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Chapter 220
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 221
“No, you don’t have to do anything! Just say yes to hosting the exhibit, and I’ll handle the rest. No—not just me, Uncle William and Ivan will help too!” Carter was getting anxious now. He turned to William and Ivan, seeking backup. “Right? You guys would do everything you could to help her put on the exhibit!” Ivan immediately jumped in. “If Layla wants to do it, I’ll take care of all the promotions and venue arrangements. You can count on me.” William, however, remained silent. Instead, he studied Layla for a long moment before asking, “What’s holding you back?” “No, I just feel... tired.”Layla lowered her gaze, pushing down the bitterness rising in her chest. Only she knew the truth about her condition. An exhibit wasn’t something that could be put together overnight. It required time, energy, and commitment—things she wasn’t sure she had enough of.Would she even make it to the day of the exhibition?“Honestly... whether I hold a photography exhibit or not doesn’
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 222
Xena followed Chris into the hospital room, only to learn that Mr. Xander had suffered a stroke and was still unconscious. Mrs. Xander sat by the bed, weeping uncontrollably. “Our family was fine… How… how did it come to this?” “I’m going to make Layla pay for this!” Shane roared, storming toward the door. “Stop right there!” Chris, already exhausted, snapped. “Shane, haven’t you done enough? Do you want things to get even worse?” “Chris, this is all Layla’s fault!” Shane gritted his teeth furiously. “I won’t let her get away with it!” “If you want to tear this family apart completely, then go right ahead.” Chris didn’t even bother looking at him. “What have you ever done for this family besides running your mouth and stirring up trouble?“Dad’s already down. That means it’s on the two of us to hold this family together. I’ve said my piece. If you still want to go after Layla, then do it.” Shane clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His rage
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 223
Seeing the calm indifference in Chris’s eyes, Xena felt like all the strength had been drained from her body. Her hands slowly dropped to her sides, and for a long while, she said nothing. She had finally become disposable. “I understand, Chris.” Her voice was quiet, but deep inside, hatred twisted and coiled like vines, growing unchecked. *Three days later, Xena’s apology video was uploaded. She appeared barefaced on camera, barely holding back tears as she read the carefully prepared statement Chris had given her. At the end, she bowed deeply, staying in that position for a long time. No matter how pitiful she tried to act, the internet wasn’t buying it. “Oh please, the modern-day fake innocent villainess. Who actually believes this apology is sincere?” “You didn’t even spare your own critically ill sister. That alone makes you irredeemable.” “Ugh, just stop. The sight of you is disgusting.” The sheer flood of hate was unbearable. Xena didn’t even dare
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 224
Following the location Felix sent, Xena arrived at the private club right on time. She smoothed down her dress, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door. “Come in,” Felix called out. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside. Felix greeted her with a grin, moving forward eagerly. “Miss Xander, I’m really glad you finally came around.” She instinctively avoided his outstretched hand. “I came to see you because I need to know—how exactly are you going to help me?” “What’s the rush?” Felix’s gaze raked over her, clearly noting the effort she had put into her appearance. That pleased him. “Come, sit down. Let’s talk properly.” He led her to a seat, then poured a glass of red wine and slid it in front of her. “Thanks, but I don’t really drink,” Xena said, raising a hand to decline. Felix ignored her refusal, pressing the glass into her hand. “A little won’t hurt. Besides, how can we discuss business if you don’t drink?” With the pressure obvious, Xe
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 225
As expected, Xena calmed down and stopped struggling. Felix raised a brow, his hand sliding up her thigh, over the sheer black stockings. “Xena, Sean can’t give you a proper title but I can.” Xena stiffened, his touch sending a cold shudder down her spine. Yet, just as his hand slipped beneath the hem of her dress— The door swung open. The moment she focused her vision, she froze in panic at the sight of Sean’s furious face. “Sean—” “What the hell are you two doing?!” Sean strode forward and shoved Xena aside before grabbing Felix by the collar. Without hesitation, he swung a punch, landing it square on Felix’s face. Felix spat blood onto the floor, then wiped his mouth, clicking his tongue in amusement. He caught Sean’s wrist before the next strike could land. “What’s your problem? Xena came to me on her own. Why the hell are you hitting me?” “What?” Sean’s jaw clenched. He turned to Xena, his voice dangerously low. “Is that true?” “I…” Felix’s word
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 226
“Layla!” William bolted into the room, his voice sharp with urgency. The only response was the steady sound of water running. The bathroom door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open, and a wave of steam hit him, thick and humid. Through the mist, he saw her—collapsed on the floor. His chest tightened. Rushing forward, he ignored the water that drenched his clothes, grabbed a towel, and quickly wrapped it around her. Then, without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms. Her body was limp, weightless. Her damp face was frighteningly pale, drained of all color. William strode out with long, hurried strides, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.So much so that when Carter and Ivan approached him head-on, he didn’t even register their presence.“Uncle William, what happened to Sis?” “William, where are you taking her?” Their voices barely registered. He didn’t stop. He didn’t answer. The only thing that mattered was getting her to the hospi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 227
“Hey, weren’t you—” Ivan didn’t get the chance to stop William before he rushed to Layla’s bedside. With a sigh, Ivan shook his head in exasperation. “How do you feel?” William took Layla’s hand and pressed it against his chest, holding it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Layla couldn’t speak, but she met his gaze, trying to tell him with her eyes—“I’m fine. Don’t worry.”That was when she noticed the blood trailing down the back of his hand. William sensed her gaze and immediately let go. “It’s nothing.” Layla’s concern didn’t waver as she kept staring at his hand. Just then, the doctor arrived, giving William a chance to step back. Ivan stepped closer and handed William a tissue, lowering his voice. “What’s the rush? She’s got us here. What could possibly happen? You couldn’t even sit still long enough to finish your IV?” William said nothing, simply taking the tissue and wiping away the blood. Hearing the call from the nurses’ statio
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 228
That night, after emergency treatment, Layla was no longer in immediate danger, but the test results were far from good. The doctor handed the scans to William, advising him to prepare himself mentally. For the first time in his life, the ever-composed William snapped. He threw the scans to the ground, stomping on them as he grabbed the doctor by the collar, forcing him to rephrase his words. In the days that followed, Layla remained unconscious, burning up with a persistent fever. William barely left her side, keeping vigil like a statue, sitting motionless for entire days, refusing to eat or drink. In the end, before Layla could wake up, he was the one who collapsed from exhaustion. Thankfully, Carter had warned him to clean himself up beforehand. Otherwise, when Layla finally opened her eyes, the first thing she’d see would have been a man looking completely haggard and unkempt. From the moment William was born, he had never been anything but composed, meticulou
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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
