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Chapter 31

ผู้เขียน: Eli Sole
William’s words had successfully tempted Layla.

“Sounds great!” Layla said cheerfully. “Let me go change real quick. Wait for me.”

As she disappeared into her room, William pulled out his phone and searched for highly-rated local restaurants.

That line he said earlier? Only half true.

Yes, he came to the south often, but he had no real preferences when it came to food. Most of the time, he was just attending business dinners. How would he know anything about local specialties?

Layla, however, completely believed him and eagerly followed him into the elevator.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped into the lobby, they ran into Sean and Xena at the front desk.

“Layla!”

Xena’s voice was filled with surprise and joy as she hurried toward her. “Seeing you safe and sound puts me at ease. I should let Mom and Dad know too—”

As she reached out, about to grab Layla’s hand, Layla instinctively pulled away.

Xena lost her balance and fell hard onto the floor.

From Se
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  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 32

    Leaving the hotel, William followed the GPS directions as he drove, but when they arrived at the destination, his brows furrowed slightly. Layla glanced out the car window and raised an eyebrow. “You’ve really eaten here before?” The restaurant was tucked beside a bustling market, its decor outdated and worn—a classic hole-in-the-wall eatery. No matter how she looked at it, it didn’t seem like the kind of place William would frequent.“Yeah,” he replied smoothly, unfastening his seatbelt with practiced ease. “Come on, let’s give it a try.” Layla studied him as he stepped out of the car, immediately sensing the slight reluctance in his demeanor. She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Mr. Lucas, you know what? I just lost my appetite for this place. Let’s go somewhere else.” William turned back to her. “You sure?” She nodded. “I’ll find a spot.” “Alright.” Without hesitation, William got back into the car, his movements swift and fluid. He was clearly eager to put some

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 33

    William disliked crowded events, so the organizers had arranged a private suite for him on the second floor. From the floor-to-ceiling windows, he had a clear view of the auction stage below. Layla, finding the whole experience novel, glanced around curiously, completely unaware that a staff member had leaned in to whisper something to William. William instinctively cast a brief glance at her before signaling the staff member to leave. Once the door shut behind them, he handed Layla a catalog. “Here’s the list of auction items for tonight. Take a look and see if anything catches your eye.” She flipped through the catalog and found herself drawn to quite a few items halfway in. “I’m really getting ahead of myself. Just because I have a little money now, I’m already forgetting my limits,” she thought to herself.Closing the catalog before she got any more ideas, Layla forced herself to stay sensible.William, however, noticed and asked, “Nothing interesting?” She smiled a

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 34

    Suddenly, a figure shot forward, landing a sharp kick to Sean’s knee. With a pained cry, Sean collapsed to the ground, instinctively releasing his grip. Layla stumbled back and fell straight into William’s arms. Only then did she realize the one who had attacked was none other than his bodyguard, Mike. Mike showed no mercy. Within seconds, he had beaten Sean to the point of spitting blood, leaving him sprawled on the ground, barely able to move. Xena was completely rattled, panic flashing across her face as she rushed forward, pleading, “Mr. Lucas, Sean only acted out of desperation! Please, be the bigger person and let him go just this once.” William didn’t even glance at her, his gaze remaining icily fixed on Sean. Mike, showing no intention of stopping, grabbed Sean by the collar and delivered another brutal punch to his stomach. Blow after blow, each one mercilessly precise. Sean curled in on himself, his body wracked with pain, feeling as if his organs were bei

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 35

    Recalling the humiliation he had suffered at the auction, Sean felt a surge of fury rise within him. His expression darkened ominously. Xena hesitated before speaking in a small voice, “Sean, after everything Layla has done… are you really going to forgive her? What if she’s already moved on?” Sean suddenly slammed his palm against the bedside table, making Xena jump. “She wouldn’t.” He knew Layla better than anyone. That woman had eyes only for him. There was no way she could just stop loving him. Seeing the certainty in his gaze, Xena’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. “But she used your money to buy a gift for—” “She knew I was there. They were putting on a show for me.” Sean clenched his fists, his voice laced with conviction. “I looked into it. Even though they’re together, they’re not living under the same roof. Layla and William are clean.“And earlier, she even spoke up for me.” The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that La

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 36

    Sean spent three days in the hospital, and by the time he was discharged, he had already learned that Layla and William had returned to North City. Without any reason to stay, he left early. But the news of him offending William had reached the Perry family long before he did. The moment he stepped through the door, he was met with an oppressive atmosphere. His mother, Susan, rushed toward him, grabbing his arm as if to whisk him upstairs. “My poor baby, you’ve been through so much. Let me see how bad the injuries are…” “Stop right there!” Mr. Perry Sr.’s furious voice cut through the air. He fixed his sharp gaze on Sean. “If he can still walk through that door, then clearly, he didn’t get beaten badly enough.” Susan’s heart leaped into her throat. Panicked, she hurriedly pleaded, “Dad, Sean is still young. He didn’t mean any harm, he just—” “He’s about to start a family and take over the business, yet he still doesn’t know how to act? Then perhaps a lesson was exa

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 37

    Mr. Perry Sr. shouted, “Where do you think you’re going?!”Sean stopped in his tracks, clenched his jaw, and said coldly, “I’m done chasing after Layla. If she’s got the guts, she can just die out there.”“You—” Furious, Mr. Perry Sr. hurled his cane and pointed at Susan, cursing, “Look at the son you raised! Like mother, like son!”Susan felt utterly humiliated. She lowered her head, not daring to talk back, but inside, she was seething. How long was that woman going to ruin her son’s life?*Meanwhile, completely unaware of what was happening, Layla hadn’t even touched her phone since waking up. Carter had shown up at the villa first thing in the morning and dragged her into the living room for a gaming marathon. He then took a call and pulled her along to a filming set without asking.Now, in the car, she listened as Carter’s manager practically begged him.“Carter, could you please take this seriously? My entire career is riding on you. Whether I make it through the ye

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 38

    Layla turned around and saw Xena gesture for her team to leave before slowly walking toward her.Xena glanced at Carter, instantly putting two and two together, then smiled. “Busy, aren’t you, sis?” Just a few days ago, she was with William, and now she was back with Carter. She had never heard of someone supposedly on their deathbed having this much energy to juggle two men at once. “Sean told me you’re seriously ill. Everyone at home is really worried about you.” She sounded concerned, but her eyes told a different story—like she was waiting for a show to unfold. “When are you planning to come home? Mom and Dad want to see you.” Xena stepped closer, putting on a show of warmth and sincerity. “No matter what, we’re family. We can even go with you to the doctor.” Layla scoffed inwardly. See a doctor? More like drag her in for a test to prove whether she was faking it. “No need. I’ve already cut ties with the Xander family. My life is none of your business.”

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 39

    At the time, Layla thought that giving it up would earn her parents' love. But all it did was make them push their luck even further. Xena went abroad, gained recognition off her work, and even held her own photography exhibition. During the darkest period of her life, Sean had been the warmth that kept her going. That was why she had been so utterly devoted to him.Layla pulled herself out of her thoughts, feeling nothing but emptiness inside. In the end, she had been too naive. What was the point of regretting it now? She didn’t even have much time left. What was the use of talking about passion anymore? At that thought, the light in her eyes dimmed. She turned and walked away. * Half an hour later, Carter’s shoot began, and Layla waited for him in the lounge. She was curled up on the couch, flipping through a magazine out of boredom, when the door opened. She looked up and locked eyes with Xena, who had a mocking smile on her face. Layla’s expression inst

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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

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