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Chapter 327
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 328
“The best way to shatter the illusion,” Carly said, looking Layla straight in the eye, “is to own it. That’s why I’m here—to apply for the job.”Her gaze was steady, clear, and unwavering.Ever since discovering that her favorite photographer, Begonia, was actually Layla, Carly had locked herself in her room, staring at her collection of Begonia’s work, spiraling into deep self-doubt.She had adored Begonia’s photography but she couldn’t stand Layla.How could those two feelings coexist in the same person?The contradiction had tormented her for days. Then she saw the job listing for Layla Studio. After thinking it through, she sent in her résumé.She had told herself that maybe, once she worked under Layla, she would see Begonia for who she really was. Maybe even realize she wasn’t all that special. And when that moment came, she could finally move on.But now, standing in front of Layla, Carly wasn’t so sure.She had barged in boldly, yet Layla had responded with patience and
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 329
“You like it, that’s all that matters.” Gwen noticed Carly had makeup on and was dressed rather formally, so she asked curiously, “Did you have an interview today?”“You could tell?” Carly looked a little surprised.“I overheard Mrs. Lucas mention that you graduated last year and started job hunting this year,” Gwen said with a warm smile, sounding every bit like a thoughtful older sister. “How did it go? Was it smooth?”“Yeah, I got the job. I start at the end of the month.”“Oh?” Gwen’s face lit up. “And which lucky company landed someone as talented as you?”Carly went quiet.She had zero plans to tell anyone—especially not Gwen—that she was going to work at Layla Studio. If her grandfather found out, he would probably lock her at home.Gwen assumed it was just a little secret and didn’t push. “Well, no matter where you’re working, I know you’ll do amazing things. When the time comes, you owe me a celebratory dinner.”Carly was grateful for Gwen’s thoughtfulness and smile
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 330
“Gwen, you grew up with William. You know exactly what he wants.“Love is fleeting. Sure, she has him now—but feelings come and go. One day she holds on tight, the next he’s gone. But interests—mutual benefits—those are solid. That’s what lasts.“In families like ours, marriages are built on alliances. It may not be all romance and passion, but it’s solid and unshakable. When two people are tied together by responsibility, by what they stand to gain or lose—they go farther. They hold on.“You’re not kids anymore. It’s time to think about your families. Miss this chance, and there won’t be another one.”That day, Mr. Lucas Sr. spoke at length over the phone, his voice heavy with meaning.At some point, Gwen had stopped hearing the words clearly. Instead, a quiet voice echoed from deep within her.“Try. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ll have tried.”So, she came home to give her years of silent love a proper ending.“Gwen?” Carly called softly.Gwen snapped out of her
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 331
“Pfft.” Wilson rolled his eyes. “Privacy, my ass. And I wasn’t snooping. I was looking fair and square.” He leaned in, eyeing Ivan with mock suspicion. “Look at you now, acting all supportive of Layla and William. Didn’t you get kicked back to North City three years ago because you tried to mess with them? Weren’t you the one dead set against them being together?” He handed Ivan a glass of whiskey, clearly settling in to hear the story. “So what gives? Why the sudden change of heart?” Ivan waved him off. “Don’t ask. Let’s just say... I regret it.”He raised his glass but didn’t drink right away, lost for a moment in the memory. William had punched him like a lion in a blind rage. Back then, Ivan had been pissed that William was throwing away friendship over a woman. But thinking back on it now—if a woman could drive William to that kind of fury, she had to mean everything to him. And him, as the so-called friend? He hadn’t supported William at all. Hell, he had alm
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 332
“Mr. Lucas, what are you standing there for? Come eat,” Layla called out as she waved William over.Seeing someone his height—nearly six foot three—looking awkward sitting at her low coffee table, she let out an embarrassed chuckle. “Uh… want to move to the dining table instead?”“No need,” he said, leaning back against the couch. But his eyes briefly swept over the takeout spread on the table, and his brows furrowed slightly.Layla caught it. She had gotten a little carried away ordering junk food and totally forgot that someone like William might not be used to this kind of thing.She tried again, a little sheepishly. “I can cook something else for you real quick, if you want?”“No need,” William repeated, this time with the look of a man resigned to his fate. If she could eat it, he could too.“Alright then, try it first. If you really don’t like it, I’ll make something,” Layla said—though honestly, she had zero intention of getting back up. It was just a polite offer.She
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 333
“If you’re short on money, you can come to me,” William said casually.“That’s really kind of you, Mr. Lucas. I appreciate it.”Layla was clearly tipsy now, all her usual boundaries forgotten. William, who used to feel so distant and out of reach, suddenly seemed much closer—like she could reach out and touch him.She did exactly that, giving his shoulder a light pat.“Thanks, Mr. Lucas!”In the soft glow of the room, her eyes sparkled with the warmth of alcohol—like ripples on a quiet lake. There was something beautiful and a little dangerous about it.For a moment, William could almost feel those ripples brushing against his heart. It stirred something deep inside him, something he couldn’t quite name.His gaze darkened. He caught her wrist. “You’ve had too much to drink.”“Just a little,” Layla mumbled, pulling her hand back before perking up like a child with a secret. “Oh! Guess who I saw at Mrs. Young’s birthday party? Xena and Sean.“You wanna hear some scandal that’ll
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 334
The next morning, Layla woke up in bed with a pounding head.She sat up, rubbing her temples. Suddenly, bits of last night came flooding back. In an instant, she was wide awake.Wait a second—Did she really lean in that close and whisper that whole scandal about Sean into William’s ear last night?And in that position?That close?Saying that kind of gossip?Oh god.Layla slapped her cheeks in frustration, practically on the verge of tears.“Alcohol ruins lives! Of all the times to spill that story, why did I have to do it then?”She flopped back with a dramatic sigh. “Congratulations, Layla. You’ve officially embarrassed yourself.”After mentally preparing herself to face the world or at least pretend to have blacked out the whole thing, she finally got out of bed.When she walked into the living room, she was surprised to find everything from last night already cleaned up—takeout boxes gone, beer bottles cleared, pillows neatly back in place.Layla couldn’t help but fee
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 335
Layla met Gwen’s gaze with a calm smile. “I run a tiny studio. I’m hardly qualified to work with the Lucas Corporation.”Gwen kept her professional smile in place. “You’re too modest. With your talent, I’m sure you’ll go far. We’re definitely looking forward to seeing where your studio goes.”“I’m not big on assumptions. I just want to stay grounded and take things one step at a time.”Looking at Layla’s composed expression, Gwen’s heart sank slightly. This woman was sharper than she had expected.“Well, thank you again for the interview.” Gwen stood up and extended a hand. “I hope we get the chance to work together again.”Layla glanced down at Gwen’s fair, well-manicured hand then paused. Where was the ring?William had worn his for three years. Why wasn’t Gwen wearing one?Seeing that Layla still hadn’t lifted her hand, Gwen called out with a smile, “Miss Xander?”That snapped Layla out of her thoughts. She lightly shook Gwen’s hand and replied politely, “Let’s hope so
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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
