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Chapter 290
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 291
After hanging up the call, Layla returned to the dining table, clearly a little distracted.“Something wrong?” William asked.Layla shook her head lightly. “Nothing serious. Just a small issue.”But her thoughts were spinning. She couldn’t help but wonder—did William know that it was Scarlett who had sent her away back then?She had left so suddenly, without a word. Had he been angry? Did he feel abandoned?A flood of questions rose to the surface, but facing William now, she didn’t even know where to begin.It wasn’t until after the meal that her tangled emotions finally began to settle.He probably wasn’t angry. After all, three years of silence speaks for itself. She was just a passing chapter in his life. If she read too much into it now, it would only make her look foolish.Snapping out of it, she glanced over and saw William staring down at Carter, who was passed out drunk across the table, looking thoroughly unimpressed.Layla stifled a laugh and offered, “W
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 292
Mrs. Xander had just gotten the good news and couldn’t wait to share it with Shane and Xena.“Really? That’s amazing!” Shane threw his arms around her in excitement. “Mom, you’re the best! My love life is finally looking up!”Xena beamed. “Seriously, Mom—what would we do without you?”“It was nothing,” Mrs. Xander replied modestly, though a note of pride slipped into her voice. “I’ve been connected with the society ladies for a few years now. I’ve built up some relationships that can help open doors for the two of you. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”Across the room, Mr. Xander looked up from the documents in his hand and let out a cold snort.“You really think it was all you? If it weren’t for the Xander family behind you, do you honestly believe you could’ve pulled that off? You’ve been hanging around those society wives too long—you’re starting to forget who you really are.”His words landed hard.Ever since Mrs. Xander started attending those high-society ga
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 293
“She agreed to come to the exhibit with you?” Xena asked, clearly curious.“Well, she…” Shane hesitated, clearing his throat awkwardly. “She said she’d be coming with Mrs. Lucas. But that’s basically the same thing, right? Once we’re inside, I’ll just stick with her.”He puffed up a bit. “And just so you know, I did my homework before coming. I read up on all of Begonia’s work and the critical reviews. I’m telling you—Carly’s gonna be impressed!”Xena laughed. “Wow, Shane. Cramming at the last minute—are you sure that’ll work?”“Why not?” Shane lifted his chin confidently. “Today is my moment to shine. You and Mom, just keep your distance, alright?”As they chatted, Mrs. Xander spotted Scarlett approaching from afar with a group in tow.Scarlett didn’t look particularly pleased. She was saying something to Carly as they walked. It wasn’t until they got closer that she noticed the Xander family waiting nearby. Her brows furrowed.“What are you doing here?”Mrs. Xander quickly st
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 294
“Sorry, there’s no explanation. When it comes to this exhibition, Begonia has the final say.”The event coordinator looked straight at Scarlett. “Mrs. Lucas, we didn’t realize you’d be bringing such a large group. But since you’re already here, we’ll extend you that courtesy.”He glanced toward the Xander family before stepping aside and gesturing toward the others. “Everyone else may go in—except for them.”Scarlett had never liked the Xander family to begin with. Seeing them being left out now, she couldn’t resist twisting the knife. “Mrs. Xander, don’t tell me you somehow offended our star photographer? What a shame—coming all this way and still not getting in.”“Mrs. Lucas…” Mrs. Xander looked embarrassed. “Could you say a few words on our behalf? If we could just speak with Begonia directly, we’d be able to clear this up.”Scarlett gave a mocking little sigh. “You saw it yourself—this so-called star photographer has quite the ego. If I press too hard, she might get upset and
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 295
Scarlett hadn't come to admire photography. Her real agenda had nothing to do with the exhibit. As she walked, she kept trying to steer the conversation in a certain direction.“Look at this photo, William,” she said with exaggerated admiration. “A picture of a happy family, all smiling and harmonious.”She paused dramatically. “If you started a family of your own and gave me a big, chubby grandson, I’d be grinning even brighter than the woman in this photo.”Carly, standing nearby, couldn’t help but murmur, “Grandma Scarlett… that’s not a family.”Carter burst out laughing. “Yeah, Grandma Scarlett, this is a teacher with two kids and another staff member. If you’re going to use the exhibit to guilt him into marriage and babies, at least read the captions first.”Scarlett flushed in embarrassment and squinted at the exhibit description, realizing her mistake.William had already picked up on her real motive long before, and now, without a word, he turned and began to walk away
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 296
As Layla stepped out of the restroom, she felt a sudden grip on her shoulder.“What the hell are you doing here, Layla Xander?”The voice was unmistakable. It was Shane.The moment she recognized his voice, her heart sank.This section of the venue was restricted and only her core team had access. How the hell had he gotten in?“What, cat got your tongue?” Shane sneered. “You sure had a lot to say at the cemetery.”He grabbed her arm and yanked her back, shoving her up against the wall. His eyes roamed over her, sharp and mocking. “How’d you get in here? Don’t tell me you’re working this exhibition as staff?”Layla’s expression turned ice-cold. “This area is for authorized personnel only. You’d better leave. Now.”“Oh?” Shane raised a brow. “So you really are working here? Faking your death for three years just to crawl back to North City. Don’t tell me you’re still hoping to get back into the Xander family?”He smirked. “Tell you what, how about I snap a few pictures of this
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 297
“That wasn’t excessive,” William said calmly. “It was self-defense.”He walked up to Layla, giving her a subtle once-over. “You’re not ready yet?”“Mm-hmm.” Layla glanced toward the exhibition hall. “I was just thinking... what’s the least dramatic way to show up without scaring the hell out of everyone? I mean, this is kind of a resurrection.”Hearing her joke about it, William felt reassured. Clearly, his worry had been unnecessary. Layla wasn’t the type to lose her cool.“No matter what, I’m back now.”As she spoke, a brighter smile lit up Layla’s face—soft, radiant, touched with the quiet relief of someone who had made it through the fire.“I survived. I came back alive.”*Inside the exhibit hall, buzz about Begonia was building with each passing minute.“I heard she’s pretty young—and from North City, too. That’s why she picked here as the final stop. Word is, she’s thinking of staying.”“Seriously? I’ve never heard of anyone like that coming out of North City.”“Well,
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 298
As the calls of excitement echoed through the hall, the sharp click of camera shutters followed in rapid succession.A woman in a sleek, pale floral dress made her way through the crowd, escorted by security. The soft, fitted fabric highlighted her graceful figure as she ascended the spiral staircase at the center of the gallery.In that moment, every pair of eyes turned to her.Then she turned around.Light makeup framed her delicate features, and a faint smile played on her lips—stunning, radiant, unforgettable.A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.“Isn’t that Layla Xander?” “I thought she was dead!” “Am I dreaming? This isn’t a ghost, right?”Among them, Scarlett and her group looked absolutely stunned.Scarlett went pale. “What in the world… am I seeing a ghost?”Carly blinked, still staring. “There’s no such thing as ghosts… but maybe she just looks really, really similar?”“Nope.” Carter crossed his arms, brow raised. “Begonia is Layla. She never died.”A b
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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
