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Chapter 192
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 193
The room fell into an awkward silence as everyone exchanged glances. But Kiera was, after all, a daughter of high society. She quickly composed herself, adjusting her expression into a polite, composed smile. “I just wasn’t expecting to see Miss Xander here. If I remember correctly, you weren’t on the guest list.” “You remember correctly.” Xena leaned back leisurely, crossing her legs. She showed no sign of embarrassment for showing up uninvited. “I came here specifically to see you, Miss Jenkins. We briefly met outside Sean’s house the other night, but it was late, and we didn’t get a chance to have a proper conversation.” The moment those words left her lips, the entire room tensed. The atmosphere shifted as eyes discreetly turned toward Kiera. Kiera was at Sean’s house late at night? That was a big revelation. Everyone knew that Xena had already thrown her reputation away once with her pregnancy scandal, but Kiera was different. The Jenkins family was k
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 194
The Haven City promotional event had dominated online discussions all day, but the real shock came when Layla took the stage to give her speech. Everyone had heard about it. And now, Sean’s sudden appearance at the event? No one even had to guess why he was there. A heavy silence filled the room. No one dared to breathe too loudly. Xena and Kiera had just been here fighting over him, only to find out that Sean had actually gone to Haven City to see Layla. They had turned into fools. And Layla? She had won. Who could have seen this coming? Xena shot up from her seat, snatching the phone out of the guest’s hand. “That can’t be Sean! There’s no way he’d go see—” Her voice faltered. Up close, there was no mistaking the man in the photo. That was Sean. Her chest tightened with rage. She spun toward Kiera and snapped, “What the hell is wrong with you? How did you not know where he was?“You claim you’re dating him, but he ran off without telling you, a
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 195
Xena stepped forward and picked up the phone, scrolling through the trending topics. With every post she read, her face grew paler. How did this happen in just a few hours? The spotlight had completely shifted to her. Several well-known photography influencers had posted detailed analyses, comparing images from Xena’s past photography exhibition to the landscapes Layla had just showcased at the Haven City event. Their conclusions? The photos were likely taken by the same person. Even though these were just speculations, the comment section was overwhelmingly one-sided—the internet had already convicted her. People were furious, accusing Xena of stealing Layla’s photography, stealing her career, stealing her life. And now that Layla had publicly revealed her illness, sympathy for her was at an all-time high. Netizens were outraged, and their fury was only growing. At this point, even a stray dog would probably stop to mark its territory on Xena just out of shee
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 196
By morning, the online outrage against Xena hadn't died down. If anything, it had only intensified. When Layla woke up, she instinctively reached for her phone, only to be met with an onslaught of notifications. Her inbox was flooded with messages from netizens, nearly all of them urging her to speak up and tell the truth. Fully awake now, she sat up and scrolled through the trending topics, quickly piecing together what had happened overnight. She had gone to bed early the night before, drained from the day’s events. But while she was sleeping, dozens of photography experts and influencers had come forward, analyzing and comparing her work to the photos from Xena’s past exhibition. The discussion had snowballed into a full-blown public reckoning. Xena’s name was still dominating the trending list, and based on the sheer scale of this online storm, Layla knew this wasn’t just organic outrage. Someone was deliberately fanning the flames. And only one name immediatel
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 197
“Think about how to handle the Xander family and whatever counterattack Xena might throw at you.”William’s lips curved slightly. “But first, the most important thing is for you to go freshen up and come downstairs for breakfast. You’ll need energy if you want your brain to function properly.” Despite the heavy topic, he deliberately lightened the tone at the end, clearly making an effort to keep her from feeling too overwhelmed. Something inside Layla softened.Without realizing it, she smiled along with him. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”*Everything was progressing smoothly, which put Carter in an excellent mood. He even declared that watching Xena suffer was his new favorite pastime and that such a joyous occasion deserved a celebration. Ivan took the opportunity to claim credit for his part in fueling the scandal and shamelessly demanded Carter treat him to an extravagant meal. Seeing how everyone was so pleased with the situation, Layla felt a little less burd
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 198
Chris completely missed the sarcasm in Layla’s words. His expression remained serious as he said, “We need to handle this as soon as possible. If we let public opinion spiral any further, it won’t just ruin Xena. It’ll drag the Xander family’s name through the mud too.” “Do I look like I care?” Layla’s calm yet icy voice cut him off before he could finish. Chris fell silent, unable to respond. Shane, however, immediately lost his temper. “Layla, you’re still a Xander! If the family goes down, do you really think you’ll have a good life either?“People only give you respect because of the Xander name. Once you have no one backing you up, you’ll be nothing!” “I don’t have a future anymore.” “Who says she has no one backing her up?” Layla and William spoke at the same time. She hesitated, glancing at him—a silent message, telling him not to interfere. William ignored it completely. His cold gaze landed on Shane. “Respect is something you earn for yourse
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 199
But Layla wasn’t after fame or fortune—she was chasing the person she used to be. And more than anything, she refused to leave behind even the tiniest bit of benefit for Xena. What was hers, she would take back in full. Her voice was calm, but the words cut deep. “Back then, I listened to all of you. I gave up my achievements and handed Xena an easy, open road to success. And what did I get in return?” A cold, mocking smile tugged at her lips. “And now you expect me to give her a way out? What do you think I am, some kind of saint?” Chris faltered, visibly uneasy. “We… we did treat you unfairly back then. But you agreed to it, didn’t you? And now—” “Agreed?” Layla’s voice sharpened, her volume rising. “If I had refused to give up my award back then, would I have even been able to stay in the Xander family?” Her gaze bore into him, unyielding. “Have you forgotten? Mr. Xander, in all his wisdom, told me—if I wanted to be a Xander, I had to ‘support and help my
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 200
Layla nodded. Just as she was about to speak, she caught something out of the corner of her eye.Carter and Ivan were walking toward them, grinning. Panic surged through her. She jerked her wrist out of William’s grasp, so fast that the movement knocked over her cup, spilling water all over the table. So, by the time Carter walked up, the first thing he saw was Layla frantically wiping the table, her ears burning red. His face tensed. “Sis, what’s wrong? Did Chris say something to you? Tell me, and I’ll go deal with him right now!” “No.” Layla quickly glanced at their soaked clothes, seizing the opportunity to change the subject. “You’re both drenched. Go home and change before you catch a cold.” “Pfft, this?” Carter waved dismissively, beaming with satisfaction. “Totally worth it. I only wish I had my phone on me. I should’ve recorded the whole thing so you could see Shane’s pathetic face! It was priceless!” He laughed as he recounted the scene. “We o
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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
