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Chapter 208
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 209
Layla fumbled in the dark, unsure how many pills she had swallowed. She figured it was enough—probably. With a shaky breath, she collapsed onto the floor, waiting for the meds to kick in. Thirty minutes passed. The bitterness in her mouth still lingered. Staring up at the ceiling, she could feel the pain slowly draining away. Her mind drifted back to that phone call with Levi. She had asked him if she could increase her dosage. His voice had turned serious in an instant. “Miss Xander, be honest with me—have your headaches been getting worse?”There was no use lying to a doctor. “Yeah. Lately, they wake me up in the middle of the night. And it’s worse than before.” She had hesitated before saying the next part. “Dr. Young, I don’t want to continue treatment. There’s no need for another checkup. I already know my condition is getting worse. “I don’t have much time left. Just let me do what I want with the time I have. Stop putting me through this.” Levi had
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 210
Reporters in the audience shot up from their seats, phones raised high as they flashed the latest breaking news to Xena.It was an official statement confirming that a private medical institution had been shut down and placed under investigation for falsifying medical reports. And right there, clear as day, was the name of the very clinic that had issued Xena’s diagnosis. “Miss Xander, care to respond? Is this report legitimate or not?”“Would you be willing to visit a certified medical institution for an official evaluation, right here and now?” “Miss Xander, do you still stand by your claims?” A barrage of questions flew at her, cameras flashing, microphones closing in. Xena’s breath hitched. Panic flickered in her wide, doe-like eyes as she scrambled to avoid the camera lenses. “T-This is just a coincidence! I had no idea they were involved in anything shady…” Her voice wavered, and her hands trembled as she clutched the mic. “But I—I really am suffering from dep
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 211
Carter agreed without hesitation. “Sis, I’m wishing you a flawless victory in advance! Best case? Xena never recovers from this.” Layla didn’t respond, but a faint sharpness flickered beneath her otherwise calm gaze. Xena was finally about to reap what she had sown. Ten minutes later, as soon as the livestream started, viewers flooded in. In just a short time, the number of live watchers soared past 100,000 and kept climbing. Carter adjusted the phone, making sure Layla had a clear view of the chat feed. Seated in the sunlight with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, Layla looked effortlessly relaxed and completely at ease. Not at all like someone at the center of a media storm. Compared to Xena, who had spent her own livestream sobbing, Layla’s composure was even more persuasive. It was hard not to trust her. “Hey, everyone. The weather’s great today—perfect for a casual chat over coffee.” She flashed a small, easy smile, instantly setting a lighthearted tone.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 212
HA connection request popped up on the screen, snapping Layla back to reality. “A well-known agricultural influencer wants to join your livestream. Should I accept?” Carter asked. Layla nodded, wiping away the lingering tears. Soon, a deep, weathered voice came through. “Miss Xander, don’t cry. It’s all in the past now. “Hello, everyone. The school Miss Xander mentioned was under my jurisdiction. I’m a village official, and for years, I’ve been dedicated to agricultural development in our area.“When Miss Xander came to take photos back then, I had the honor of meeting her. My wife really liked her and insisted on hosting her warmly.“Everything she said today is true. We saw those photos with our own eyes. Unfortunately, while the images were backed up to the cloud, the camera itself was lost in the storm.“The village even offered to compensate Miss Xander at the time, but she refused. Later, we still felt bad, but given our situation, the best we could do was buy her a
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 213
Meanwhile, Layla turned off her phone and tossed it aside. She let out a deep breath and collapsed onto the couch, as if a heavy weight had finally lifted off her shoulders. Carter scrolled through his phone excitedly. The internet was on fire. “Oh my God, what a shocking reversal! Xena is done for!” He turned to Layla with stars in his eyes. “Sis, you’re incredible. You had this ace up your sleeve the whole time? I was worried sick for nothing!” Ivan clapped his hands, looking at Layla with admiration. “No wonder Miss Xander was so calm about everything. This was a guaranteed victory from the start.” He paused, a realization hitting him. “That medical institution getting shut down… that’s what you asked Levi to handle, isn’t it?” “Mm.” Layla rubbed her temples, her head aching. “Dr. Young is well-connected in the medical field. I asked him to look into it, and he got back to me fast.” She let out a soft laugh. “I knew from the beginning that Xena
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 214
After the livestream ended, reporters swarmed outside the Xander family estate, completely blocking the entrance. Thankfully, Chris had anticipated this and moved the family into a hotel in advance, successfully avoiding the media ambush. As soon as Xena stepped into the hotel room, a heavy glass ashtray came flying her way, shattering into countless pieces at her feet. She froze in shock, too scared to move. Mr. Xander’s face was livid with rage. “You lying little brat! You really had the nerve to fake an illness and fool us all?!” “I didn’t—” Xena panicked, shaking her head furiously. “I swear, I had no idea that clinic was faking medical records! It has nothing to do with me!“Dad, this has to be Layla’s doing!” Xena cried. “She’s been waiting for us to hold that press conference. There’s no way it’s just a coincidence that the clinic got exposed right after!” “She has a point.” Shane stepped in, frowning. “Dad, all Xena did was happen to visit a clinic that had been
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 215
Now, through Layla’s livestream, they finally understood just how dangerous that trip had been. Chris hadn’t thought about it in years, but now, the memory resurfaced, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. While Layla was on the brink of death, their entire family had been vacationing abroad, laughing and celebrating. They had even posted about it online. Had Layla seen those posts? Had she looked at them and decided, in that moment, that there was no point in saying anything at all? He couldn’t even begin to imagine how she had swallowed all that pain, how she had still gone along with them and handed over those photos, letting Xena take the credit and host that photography exhibition.The thought twisted a sharp pain in Chris’s chest. Only now did he realize just how cruel they had been to Layla.“We were wrong…” His voice was hoarse. “Unbelievably wrong.”“Come on, Bro, you can’t put this all on us,” Shane scoffed. “Layla never said a word. We’re not mind readers
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 216
Following Ivan’s arrangements, Layla sat down for an exclusive interview with a leading media outlet. The journalist was professional, focusing on Layla’s relationship with the Xander family and the truth behind the photography exhibition. Every question was measured and respectful, making the conversation feel less like an interview and more like a casual chat with an old friend. Over the years, Layla had kept so much bottled up inside. She hadn’t expected how liberating it would feel to finally say it all out loud. “Regarding your father’s public announcement about severing ties with you, do you have any response?” Layla smiled, meeting the camera head-on. “Actually, I was the one who suggested cutting ties in the first place.” Her voice was calm but firm. “I also want to say this to anyone out there who, like me, has been drained by their birth family. Sometimes, the only way to start fresh is to cut them off completely. If you know it’s a sinking pit, don’t let yours
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 520
“The first time I watched the promotional video, I was blown away by the scenery. The second time, I realized there was a deeper meaning. Layla Xander filmed those children who had been left behind, showing their everyday lives. She clearly wanted to draw attention to their reality!” “I grew up as a left-behind kid myself. I know exactly how hard it is. Thank you, Miss Xander, for letting people see them! From now on, if anyone dares to bash her, I'll be the first to stand up and fight back!” “If it weren't for how beautifully she shot the promotional video, YT Corporation would never have noticed the town or the children. Layla truly did something incredible.” “Beauty, kindness, and talent—Layla Xander is the full package!” At the top of the trending page, an account called “LittleDianaHere” (who claimed to be a local) shared another piece of information:“Miss Xander is personally sponsoring every child who appeared in the promotional video, covering their education all
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 519
“Mr. Zion, Mr. Lucien is getting impatient...” the secretary reminded him quietly.Zion snapped back to attention, scowling. “Fine. Let’s go.”When they arrived outside the CEO’s office, Zion knocked lightly on the door. A sharp, furious voice came from inside.“Get in here!”Zion hurriedly pushed the door open. “Lucien, what happened? Who got you so worked up?”“You mean you still don't know?”Lucien’s temper flared even hotter. He slammed his palm against the desk several times, making the whole table shake.“I told you to get in touch with Xavier Taylor. Did you handle it?”Zion panicked. “I... I'm still working on it. His side keeps giving excuses, saying he's too busy lately. I didn’t want to bother him...”“Busy?”Lucien waved him closer with an icy smile. “Come here. Take a good look at what he’s so busy with.”Zion did as he was told and stepped closer.The next second, Lucien grabbed him by the back of the neck and forced him to bend over, his hands instinctively b
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 518
“I’m talking to you about something serious, and you’re still glued to your phone?” Zion’s voice was full of irritation.Only then did Carly finally put her phone away, looking at him with a hint of impatience.“You've repeated yourself three times already. I’m not stupid.”“I just don’t want you brushing it off,” Zion said, frowning. He then narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the pocket where Carly had stashed her phone. “Don't tell me you're still thinking about Layla Xander’s studio.” Carly's heart sank. “How did you know?” “Your mom told me.” Zion stepped closer, his expression serious. “Look, Carly, I'm willing to chalk up what you did before to immaturity. But if you even think about pulling something like that again—” “You’re spying on me?” Carly’s face turned cold. “I’m an adult. Can’t I even have a little privacy?” “You’re our daughter. As your parents, we have every right to know what you’re up to! It's a good thing you realized you were heading down
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 517
Everyone was both shocked and thrilled. They kept asking Layla over and over, needing to be sure it was really true.“Wow! Things are finally turning around! Who cares about those commercial gigs? A commission from a legendary artist is the real prize!”“Who would’ve thought? Just last month, we didn’t have a single job, and now we’ve been personally invited by Mr. Zeppelin Mason. Not even in our wildest dreams!”“It’s all thanks to Layla’s connections! Back when we first opened, so many big names showed up to support her. How did we not think to reach out to them last month?”The chatter kept going until Layla cleared her throat and spoke up firmly.“We didn’t get here because of connections. We got here through hard work. Step by step. There were no shortcuts. Every opportunity we have now, we earned.”She paused, her voice steady. “And for every project going forward, I want us to put in the same heart and effort we did with the small-town promotional video. Let’s aim to deliv
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 516
Thanks to the rising popularity of the small-town promotional video, the studio had been flooded with appointment requests over the past week. Although they still had not secured any major commercial contracts yet, the overall atmosphere in the studio had lifted significantly. Some team members even started dreaming big, vowing to create the best city promotional videos in the world and put every hidden gem on the global map.However, shooting city promotional videos meant a lot of traveling and a lot more manpower. After the previous wave of departures, the studio was seriously understaffed, and the HR department had to scramble to start emergency hiring.Seeing the studio slowly getting back on its feet, Layla found herself busier than ever, to the point where she wished she could clone herself just to keep up.In the middle of the chaos, she received a phone call.“Layla, have you had time to think about the offer I mentioned last time?” The voice on the other end wa
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 515
Before long, Mrs. Jenkins reached Kiera's side. Only then did she notice Layla standing at the end of the hall. Her expression immediately darkened.“What are you two doing here?” she demanded.“Nothing,” Kiera said quickly, grabbing her mother’s arm. “We just ran into each other and chatted for a bit.”“What could you possibly have to talk about?” Mrs. Jenkins shot Layla a look of pure disdain, but her warning was directed sharply at Kiera. “You stay away from her. That woman is nothing but shameless—”“Mom!” Kiera cut her off in a panic, rushing to say goodbye to Layla. “Miss Xander, sorry to bother you. We'll be going now.”Before Layla could even respond, Kiera tugged her mother away.As she watched the mother and daughter disappear down the hallway, Layla couldn't help but feel puzzled. “What was going on with Kiera?” Layla wondered.Outside the private dining room, Mrs. Jenkins yanked her hand free and turned on Kiera, her face thunderous.“Why didn’t you let
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
