybe next time.”

Dominic smiled politely.

”I’d rather bring my wife with me. She enjoys visiting new places.”

The delegates exchanged knowing smiles.

”What a devoted husband. We hope to welcome both of you next time.”

After they left, Mark stared at Dominic in disbelief.

”Boss...”

”Hm?”

”You rejected free sightseeing.”

”Yes.”

”You rejected free food.”

”Yes.”

”You rejected free entertainment.”

”Correct.”

Mark sighed dramatically. ”You’ve truly reached the final stage of being a married man.”

Dominic ignored him and continued checking the schedule on his tablet.

Refusing to give up, Mark quickly caught up with him.

”Boss, don’t you think Madam would be happy if you brought her souvenirs? Maybe something unique from Country P?”

Dominic’s footsteps slowed. He recalled how sad Clara had looked before he left.

He had wanted to cheer her up, but circumstances hadn’t allowed it.

Perhaps... bringing her gifts would make her smile again.

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he imagined Clara happily hugging him the moment she saw the presents.

”...Maybe you’re right.”

Mark almost cried tears of joy.

Success!

He had finally managed to distract the workaholic.

”Excellent!” Mark said enthusiastically. ”I’ll prepare the car right away.”

”Wait.”

Mark stopped.

”Yes, Boss?”

”I never said I was going.”

”...”

”...What?”

Dominic looked at him as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

”I still have reports to review.”

Mark blinked. ”Then... how exactly are you planning to buy gifts?”

Dominic calmly closed his tablet.

”You’ll go.”

”...Me?”

”Yes.”

Mark pointed at himself. ”I’ll shop?”

”You’ll shop.”

”...For Madam?”

”For my wife.”

Mark’s eyelid twitched.

”Boss... I don’t even know what Madam likes,” he lied just so he could keep Dominic busy despite knowing everything about Clara’s favorite. It is simply a matter of fact that his madam transformed from Ursula to pure Angel.

Dominic looked thoughtful for a moment before giving his instructions.

”Buy everything this place is famous for.”

Mark froze.

”...Everything?”

”Everything.”

”Boss... could you define ’everything’?”

Dominic answered without the slightest hesitation. ”If it’s famous, buy it.”

Mark felt a cold shiver run down his spine. ”What if it’s food?”

”Buy it.”

”Traditional clothes?”

”Buy them.”

”Jewelry?”

”Buy it.”

”Handmade crafts?”

”Buy those too.”

Mark swallowed nervously. ”...What if this country is famous for real estate?”

Dominic looked at him with complete seriousness.

”...Then buy the property.”

”...”

Mark stared at his boss for several long seconds. He wasn’t sure whether Dominic was joking, and the frightening part was that he genuinely didn’t think he was.

Mark slowly lowered his head and sighed. ”As expected...”

”Something wrong?”

”No, Boss.”

Mark forced a smile that looked more painful than cheerful.

”I was just wondering if customs would allow me to bring an entire country back for Madam.”

Dominic nodded thoughtfully.

”If they don’t, we’ll have the legal team figure it out.”

Mark: ”...”

There it was. His boss wasn’t joking at all, and that only made Mark cry mentally.

”Boss, could you please stop flaunting your love for Madam?” Mark groaned dramatically. ”I’m pretty sure no one is competing with you for the ’Best Husband of the Year’ award.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Dominic fell completely silent.

Mark continued walking ahead, still mumbling to himself, but Dominic no longer heard a single word.

Love? The word echoed repeatedly in his mind.

It felt strangely unfamiliar.

In his entire life, Dominic had never truly understood what love was.

Growing up, he had watched his parents’ marriage with admiration. His father had always taken wonderful care of his mother, but Dominic had assumed that was simply what happened when two people spent years building a life together.

To him, it had always looked like companionship.

Trust. Responsibility. Not... love.

He had witnessed the same thing with Hannah and Eric.

Hannah had openly confessed her love for Eric before the entire family without a hint of hesitation. Even before that, she constantly fussed over him, making sure he ate on time, rested properly, and never lacked anything.

He even remembered the day she accidentally burned her hand while trying to cook Eric’s favorite meal.

Yet despite the pain, she had smiled the moment Eric praised the food.

Back then, Dominic had simply assumed that was what wives or partners did for their husbands or lovers. Nothing more.

When he had decided to marry Clara, love had never been part of the equation.

He had married her because he wanted to protect her from the people who called themselves her family.

He had followed the example set by his own father, believing that a good husband should care for his wife, support her, and make sure she never had to face life’s hardships alone.

That, in his mind, was enough to make a marriage work.

But... Love?

He had never once stopped to ask himself whether he actually loved Clara.

The thought made him unconsciously slow his pace.

Do I... love Clara? The question lingered in his mind.

He genuinely didn’t know the answer. Or perhaps... he had simply never thought about it before.

Just as he was about to ask Mark what exactly he meant by ”love,” Dominic finally looked up.

Only to find Mark several steps ahead, throwing his hands into the air in utter frustration.

Mark had completely given up. He had spent the last few minutes passionately complaining, only to realize his boss hadn’t been listening to a single word.

He turned around with a helpless expression.

”Boss...”

Dominic blinked.

”Hm?”

Mark stared at him for a long moment before letting out a defeated sigh.

”You ignored everything I just said, didn’t you?”

”...Probably.”

”I knew it.”

Mark rubbed his forehead dramatically.

”At this point, I don’t even know why I bother talking.”

Without waiting for a reply, he waved his hand dismissively and continued walking.

”I’m done. You can have your romantic husband crisis all by yourself.”

Dominic frowned slightly. ”...Romantic husband crisis?”

Mark didn’t even bother turning around.

”See? You’re still thinking about it.”

”...”

For once in his life, Dominic found himself unable to deny it.

Because, for the first time... he was seriously wondering whether everything he felt for Clara had been love all along.