Rebirth: My CEO Husband's Thoughts Are Too Shameless

[Flashback]

Clara pulled the envelope from the dashboard and looked at Adrian.

"Are you planning to attend this?" she asked, glancing at the invitation from the Vance family.

Adrian spared the card a brief look before shaking his head.

"No. I’ve never been fond of attending social functions."

He had barely set foot back in the city, yet news of his return had already spread. The moment people learned he was back, invitations and meeting requests began pouring in. The Vance family’s invitation was simply one of many.

Clara’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Seeing the light fade from her eyes made Adrian’s heart soften.

"Why?" he asked. "Did you want to go?"

He had no idea why she was so interested in the Vance family’s banquet, but the way she looked at the invitation made it obvious she had a reason.

"I do," Clara admitted with a sigh. "But I’ve been banned from causing trouble."

"..."

She had spent almost an hour trying to convince Hannah to take her along. Clara was convinced her instinct wasn’t wrong—something important was going to happen at the banquet. Unfortunately, Hannah had refused to budge, insisting Clara stay far away from any potential disaster.

So when she spotted the invitation in Adrian’s car, hope had flickered back to life.

She looked at him expectantly.

"Mr Graham... is there any chance I could disguise myself as you and sneak into the banquet?"

"Cough—" Logan nearly swallowed his tongue.

He whipped around in the passenger seat and stared at her as though she’d just announced she wanted to rob a bank.

"Excuse me?" he spluttered. "How exactly are you planning to disguise yourself as a ridiculously handsome man in his late fifties?"

Adrian slowly turned his head toward Logan.

"A handsome man in his late fifties?" he repeated.

Logan nodded enthusiastically.

"Exactly."

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "So your focus is on my age?"

Logan froze.

"..."

"..."

He immediately forced an awkward smile. "N-No! I meant distinguished! Mature! Charismatic! Like expensive wine!"

Adrian continued staring.

Logan cleared his throat. "My point is..." he said weakly, pointing at Clara, "she’s... well... not a man."

"Can I not be?" Clara blinked innocently.

Logan looked genuinely horrified.

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because disguises aren’t magic!"

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "They’re close enough."

Logan looked ready to cry.

Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing a sigh. Sometimes he genuinely wondered how Clara’s mind worked.

There was absolutely no way anyone would mistake her for him—not even from a hundred metres away.

"You can’t disguise yourself as me," Adrian said patiently.

Clara let out an exaggerated sigh, looking as though all hope had been lost.

"But..." Adrian continued. "If you still want to attend the banquet, I’ll take you with me."

Clara’s head shot up instantly. Her eyes sparkled so brightly they were practically glowing.

"Really?"

A dazzling smile spread across her face as she clasped her hands together.

"You mean it?"

Adrian nodded, unable to suppress a faint smile.

Logan simply stared between the two before shaking his head in resignation.

She really thought she could disguise herself as him...

And somehow, instead of questioning that insane plan, Mr. Adrian decided to grant her wish anyway.

He sighed.

At this point, enabling Miss Clara should probably be listed as one of Mr. Adrian’s hobbies.

[Present]

Thanks to Mr. Graham’s help, Clara managed to slip into the venue disguised as one of the catering staff. The head chef hired for the Vance family’s wedding happened to be an old friend of Adrian’s, making the entire plan surprisingly smooth.

Mr. Adrian really is amazing, she thought gratefully.

She was still silently thanking him when a booming voice echoed through the kitchen, making both her and Lily jump.

"Everyone, move! The guests have already arrived, and the ceremony will begin soon. I don’t want anyone standing around looking pretty. Get the food ready!"

Lily nearly dropped the tray she was holding.

"He’s back," she whispered, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Clara glanced at her.

"Is he really that scary?"

Lily nodded without hesitation.

"Scarier."

"..."

Clara suddenly began questioning all her life choices.

Maybe I should’ve disguised myself as a flower vase instead.

Before she could think any further, the booming voice rang out again.

"You two! Why are you still standing there? Get back to work!"

Clara and Lily turned around at the same time.

Standing a few meters away was Jaden, the head chef.

The moment his eyes landed on Clara, he froze. Completely.

His expression went from irritated... to confused... to utterly speechless.

Not again...

Clara silently closed her eyes. He figured it out.

She had spent nearly two hours putting together this disguise. The oversized chef’s uniform, the fake freckles, thick glasses, a cap stuffed with hair, and even a fake beauty mark.

I thought I looked convincing...

Apparently not.

Trying to act natural, Clara flashed an enthusiastic smile.

"Hehe... Yes, chef! Right away!"

The cheerful greeting only made Jaden stare harder. ...What exactly am I looking at?

He had supervised hundreds of temporary workers over the years.

But never...not once...had he seen someone who looked this suspiciously weird while smiling this confidently.

"You." He pointed directly at Clara. "Come here."

Clara’s heart skipped a beat.

Why is he looking at me like that? Did he recognize me already?

Beside her, Lily looked even more terrified than before. Clara secretly nudged her arm.

"Relax," she whispered with forced confidence. "I’ve got everything under control."

Lily stared at her in disbelief.

Madam... you’re the one who’s about to cry.

She knew Clara well enough to recognize the signs.

Whenever Clara smiled that brightly...it usually meant panic had already taken over.

Still, Lily wisely kept that observation to herself.

Clara inhaled deeply before marching toward Jaden with all the confidence she could fake.

"Reporting for duty, chef!"

Jaden folded his arms and slowly circled around her once. Then twice. His eyes narrowed.

Adjusting his glasses, he circled again.

Clara stood as stiff as a wooden board.

Why is he inspecting me like I’m a suspicious potato?

Jaden’s expression remained unreadable as he studied Clara from head to toe.

"You’re new here, aren’t you?"

Clara nodded so stiffly she looked like a wind-up toy.

"Yes."

Jaden continued staring for another few seconds.

She had been personally recommended by Adrian Graham, one of his closest friends. Under normal circumstances, that alone would have been enough for him to trust her.

But after meeting her... he was beginning to question Adrian’s judgment.

"You were late," Jaden said flatly.

The confidence on Clara’s face instantly crumbled.

Well... he wasn’t wrong.

She had spent far too much time perfecting her disguise—adjusting the fake freckles, fixing her cap, and convincing herself she looked like an ordinary kitchen assistant. By the time she realized how late it was, she’d practically sprinted to the venue.

Still, she straightened her back and defended herself.

"Chef, I actually left on time."

Jaden raised an eyebrow.

"But?"

"But... there was a small accident on the way."

Jaden’s eyes narrowed.

"So I stopped to make sure the person was alright before coming here."

Silence. Then... Jaden’s lips twitched.

"An accident?"

Clara nodded earnestly. "Yes."

Jaden stared at her for a long moment before rubbing his temples.

"...Why do I have a feeling you weren’t just a witness?"

Clara immediately looked offended.

"Chef, what kind of person do you think I am?"

Yes, she may have caused the accident by stumbling into that woman earlier, but she was kind enough to assist her. She was the one who refused any assistance, fearing that my hands would ruin her dress.

My poor hands. They have been targetted for no reason. Does she not knows what they are capable of doing

Someone who knew Clara might have assumed she was thinking about the cookies she made, but they had no idea she was thinking about the assistance she provided her husband with those hands.

Jaden sighed.

"I’m still trying to figure that out."

Lily, standing nearby, quietly lowered her head.

Chef... your instincts are frighteningly accurate.

While Lily stood in the corner silently praying that nothing would go wrong, Jaden suddenly spoke, leaving the entire kitchen stunned.

"You two," he said, pointing directly at Clara and Lily. "Come and assist me."

The kitchen fell silent.

A second later, whispers erupted from every corner.

"What? We’ve been working with Chef Jaden for years, and he picks someone he met five minutes ago?"

"Did she bribe him or something?"

"Bribe him? That’s impossible. Chef Jaden doesn’t play favorites."

Someone else snorted.

"Just look at her. She looks like she rolled out of bed and into the kitchen. He’s probably calling her over to carry the garbage."

Clara’s eye twitched.

Lily’s smile became dangerously sweet.

The two of them slowly turned toward the gossiping group.

Just what do these people think we are?

The cooks immediately pretended to become very interested in chopping vegetables.

Cowards.

Before Clara could march over and defend her honor, Jaden’s voice boomed across the kitchen once more.

"Are you two planning to decorate the floor with your shadows?"

Both women jumped.

"Or are you actually coming to help me?"

"We’re coming!" Clara answered so quickly she nearly saluted.

Jaden stared at her.

"...Why do I suddenly feel like I recruited a soldier instead of a kitchen assistant?"

Clara grinned awkwardly.

"I can be both, Chef."

Jaden sighed.

"I was afraid you’d say that."