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Chapter 302
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 303
“You know how I felt today?” Sean’s voice was low but sharp. “Like a criminal. One after another, people lining up to interrogate me. Threatening me.“Do I have to carve out my heart and lay it on the table before anyone stops doubting me?”Kiera flinched at the bitterness in his tone. “I didn’t mean to… Sean, I just—”“Let me ask you one thing,” he cut in, eyes still on the road. “Am I married to you, or to your parents?”“To me, of course.”“Good.”Sean pulled the car to a stop and turned toward her. His face was partly shadowed, his expression unreadable.“As we already agreed, we’re not forcing anything with the baby. Your health—your peace of mind—that’s what matters most. Don’t stress yourself out. When the time is right, we’ll have a child of our own.”“But…”Seeing the firm, unyielding look in Sean’s eyes, Kiera bit her lip. In the end, she said nothing more.*Later that night, Chris had just bailed Shane out of the police station, and the whole ride back, Shane wou
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 304
The photography exhibition had wrapped up successfully, but the buzz around Layla still hadn’t died down.Prominent photography bloggers compiled detailed threads of Begonia’s past work—awards, gallery appearances, even her celebrity shoots. Every post praised her eye, her talent, her unmistakable presence behind the camera.Three years ago, she was on the brink of death. Now, she had returned, radiant and confident, thriving in the career she loved. Anyone watching had to admit: she was a force.But to the Lucases, it was nothing more than a calculated show.“What’s all the fuss about? She’s just a damn photographer,” Mr. Lucas Sr. snapped. He had come across the news first thing that morning and, in a fit of irritation, tossed his iPad onto the table.Around the breakfast table, the rest of the family kept their heads down, quietly chewing their food, pretending they hadn’t heard him.“Where’s William?” he barked suddenly, turning to Scarlett. “Don’t tell me he ran off to see h
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 305
The news quickly reached William.“Uncle William,” Carter said over the phone, sounding serious. “Mom says Grandpa means business. As soon as Miss Harris gets back, you’re not getting out of it.”William responded calmly, “Got it.”Carter blinked. “Wait, that’s it? You’re not even worried? What if—”Just then, a knock came from the other end of the line. Carter instinctively switched topics.Carter paused. “Uncle William, what are you doing right now?”William answered calmly, “I haven’t had breakfast yet.”Carter gaped. “Seriously? With everything going on, you're still thinking about breakfast? You—”Before he could finish, Layla’s voice came through loud and clear.“Mr. Lucas? What are you doing here?”Carter instantly fell silent.Well then. Uncle William wasn’t nearly as chill as he pretended to be.Showing up at her door this early? That said it all.This wasn’t calm. This was a full-on strategic offensive.Back at the apartment, William slipped his phone away and l
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 306
Ever since that breakfast, William had been showing up at Layla’s door every few days, conveniently around mealtime.Layla never called him out. Instead, she treated him like a proper guest, carefully preparing three dishes and a soup each time. Watching him eat was surprisingly pleasant. It lifted her mood and even boosted her appetite.Back when she lived abroad, Layla had often been too busy to eat properly. Most days she just grabbed whatever was convenient, and the chance to cook for herself was almost nonexistent.Now, with someone else sharing her meals, she felt a new sense of responsibility. No matter how hectic things got, she would make time to buy groceries and cook. And truthfully, she kind of enjoyed it.For her, cooking had always been a hobby. It naturally became a way to unwind.A week went by like this. Once she wrapped up all the little tasks involved in setting up her new studio, she figured she would head out to buy some groceries and stretch her legs a bit.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 307
“It’s nothing…” Mr. Perry Sr. shook his head gently. “I’m just happy. Don’t worry about me, sweetheart.”The old housekeeper, standing at the bedside, smiled and chimed in, “Miss Xander, Mr. Perry Sr. really is happy today. It’s the most energy he’s had since falling ill. He even went outside this morning to get some sun.“Ever since he found out you were alive, he’s been asking me to read him all the news about you. Knowing you’re doing well has lifted his spirits more than any medicine could.”Layla felt a wave of guilt crash over her. “Grandpa Perry, I’m sorry. I should’ve come to see you sooner. This is all my fault…”“It’s not your fault,” Mr. Perry Sr. said with a faint smile, reaching out to gently wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes. “As long as you’re doing well, that’s all that matters. I’m just an old man now—nothing much worth seeing.”“I’ll come visit you often from now on,” Layla said earnestly, meeting his sunken eyes. “Grandpa Perry, I’ve still got so muc
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 308
The early spring night was bone-chilling, the kind of cold that crept in under your skin. Layla pulled her coat tighter around her as she walked along the roadside. The night breeze brushed against her face, and the tip of her nose had turned red from the cold. She walked in silence, letting the quiet and the cold gradually wash away the heaviness in her chest. In a low voice, she asked, “You knew about Grandpa Perry’s condition, didn’t you?” William glanced at her and answered slowly, “Yeah. He’s getting older and his health’s been going downhill. He had a bad fall last year and never really got back on his feet.“He told me that getting sick and growing old is just part of life. He’s come to terms with most things at his age. All but one…” William paused, hesitating. Layla turned to look at him. “What is it?” Under the streetlight, her almond-shaped eyes glistened with a hint of red. Maybe it was the cold, or maybe she had already figured out the part William ha
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 309
After speaking, Layla gave a polite nod and turned to leave.William instinctively reached out to stop her, but Scarlett quickly grabbed his arm.“She’s the one choosing to walk away. Why are you still trying to keep her here? William, listen to me—stop getting involved with her. Have you already forgotten how she nearly cost you your position as heir three years ago?”The night wind carried Scarlett’s words straight to Layla’s ears. Without meaning to, she quickened her pace.As he watched Layla walk away, William’s gaze turned cold. He looked sharply at Scarlett.“I kept quiet just now because I didn’t want you to get carried away and say something that would hurt Miss Xander even more.“Now that she’s gone, it’s time for you to listen to me.“As for Gwen Harris—I won’t agree to it. And if you all insist on forcing this, I don’t mind handing over the position of heir again.“Also, give Dad a message for me. I only ever sat in that position because I wanted control—real contro
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 310
In the living room, after the assistant brought in two cups of hot coffee, she quietly left.Layla took a sip of her coffee and immediately got to the point. “If you have any conditions, Miss Jenkins, feel free to bring them up. We may know each other, but we’re not exactly close. Let’s make sure everything is clear.”“This isn’t urgent,” Kiera Jenkins responded lazily. “I heard you visited Grandpa Perry a few days ago.”Layla felt a wave of annoyance. As expected, this wasn’t about the townhouse. The meeting had been a setup.But, since she had nothing to hide, she didn’t feel guilty. “Yes,” she said calmly. “Grandpa Perry was always very kind to me. It’s only right that I visited him.”“Of course,” Kiera said with a smile. “I was just making conversation, nothing more.”If she really didn’t care, Kiera wouldn’t have gone out of her way to meet in person. Layla didn’t feel like playing games. “Miss Jenkins—oh, wait, I should probably call you Mrs. Perry now. It’s nice t
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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
