Rebirth: My CEO Husband's Thoughts Are Too Shameless

Clara couldn’t help but smile at Adrian’s words.

"You know, Mr. Graham..." she said softly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, "sometimes I wonder what my life would’ve been like if I’d had a father like you."

Adrian turned his head slightly, listening without interrupting.

"I think it would’ve been nice," she continued with a faint laugh. "To be spoiled... to have someone who’d scold anyone who made me cry... someone I could run to without worrying."

Her smile gradually faded.

A trace of sadness flickered across her eyes.

Growing up, Clara had never truly known what it felt like to have a father protecting her.

It wasn’t that Diana hadn’t done everything she could.

She had.

Her mother had worked tirelessly, sacrificing her own happiness just to give Clara a decent life.

But because of that, Clara had never dared burden her with every fear or heartbreak she carried. Diana already had enough on her shoulders as a single mother.

So whenever Clara felt helpless...

She simply learned to endure it alone.

After a long silence, she looked at Adrian and smiled gently.

"Your daughter must be very lucky."

Adrian’s expression softened.

"I don’t have a daughter," he replied.

Clara blinked.

"I’m not married either."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Adrian let out a quiet chuckle.

"But..." he added, looking at her with kind eyes, "if I ever had one, I think she’d probably be a lot like you."

Clara’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Stubborn," Adrian continued with a smile. "Too independent for her own good. Always pretending she’s fine when she’s clearly carrying the weight of the world."

Even Logan, seated in the driver’s seat, couldn’t help smiling faintly.

Clara lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"It was meant to be one."

Adrian leaned back comfortably against his seat.

Over the years, his parents had introduced him to countless women, hoping he would finally settle down.

He had never disliked the idea of marriage.

He simply couldn’t bring himself to replace the woman who had never truly left his heart.

Diana had remained the only person he had ever loved.

And after losing her, he had chosen solitude over pretending to love someone else.

He had made peace with that decision long ago.

Clara quietly observed the gentle smile on his face.

She had already guessed he lived alone, but she’d never dared ask about his family.

A man like Adrian... living by himself in a modest house far away from the noise of the city... there had always been a story behind that choice.

She simply hadn’t expected it to be one filled with so much quiet loneliness.

Clara smiled to herself.

Spending time with Adrian had turned out to be nothing like she’d expected.

She had assumed the trip would be awkward and filled with formal conversations.

Instead, she had found someone, besides Dominic, who listened without interrupting, judged without speaking, and somehow always knew the right thing to say.

Before long, the car rolled to a gentle stop outside her bakery.

Clara looked at the shop before turning back to Adrian.

"Mr. Graham," she said with a hopeful smile, "would you like to come in? I’ve been experimenting with a few new desserts for the menu. I could use an honest opinion."

Adrian smiled warmly.

For some reason, that smile made Clara’s heart soften.

He’s so nice...

A ridiculous thought suddenly popped into her head.

Would adopting a dad be illegal?

She frowned to herself.

...I’d better ask Dominic first.

Adrian chuckled, unaware of the strange train of thought going through her mind.

"I’d love to," he replied, "but as you can see..."

He pointed toward the passenger seat where several bags of gardening supplies rested.

"My plants have been patiently waiting for me all afternoon. If I keep them waiting any longer, they’ll file a complaint."

Logan sighed dramatically.

"They’ve already filed three this week, sir."

Adrian nodded with complete seriousness.

"I know. My tomatoes have become especially difficult."

Clara couldn’t help laughing.

"I suppose I shouldn’t come between a man and his tomatoes."

"A wise decision."

"Then I’ll let you win this round, Mr. Graham."

She didn’t insist.

Simply talking to him for a while had already lifted the weight from her heart.

"Take care."

"You too, Miss Hayes."

Clara stepped out of the car and was about to close the door when something across the street caught her attention.

Her movements stopped.

"...Huh?"

She narrowed her eyes before turning back toward Adrian.

"Mr. Graham..."

"Yes?"

She pointed toward the envelope resting in the storage compartment beside the passenger seat.

"Are you planning to go there?"

Adrian frowned slightly and followed the direction of her finger.

A second later... his expression became strangely complicated.

***

Soon, evening settled over the city. Dominic returned home after another long day at work.

The moment he stepped into the living room, however, he came to an abrupt halt.

"..."

Clara was sitting cross-legged on the rug, her back perfectly straight, her hands resting on her knees, and her eyes tightly closed.

She looked as though she had completely disconnected from the outside world.

Dominic quietly set his briefcase aside.

[What is she doing?]

He circled around her once.

No reaction.

He waved a hand in front of her face. Still nothing.

Dominic folded his arms.

[Meditating? Or did she fall asleep sitting up?]

After staring at her for another few seconds, he nodded to himself.

"I see."

He spoke in a perfectly serious tone.

"I’ll ask the chef to save dinner. It appears my wife has decided to become a monk."

Just as Dominic turned to leave, Clara suddenly opened her eyes and caught his wrist.

"Wait."

He stopped in his tracks and looked back at her.

"..."

Clara quickly got to her feet and stood in front of him, her expression unusually serious.

"Dominic," she asked, "what are the chances of legally adopting a father at my age?"

"...What?" Dominic stared at her without blinking.

"I mean it," Clara said earnestly. "Can adults adopt parents?"

Dominic looked at her for a long moment before asking with complete seriousness,

"...Did your meditation unlock a new level of enlightenment, or did you accidentally meditate for too long?"

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