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Chapter 170
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 171
“Uncle William, come on, I’m your actual nephew. Where’s the sense of occasion? Not even a tiny bit of a welcome-home gesture?“If it were me picking someone up, I’d definitely—” A cup of chilled coconut pudding suddenly appeared in front of Carter’s face. Layla barely held back a laugh. “No fancy welcome sign, but I’ve got food. Will that do?” Carter took the pudding and put on an exaggerated expression. “Alright, I see you haven’t completely forgotten me. A little underwhelming, but I guess it’s better than nothing.” “If you don’t want it, I’ll take it back.” Layla made a move to snatch it from his hands. Carter dodged like his life depended on it. “Hey, hey! You already gave it to me—no take-backs! I was just saying.” With that, he popped the lid, scooped up a big spoonful, and stuffed it into his mouth. “Too late! I’m eating it!” Layla chuckled. “Go ahead, no one’s fighting you for it.” Carter ate a few more bites, then suddenly remembered something. He spo
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 172
As night fell, a small bonfire crackled on the beach, casting a warm, golden glow. Layla sat cross-legged on the sand, camera in hand, flipping through the photos she had just taken. Suddenly, a grilled sausage appeared in front of her. “Sis, put the camera down for a second and eat something.” Carter plopped down beside her, glancing at the camera screen with curiosity. “Hey, I saw a photo set go viral the other day. That was yours, wasn’t it?“I even shared it! Did you see?” Layla chuckled. “Really? There were so many reposts—I wouldn’t even know if yours was in there.” Carter was momentarily speechless. Ouch. But, well… fair enough. “I told you, you’ve got real talent. If you stick with photography, you’ll be a big-time photographer one day. People will be lining up, begging you to take their pictures!“Once you get better, I’ll be your first model. And don’t worry, I’ll hype you up all over the internet!” Layla didn’t respond right away. She simply smiled—a s
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 173
“His house?” Xena's expression darkened even more. So the rumors were true—the Perry family really was planning to arrange a marriage with the Jenkins family.She turned to Sean, her eyes brimming with tears. “Sean, are you really choosing her? You told me yourself that you’d never accept your mom’s arrangement!” Sean's expression remained cold. “My decisions are none of your business. From now on, stay out of my sight. I don’t want to see you.” “You can’t do this to me!” Ignoring the pain in her scraped knees, Xena pushed herself up and stumbled toward him, reaching out desperately. But before she could touch him, Sean stepped back, letting her grasp at nothing but air. His gaze was cold, unyielding. “Haven’t you done enough damage? Stay away from me, Xena.” “No! I never meant to hurt you! I was set up too! It was William—it was all him! He wanted revenge for Layla, and we… we both fell into his trap!” Xena sobbed as she tried to inch closer, but Sean kept his di
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 174
Sean’s patience had worn thin. Without hesitation, he stepped past Xena. When she tried to clutch at the hem of his shirt, he yanked it free—swiftly, decisively. “Sean!” Her desperate cries echoed behind him, but he didn’t turn back. Inside the house, Sean found Kiera standing by the wine cabinet, carefully selecting a bottle of red. When their eyes met, she caught the flicker of coldness in his gaze, making her pause. “That was fast,” Kiera noted. “There wasn’t much to say,” Sean replied flatly. “I promised you I’d cut ties with her, and I intend to keep that promise.” The warmth of the house contrasted sharply with the bitter cold outside. Sean shrugged off his coat and loosened his tie. “I’ll pass on the wine. I’ll take you home soon.” Kiera, holding the bottle and two wine glasses, took a step closer. “It’s already late. Why don’t I just stay?” Sean raised an eyebrow at her. “Does your family know you’re staying out overnight?” Kiera laughed lightly. “
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 175
Kiera finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.” After that night, Sean assumed Xena would finally back off. With that in mind, he focused on preparing for the upcoming dinner between the Perry and Jenkins families. But before the Jenkins family even arrived, Xena showed up first—carrying a gift. Sean’s expression darkened immediately. “What are you doing here?” Xena lifted the box in her hands with a bright smile—nothing like the pitiful girl from the other night. “Bringing you a present.” Suspicion flickered in Sean’s eyes, but with the dinner fast approaching, he just wanted to get rid of her quickly. Snatching the gift from her, he said flatly, “Fine. Consider it received.” Xena’s smile didn’t falter. “Sean, are you really in such a hurry to kick me out? I’m not here to ruin your big moment. I already told you—if you’re happy, I’m happy.” Just then, Susan stepped outside and immediately scowled at the sight of Xena.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 176
That night, news of the Jenkins and Perry families’ meeting made its way to Layla. Carter waved his phone in front of her. “Sis, take a good look. Don’t you think every smile in this picture looks fake?” The screen showed a group photo from the gathering, originally posted by Susan and then reshared enough times to land on Carter’s phone. Layla gave it a quick glance, barely interested. “Looks fine to me.” “Look closer! Sean’s smile is so forced, he might as well be crying.” Carter shook his head with a dramatic sigh. “I heard from my mom that the Jenkins family is totally against Kiera being with him.“Too bad. She’s acting like she’s under some kind of spell.“If you feel so bad for her, why don’t you fly back and talk some sense into her?” William closed his laptop, removed his gold-rimmed glasses, and turned to Carter with a slow, deliberate look. “I can arrange a flight for you.” “No way!” Carter immediately stashed his phone and slumped onto the couch. “I was
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 177
“Childish.” William’s response was instant, dripping with disdain. Carter, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear. “That’s exactly why it’s fun! I just wanna see what Uncle William looks like when he acts childish for once.” He turned to Layla, dragging her into his mischief. “Sis, aren’t you curious too?” Layla nodded, her expression full of anticipation. William averted his gaze. “Fine.” “What?” Carter looked like he had just won the lottery. “Uncle William, did you just agree? Amazing! I swear, I’ll win no matter what it takes!” The car was already cramped, and with Carter making such a racket, it felt even smaller. Layla rolled down the window, letting the sea breeze wash over her face. Her heart felt light, brimming with happiness. Every day in Haven City felt like a dream—like a kind of joy she never knew existed. Before she knew it, the car rolled to a stop at the dock. With the captain leading the way, they boarded the yacht without a hitch.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 178
“What else could it mean?” Ivan let out a long sigh. “Obviously, she sent me as a watchdog. That kid Carter is clearly on Layla’s side, and Aunt Scarlett doesn’t trust him.“She’s worried about you being alone with Layla—afraid you’ll get in too deep. So she sat me down for a little talk and sent me over to keep an eye on things… maybe even talk some sense into you.” Ivan crossed his arms, looking thoroughly resigned. “Honestly, she’s giving me way too much credit. Since when have I ever been able to change your mind?“So yeah, I agreed just to put her at ease. That’s all.” As he spoke, he carefully studied William’s expression, testing the waters. “Aunt Scarlett sounded genuinely concerned. Are you really planning to go against your dad over Layla?” From childhood to adulthood, William had always been the levelheaded one. Sure, he was cold, but he never acted out. That was why Scarlett always bragged about how lucky she was—her son was exceptional and easy to manage.
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During the celebration dinner, Layla received a call from Jenny.Since it was too noisy inside, Layla grabbed her phone and stepped out into the hallway, finding a quieter corner before answering. “Miss Jasper.”“Did you forget you even have a mentor?” Jenny half-scolded. “Something this big happens, and you didn’t even think to tell me? I had to find out online!“If I don't mean anything to you anymore, then stop thinking of me as your mentor,” she huffed.“Don’t say that,” Layla said quickly, her voice warm and coaxing. “I just didn’t want you to worry. And honestly, it’s a complicated situation. I didn’t want you getting dragged into it.“Besides, it’s not that serious. I’ve been handling it fine. If I ever hit a wall, you’d be the first person I’d call.“You’re not just my mentor. You’re my safety net. You’re my strength.”“Alright, enough,” Jenny said, laughing despite herself. “That silver tongue of yours—how am I supposed to stay mad at you?”She had stormed into the con
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Fabian muttered under his breath, “Weren't you crushing on Mr. Lucas before?”“Nope! I’m all about Miss Xander now!” Diana declared, purposely raising her voice so Layla could hear her loud and clear. “Smart, capable women are the real deal! Who wouldn’t be smitten?”Layla chuckled. “I’ll gladly accept your admiration.”“Aaah! She accepted it! Did you hear that? I knew it! Women really are the best!” Diana squealed in excitement, practically bouncing in place. Fabian could only shake his head and gently push her away, then hurried to wrap up the call with Layla.*As the promotional video’s popularity exploded, the calls started pouring in that very afternoon.Most of them came from the mentors, artists, and family friends that Jenny had once introduced to her. They had only just found out about the troubles Layla’s studio had been facing, after seeing the video hit the trending charts.Normally, those artists lived in their own world, blissfully detached from outside news.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 512
Scarlett was curled up on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. She had just finished watching the entire promotional video when she muttered, “Looks like a great place to walk around.”“Not bad,” William replied without even looking up.Scarlett shot him a look and said, a little sharply, “Your dad ended up in the hospital because you ran off with Layla to the south.“I’m not saying you can’t go travel and clear your head, but you can’t be following a woman around like that. It doesn't sound good if people start talking, you know?”William furrowed his brows and was about to respond when Scarlett added, “How about this? Next time you want to follow her somewhere, bring me along. If people see a mother and son traveling together, it’ll look a whole lot better than making it seem like you're chasing after her.”Feeling quite pleased with her own cleverness, Scarlett nodded in satisfaction. “I usually only travel abroad, but clearly, there are plenty of beautiful places right here
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 511
“Who exactly was hiding something?” Kiera only muttered the words in her heart. On the surface, she kept her tone casual and said, “I was watching a promotional video Miss Xander produced. I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea if you saw it.“If you don’t believe me, take a look for yourself.”As she spoke, Kiera handed her phone to Sean, her expression calm and composed.Sean frowned slightly. “Layla Xander? Isn’t her studio the one Mr. Lucas Sr. basically shut down?”“You seem pretty up to date on her situation,” Kiera said with a half-smile. “Here I thought you didn’t know anything.”“I just... heard about it. Everyone in the circle has,” Sean said, clearly uncomfortable, avoiding her gaze. “She crossed the Lucas family. Of course she was going to end up like this. When she first came back, everyone was talking about her, but in the end, all it took was one word from Mr. Lucas Sr. and her studio couldn’t land a single project.”“Is that so?” Kiera tightened her grip on
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 510
Kiera had always played the part of the gentle, obedient wife.But right now, the cold sarcasm in her eyes made Sean feel like he was looking at a stranger.Sean sobered up a little in an instant. “What the hell are you talking about?” he snapped. “All I did was ask you to play the harp. Do you really have to twist it into something so ugly?”He huffed and continued, “Mr. Zimmer has sent us quite a few projects over the years. I know he’s into classical music, so I thought bringing you tonight might give you two something to talk about.“How was I supposed to know that asking you to play one song would feel like pulling teeth? You refused to drink, which was fine, but then you just sat there with that sour face. Who would even dare start a conversation with you like that? Anyone watching would have thought I treat you like garbage at home.”Grumbling, Sean let go of her arm and leaned back against the car door, putting distance between them.To his surprise, Kiera didn’t move clo
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 509
“I’ve heard Mrs. Perry plays the harp,” someone across the round table suddenly said. It was Mr. Zimmer, one of the business partners. “There happens to be one here tonight. Mrs. Perry, would you mind playing a piece for us?”“This…” Kiera hesitated, but before she could reply, Sean jumped in with a smile, “Of course not. My wife plays beautifully. Tonight’s the perfect chance for everyone to enjoy it.”Hearing that, Kiera’s heart sank.It was rare for Sean to ask her to attend a business dinner. In all their time married, this was the first time he had willingly brought her into one of his work events.If she didn’t already know better, she might have been flattered, maybe even excited to join him.But she knew too much. She could see right through him. When something felt this out of the ordinary, there was always a hidden reason. Still, she smiled and nodded. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”A few minutes later, the restaurant staff wheeled in a harp and set it up in the private di
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 508
From the moment Mr. Xander stepped through the door, his face was clouded with anger. He didn’t even bother putting on a friendly face for Felix like he normally would.It wasn’t until Felix left after dinner that Xena finally approached her father. “Dad, did you go see my sister today?”“She’s no sister of yours! There’s no place in this family for someone as heartless as her!”Furious, Mr. Xander slammed his hand against the table, the loud thud making Xena flinch.Mrs. Xander rushed over to shield her daughter. “Easy, don’t scare her. She’s pregnant, remember?”“I’m fine, Mom.” Xena lowered her gaze, looking guilty. “Dad only lost his temper because of me. Maybe we should just drop it. I’ll talk to Felix myself. I’ll keep the baby, and we’ll figure the rest out later.”“What are you saying? You can’t have that baby now!”Mrs. Xander immediately objected. “Even if you two get married afterward, people will still talk! If the baby comes before the wedding, everyone will trea
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 507
“If you don’t like it here,” William said coolly, “the elevator’s just to the right.”Scarlett was fuming. Just a few words in and she was already being shown the door? Was she not even allowed to speak?And she hadn’t even said anything bad about Layla. She was just feeling protective of her precious son. Was that so wrong?For the rest of the time, Scarlett sat stiffly on the couch, clutching her glass of water and sipping from it every now and then. William sat across from her on another sofa, silently scrolling through his phone.Neither of them spoke. The only sound in the apartment came from the kitchen, where the soft clatter of cooking echoed faintly.Soon, the scent of food filled the air.Scarlett couldn’t help glancing toward the kitchen. Through the frosted glass, she could only make out the blur of Layla’s figure. Doubts crept into her mind. “Could Layla’s cooking actually be edible?” she wondered.After all, she was still a woman who had grown up with a silver sp
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 506
Layla braced herself as she welcomed William and Scarlett into her apartment. After a quick round of small talk, she headed into the kitchen with the groceries.She had just started unpacking when she heard William call from behind, “Need a hand with anything?”“No, I—”She was about to turn him down, but then thought of Mr. Xander and hesitated. Instead, she handed him a bag of snap peas. “Help me trim these.”“Sure.”William stepped up beside her without hesitation. As he got to work, she lowered her voice. “How’s Grandpa Perry doing?”“He’s fine,” William replied, eyeing her curiously. “Why are you suddenly asking about him?”“Gerald Xander came to see me today. He wants to meet with Grandpa Perry.”Layla said her father’s name without a trace of emotion, as if she were talking about a stranger.William glanced over at her. “Did he give you any trouble?”“Not really. He can barely walk straight, can’t argue, and definitely can’t catch up to me. What else is he going to do
