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Chapter 179
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 181
As the car door slammed shut, Xena walked away.Sean clenched his fist and punched the seat beside him, his eyes burning with fury.Felix had certainly grown shrewd after years by Wilfred’s side—smart enough to use Xena as leverage.Trying to take advantage of the situation? Not a chance.Sean had worked too hard for too long to let Felix ruin everything.*Meanwhile, Xena stepped into her home with a lighthearted stride, only to run straight into Chris.“Where’d you go?” Chris asked with a hint of concern. “It’s best if you stay in these days. Dad’s still furious. Don’t go looking for trouble and walking straight into his line of fire.”Xena smiled. “Chris, I just went out to take the trash. Do you really need to be this tense?”She was about to walk past him when he grabbed her wrist.“Don’t think I don’t know where you went that night.”His voice dropped lower. “The Perry and Jenkins families are already in serious discussions. Stay out of trouble. And for God’s sake, fig
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 182
“I’ll be there on time.” After sending the message to the event organizers, Layla set her phone down and stared blankly at the ceiling.For a moment, all she could see was the way William had looked at her. Without realizing it, her heartbeat quickened.Back on the deck, standing in front of him, she had already felt a little flustered. That was why she had made an excuse to leave early.She hadn’t expected that even now, in the quiet of her room, she still couldn’t shake the memory.Frowning, Layla forced herself to clear her mind.“What am I even thinking? William isn’t someone I should be getting caught up with,” she muttered to herself.But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that if she could keep spending time with William and still maintain her composure, her self-control must be extraordinary.Because William was like a spell—effortlessly captivating. Every glance, every movement had a way of stirring emotions, pulling people in before they even realized
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 183
“Carter, please! It’s the middle of the day—have some dignity! Don’t embarrass us like this!”“Not even a fan, just a casual observer, but idols this carefree are a rare species! If you’re a fan of his, consider yourselves lucky!” Aside from the jokes, some netizens started focusing on the three people standing at the dock. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s Mr. Dixon, right? Is he about to sign Carter?”“Makes sense if he does. Look who’s standing next to Carter—that’s his uncle! No way Mr. Dixon wouldn’t support him because of that.”“Why is no one asking the real question—who is William holding the umbrella for? If he’s the one holding the umbrella, then whoever’s under it must be the real boss!”“Her face is covered, but from the silhouette, it looks like a woman. I’m guessing William is hiding his secret lover!”The discussion quickly went off the rails, and theories about the mystery woman began to flood the comments. *At the villa, Carter read the trending post out lou
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 184
The promotional event in Haven City kicked off right on schedule, set against the backdrop of the sea. A stage had been built along the waterfront, surrounded by dozens of small booths displaying traditional handicrafts, local delicacies, and interactive experiences. The event was spearheaded by the local government, with extensive media coverage ensuring maximum exposure. Thanks to the pre-event buzz, the venue was already packed with people, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. As Layla arrived at the scene, she glanced at the overwhelming crowd. The thought of stepping onto the stage for her speech made her stomach tighten. The last time she had been on stage was at her engagement party—the night she called off the wedding. Back then, she had been in a nothing left to lose mindset, which was the only reason she had been able to face all those eyes without hesitation. But today was different. This time, she was stepping onto the stage with her own work, re
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 185
“That’s not what I meant…” The staff member hesitated, wanting to say more, but when they caught sight of the sudden chill in William’s gaze, their nerves got the best of them. Their mind blanked under the pressure, and for a moment, they forgot what they were even trying to say. “Just follow the original plan.” Layla spoke softly. “No need to make special arrangements for me.” The staff member hesitated for a second before nodding. “Alright, we’ll do as you say.” With that, they proceeded to assign Layla and William to separate areas—one heading backstage to prepare, the other escorted to the VIP section. Layla was scheduled to go on stage early in the event. It didn’t take long before a staff member came to usher her forward. The walk from backstage to the stage wasn’t far. But to Layla, every step felt unbearably heavy. She had always known that the moment she stepped onto the stage, her illness would become public knowledge. No matter how good her work was,
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 186
As soon as the call connected, Kiera’s cheerful voice came through the line. “Sean!” “What is it?” Sean asked, his tone indifferent. “I just… I missed you.” There was a hint of shyness in her voice. Hearing the noise in the background, she casually asked, “Where are you? It sounds so loud.” “I’m out with a client.” Sean’s eyes remained locked on the stage, his tone flat and emotionless. “I’m busy today.” Hearing that, Kiera immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I hope I’m not bothering you? I’ll wait for you to text me when you’re free.” “Alright.” Sean hung up just as Layla stepped off the stage. Slipping his phone into his pocket, he bypassed the crowd and headed straight toward the backstage area. From a distance, he saw Layla engaged in conversation with the event staff. Just as he was about to step forward, William blocked his path. “Don’t ruin Miss Xander’s moment.” William’s voice was calm but laced with clear irritation. “M
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 187
“Sure! There's nothing else going on here anyway.” Layla agreed without hesitation. “Um…” The staff member hesitated before carefully asking, “Miss Xander, aren’t you going to do any interviews?” “No, thanks. I’ve already said everything I wanted to on stage.” With a polite smile, Layla declined, then took William’s arm and walked away. But the moment they stepped out of the backstage area, a swarm of reporters closed in on them. Fortunately, Carter and Ivan arrived just in time. Ivan was an expert at handling situations like this. Taking the lead, he quickly dismissed the journalists.“You all work in this industry. I don’t think I need to remind you what should and shouldn’t be written, right?” Ivan’s tone was casual, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable. No matter how much those reporters wanted a scoop, they weren’t about to cross him. Offending Ivan meant losing any chance of survival in the entertainment and media world. As the journalists slunk
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 514
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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 513
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
