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Chapter 172
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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.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 179
“Miss Xander, don’t be so pessimistic. Until the very last moment, you never know—a miracle could happen.” Layla responded with a faint smile but said nothing as she reached for her camera. Ivan watched her take it back, a lingering sense of regret flashing in his eyes. “Miss Xander, just focus on your recovery. Once you get better, Dixon Entertainment will always have a place for you.” “Thank you.” Compared to Ivan’s heartfelt sincerity, Layla remained indifferent. She had already made peace with her fate. Opportunities meant nothing when she wasn’t even sure how much time she had left. While Layla busied herself reviewing her photos, Ivan finished his beer, but his gaze kept drifting toward her. For a moment, he saw a shadow of someone familiar—someone long buried in his memory. His eyes softened unconsciously. “Ivan! Help me out here!” Carter’s voice snapped him back to reality. Ivan quickly stood up. “Coming, coming! What, did you hook a sea monster?”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 180
Xena was ushered into the car without delay. She barely looked surprised when she saw Sean sitting in the backseat, as if she had expected this all along. “Sean, you finally came to see me.” She slid in beside him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “So? What’s the occasion? Did you miss me?” “What’s going on between you and Felix?” Sean cut straight to the point. Ever since that night when he saw Felix standing by her side, the thought had nagged at him. His gut told him something was off. Xena feigned innocence. “What do you mean? What could possibly be going on between us?” “Drop the act.” Sean grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer, his tone sharp. “I’m a man too—I know when another man is interested.“Stay away from him, Xena. If you don’t, you’ll be the one paying the price.” She met his gaze with a knowing smile. “Sean, are you jealous?” “Xena Xander!” Sean clenched his jaw, his patience wearing thin. “This is a warning. Don’t twist my words into
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 505
Inside the car, Layla caught a glimpse of Mr. Xander through the rearview mirror, hurling his cane several feet in a fit of rage. A cold smirk tugged at her lips.The Xander family really hadn’t changed one bit. They only showed kindness to people they could use. They acted like their condescension was generosity, then expected gratitude in return.But to her, this so-called “Xander bloodline” was nothing but bad luck.Shaking off the thought, she turned up the volume on the stereo, letting the music drown out the lingering irritation. If anything, she felt even more satisfied than before.Humming along to the tune, she swung by the market and picked up groceries before heading home.When she got off the elevator, she walked over and rang the doorbell to William’s apartment.Just as the door opened, a woman’s voice called from inside, “William, I ordered food from Stonebridge Bistro. Let’s have dinner together tonight!”William gave a quick explanation, “That’s my mom.”He glan
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 504
The internal review meeting wrapped up smoothly, and everyone left the conference room full of confidence.That afternoon, the finalized promo video was handed over to Fabian, who would submit it to the local publicity office for the final round of approval.With nothing left to do until feedback came in, Layla gave the whole team a well-deserved break.By the time the workday ended, the office had completely emptied out.Layla stayed behind to chat with Fabian after receiving a message from him, and as a result, she ended up being the last one to leave the studio.After locking the front door, she headed toward her car out of habit, thinking about stopping by the market on the way home. She was planning to cook dinner and invite William over.She didn’t notice the stern figure getting out of a nearby car—her father.“Layla Xander.”She turned at the sound of his voice and met his displeased gaze, her brow twitching slightly.With a cane in hand, Mr. Xander approached her, his
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 503
After thinking it over, William figured the whole thing felt more like a guilt-trip performance. It seemed like Scarlett was putting on an emotional act to pressure him into going back to the Lucas family. The only question was how long she planned to keep it up.Still, Scarlett had been pampered all her life. Living in his place, with no one to wait on her hand and foot, she probably wouldn’t last long. Sooner or later, she would give up and leave.With that in mind, William didn’t bother chasing her out. He simply gave her a cold warning. “You can stay. But don’t cause trouble for Layla.”“No problem at all!”Scarlett agreed far too quickly. “I already made up my mind before I came. I won’t interfere in your love life ever again. You can count on that.”William was rendered speechless and frowned. Now he was even more certain. Something about her behavior just wasn’t right.*Meanwhile, Layla had left early that morning. The roads were clear, and after a smooth half-hour drive
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 502
“No, thanks.”Layla gave a tired smile and gently turned down William’s offer. “I have an early meeting tomorrow, and eating late messes with my sleep.“Mr. Lucas, you should get some rest too. Good night.”With that, she walked past him and returned to her apartment, closing the door behind her without hesitation.The sound of the door clicking shut made William frown slightly. Something felt off.Meanwhile, Layla stood in the entryway, slipping off her shoes as her mind wandered.“Layla Xander, you ruined him. You ruined the Lucas family,” she thought to herself.Gwen’s harsh words echoed suddenly in her mind, stirring the emotions she had tried to bury.All this time, she had avoided thinking too deeply about William’s choices. She was afraid that if she read too much into them, she would just end up fooling herself.But after seeing Gwen today, it finally hit her.William had stepped down from his pedestal for her. And she was still pretending not to see it.If the dista
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 501
“You’re a perfectly decent young woman. Why do you have to go and steal someone else’s man?”“Hannah,” Layla gently tugged on Hannah’s sleeve, giving her a look to stop.As Gwen walked toward the lounge door, Layla spoke up calmly, “The matching engagement ring—the woman’s one. You don’t have it, do you?”Gwen paused for a second at the doorway but didn’t reply. Without looking back, she walked out.That was all the answer Layla needed.She had suspected for a while that Gwen didn’t have the ring.William had always worn the man’s band. And knowing how much Gwen loved him, there was no way she would have hidden the woman’s ring if it had truly been hers.Now it seemed clear that he had never given that ring to anyone. Not yet.“What was that question about?” Hannah asked, suspicious.Layla snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh… nothing. I was just curious.”Hannah rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Seriously? That’s all you had to say after everything Gwen just threw at you? Y
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 500
“I know William went south with you this past month. He stayed by your side the entire time. He’s shown, through his actions, that his heart and eyes are only on you.”Gwen stared straight at Layla, her voice dry and strained. “You told me yourself that you had feelings for him. And now that he’s gone this far for you, you must be proud of yourself, aren’t you?”But she didn’t give Layla a chance to respond. Instead, she pressed on.“Because of you, William was kicked out of the Lucas family. He was forced out of Lucas Corporation. His mom and Mr. Lucas Sr., a couple who’d been loving and devoted for decades, had their worst fight ever. She even moved back in with her family.“If Mr. Lucas Sr. hadn’t landed in the hospital from the stress, she still wouldn’t have forgiven him. The entire Lucas family is in chaos—all because of you.“The William I knew was always calm, reliable, never made his parents worry.“He’s the most capable man I’ve ever met. He was meant to lead Lucas Corp
