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Chapter 227
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 229
If Layla had died sooner, none of this would have happened. Every day, Mrs. Xander regretted ever letting her come back home. “Mom, even you…” “Enough. Stop defending her and focus on taking care of your father.” Mrs. Xander cut Chris off, making it clear she had no interest in discussing anything related to Layla. Chris hesitated, his gaze falling on his father. For a long moment, he said nothing.Mr. Xander lay in bed, paralyzed on one side, his face twisted, his mouth slack. Even with extensive rehabilitation, recovery would take a long time. A proud man all his life, his current condition was nothing short of torture, both physically and mentally. And for Mrs. Xander, who had spent her whole life by his side, watching suffer like this was pure agony.So, in a way, it was only natural that her resentment toward Layla had deepened.Chris sighed, setting aside any thought of convincing her otherwise. Instead, he said calmly, “I need to go.” “What do you mean?”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 230
“Felix invited me—just a little get-together.” Xena stood outside the private room. “Chris, did you need something?” Chris’s tone darkened. “When did you start hanging around Felix?” “Why? Am I not allowed to?” Xena let out a small laugh. “You all told me to figure out the compensation money myself. Now that I have, you’re questioning me?” “That’s not the point, Xena. Given your current situation—” “My current situation?” She smirked, eyes gleaming with mockery. “Because I’ve been with Sean? Please, if I’m not embarrassed about it, you don’t need to be.” The alcohol was making her bold—reckless, even. She spoke without thinking, words rolling off her tongue with ease. Chris picked up on it immediately. “Have you been drinking? Send me your location. I’m coming to get you. With everything going on at home, don’t make things worse.” “Just a little,” Xena leaned against the wall, lips curling into a teasing smile. “I’m worried about the family too, you know. I want
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 231
“Fine. If you don’t like it, I’ll just pick something else.”As she spoke, Xena reached into her bag again, but before she could pull anything out, Sean grabbed her wrist tightly and shoved her away.She stumbled back several steps, unable to keep her balance, and fell straight into a strong embrace.“I was wondering what was taking you so long. Turns out you ran into an old flame,” Felix said with a smirk, glancing between Sean and Kiera. “Hey, bro, sis-in-law, you two are here too? How about we all hang out together?”Sean ignored him, his gaze cold as he fixed it on Xena. “So, this is your ‘good friend’?”“Good friend?” Felix wrapped an arm around Xena’s shoulders and chuckled. “We’re dating now.”Xena’s eyes widened in shock. Since when?Sean let out a mocking laugh. “Wow, that was fast. When do you plan on telling the family?”Felix raised an eyebrow. “That’s none of your concern. I’ll let Dad and Grandpa know when the time is right.”“Alright. I’ll be waiting.”Sean too
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 232
Meanwhile, in Haven City, Layla had spent another two days in bed since waking up that day, barely regaining a bit of strength. But she was like an empty shell, often gazing blankly out the window, lost in thought. It was painfully obvious that she was letting life slip away. This wasn’t like her. Carter had tried everything to cheer her up, but all he ever got was a tired smile and vacant eyes. Panic gripped him. He clung to Ivan, looking for reassurance. “Ivan, Levi’s bringing the specialists back soon, right? They’ll cure her, won’t they?” Ivan let out a deep sigh. “Right now, the most important thing is keeping Miss Xander’s will to live.” Just then, William walked past them with a group of people, not even sparing them a glance as he headed straight into the hospital room. “That’s Jenny Jasper, isn’t it?” Ivan asked. “Yeah!” Carter’s face lit up. “So that’s who Uncle William went to pick up at the airport! Miss Jasper is my sister’s idol! If anyone can g
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 233
“Even if I were to die right now, I wouldn’t have any regrets…” “Layla.” William cut her off sharply, his voice laced with anger. He didn’t want to hear this. He refused to hear it. But this time, Layla didn’t change the subject like she used to. She stubbornly pressed on. “When I first found out I was sick, I was in complete shock. I couldn’t understand why the heavens would do this to me. I’m still so young. Why am I being sent to the afterlife so soon?“Once I calmed down, I told myself that for whatever time I had left, I would live for myself. But how? I had no idea.“Then, I met you. I met Carter. I did so many things I never even dared to dream of before. I even started to foolishly believe I could survive…” “Stop.” William’s voice trembled slightly, almost pleading. But Layla was too lost in her own thoughts to notice. “The truth is, the heavens have been kind to me. Before I go, they’ve given everything back to me. What else do I have to regret?” S
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 234
Outside the hospital entrance, a crowd of reporters had already been blocked off by security, but that didn’t stop them from raising their cameras, focusing on the tense standoff between Chris and Carter. Carter stood with his arms crossed, looking at Chris with nothing but disdain. “Are you Xander people ever going to be done? You’re the ones who publicly cut ties with my sister and now you have the nerve to come crawling back?”Chris kept his voice steady, but there was tension in his jaw. “Blood ties don’t just disappear because of a few words. My father was just angry when he said those things. We had a misunderstanding with Layla. I just want to see her. Step aside, Mr. Carter.”Carter scoffed. “Don’t act like you care. If you’re not disgusted by yourself, I sure as hell am.”Carter deliberately raised his voice, making sure everyone could hear. “Where was this ‘family bond’ when you helped Xena steal my sister’s work? Did you ever stop to think that Layla was the one actual
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 235
If Chris wanted to use the media to paint William as a petty, manipulative villain standing in the way of a family reunion, then so be it. He would play the role. “You…” Chris hadn’t expected the head of the Lucas family to be so unreasonable, so shamelessly bold. He had assumed William would care about his reputation, would follow the usual rules of engagement. But clearly, William didn’t play by the rules. Grinding his teeth, Chris spat out his next words. “What right do you have to speak for Layla? Why are you always by her side? She’s already dying. What more do you want from her?” “Wow,” Carter scoffed, “Not everyone is as vile as your family. You really think everyone’s just looking for ways to use people—” “I want her.” A deep voice cut through the air. Carter froze mid-sentence, his jaw dropping. What? Was his uncle… confessing? Right here? In front of everyone? Did he really have to go this far?!Chris was just as stunned. He stared at William in di
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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
