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Chapter 352
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 353
Did his little game of playing hard to get just backfire on him?*After that night, Layla never saw William again.She didn’t want to waste time overthinking all these confusing emotions, so she forced herself to stay busy. Leaving early and coming home late gave her no room to dwell on it.Before she knew it, the grand opening of her studio was just three days away.She picked up a call from Jenny, and her face immediately lit up. “Miss Jasper, you’re really coming to cut the ribbon yourself?”“Of course I am!” Jenny’s voice rang out, bright and hearty over the phone. “My star student is launching her own studio. There’s no way I’d miss it. I don’t care how busy I am, I’ll be there to support you in person.“I heard all about that solo exhibition you did after coming back. You were making headlines left and right!“Layla, I’m honestly so proud of you and a little selfishly happy too. It feels like fate that I got to be your teacher. I must’ve done something right to deserve a
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 354
The morning of the studio launch, reporters from all major media outlets arrived bright and early.A light reception had been set up in the courtyard, and journalists gathered around, casually chatting over tea and snacks.“Think Gwen Harris will show up today?”“Probably… Didn’t she just interview Miss Xander a while back? The launch of ‘Layla Studio’ is big news. She wouldn’t want to miss it.”“Don’t let her heiress status fool you—she works hard. How else do you think she snagged that international journalism award? If you ask me, she’s not the type to let personal drama get in the way of her career.”“But aren’t you guys just a little curious about their love triangle? Who do you think Mr. Lucas really has feelings for?”They exchanged looks, each one with a knowing grin.Sure, Begonia launching her own studio was newsworthy. But if they could dig up some juicy gossip about the wealthy elite while they were at it, that would be a bonus.No one said it out loud, but they wer
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 355
“Drop something off?” Layla blinked in surprise, glancing back at Eason’s lean figure. Could it be… he was the senior Jenny had mentioned?But she had never once heard that Eason Lopez had studied under Jenny.Still full of questions, Layla followed Eason into the lounge. Once they were alone, she finally asked, “Are you the senior Miss Jenny mentioned?”“Yeah.” Eason handed her a scroll with a blank expression. “Miss Jenny asked me to give this to you ahead of time.”A few days earlier, he had actually protested.“Why do I have to go early? You’re going to be there anyway,” he had complained on the phone.But Jenny had chuckled on the other end. “She’s only been with me for three years, and now she’s trying to make it on her own back in the country. She’ll need all the help she can get.“I don’t have much left to give her. The only thing I can do… is connect her with someone who might be able to help.“I know you’ve gotten used to working alone all these years. But iso
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 356
Layla stepped forward without hesitation, quietly positioning herself in front of Carly to shield her. Her gaze was cold as she stared down the group of thugs. “Who gave you the guts to storm into my place and cause trouble?”“You’re that... B-something?” the bleached-blond leader squinted, trying to remember the name. One of his guys leaned in to whisper it, but he found it annoying and punched him in the arm.“Why the hell are you even using some fancy, hard-to-remember name?”He raised his bat and pointed it at Layla. “People like you piss me off the most. Always acting like you’re better than everyone else.”Layla blinked. “Excuse me?”What kind of ridiculous logic was that?“I already called the cops,” Carly said, standing tall and fearless. “If you try anything, you’re all getting locked up.”“Well, well. Got some fight in you, huh?” the leader squinted at her. “We only came to rough up that woman. But I really can’t stand loudmouths who think they’re heroes. Guess I’ll
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 357
As Ivan and Levi stepped forward to congratulate Layla, Carter caught sight of someone in the distance and immediately scowled. “What’s he doing here?”Standing a few yards away was Eason. Ever since their last disastrous collaboration, Carter had refused to work with him. Neither had let it go. They were both too proud, and neither was willing to back down.Eason didn’t even look in Carter’s direction. He simply turned and walked off without a word.Carter bristled. “Sis, why’d you invite a guy like that? Who does he think he is—”“Enough,” Layla said calmly, patting his shoulder. “He’s a respected photographer, and the fact that he showed up today is a show of support. In this industry, his presence sends a message. He might not be your favorite person, but in the photography world, people pay attention to what he says.”Carter still looked annoyed. “Like we need his support? Come on, with all of us backing you, who wouldn’t give you face?”“He doesn’t need your approval,” Carl
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 358
Under the expectant gaze of the crowd, Jenny stepped out of the car.Behind her, the rest of the convoy came to a stop, and one by one, people began getting out—each dressed to the nines, with striking presence and poise.In an instant, camera flashes lit up the scene. The reporters were stunned.Masters of traditional painting, renowned cultural heritage inheritors, celebrated calligraphers, and opera legends—nearly all the most influential figures in the world of traditional arts had come together for the event!People of their caliber, highly accomplished in their fields, usually kept a low profile. They almost never appeared in public, let alone together at the same event.It was a once-in-a-lifetime scene—far beyond anyone’s expectations.As the reporters snapped photo after photo, they whispered excitedly among themselves.“Totally worth coming today!”“I’ve shot so many celebrities walking red carpets, but this is the first time I’ve seen masters like these doing it!”“
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 359
In just three short years, Layla no longer needed anyone like him by her side.Only now did William finally realize it.*That afternoon, news of Layla Studio’s successful launch dominated the trending charts.“Oh my god, what kind of legendary guest list is this? Layla Xander basically invited half the traditional art world!”“Forget the rich heirs from the big three families—next to these masters, they don’t even compare! Their fathers would’ve struggled to meet this many icons in one place!”“If Layla can gather this many heavyweights just to open a studio, her career's only going to get bigger from here!”“Escaping her toxic birth family and getting adopted by a whole squad of cultural legends? She’s living the dream!”Every time Layla made headlines, it was like someone was publicly dragging the Xander family’s name through the mud all over again.Mr. Xander only glanced at the trending page before flying into a rage. “Where the hell is Shane?! Didn’t he say he had a way
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 360
“What nonsense are you spouting?”Mr. Xander glared at his son. “The Xander family needs her? Who does she think she is?”“Dad.”Chris, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “Shane’s not wrong.“The people who showed up to her studio’s launch were all top-tier figures in the art world. Do you know how many people dream of having connections like that? With their support, Layla’s only going to rise higher and become even more respected.“If Layla were still part of the Xander family, the value she could bring us would be immeasurable.”His voice darkened. “Honestly, ever since she came back, I’ve been thinking about how we could get her to forgive us. She’s our blood, but beyond that, her network is way beyond what any of us imagined.“We shouldn’t treat her like the enemy. We should be doing everything we can to win her back and bring her home.“Dad, if you really care about the future of this family, then calm down and think seriously about what I just said.”Mr. X
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 505
Inside the car, Layla caught a glimpse of Mr. Xander through the rearview mirror, hurling his cane several feet in a fit of rage. A cold smirk tugged at her lips.The Xander family really hadn’t changed one bit. They only showed kindness to people they could use. They acted like their condescension was generosity, then expected gratitude in return.But to her, this so-called “Xander bloodline” was nothing but bad luck.Shaking off the thought, she turned up the volume on the stereo, letting the music drown out the lingering irritation. If anything, she felt even more satisfied than before.Humming along to the tune, she swung by the market and picked up groceries before heading home.When she got off the elevator, she walked over and rang the doorbell to William’s apartment.Just as the door opened, a woman’s voice called from inside, “William, I ordered food from Stonebridge Bistro. Let’s have dinner together tonight!”William gave a quick explanation, “That’s my mom.”He glan
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 504
The internal review meeting wrapped up smoothly, and everyone left the conference room full of confidence.That afternoon, the finalized promo video was handed over to Fabian, who would submit it to the local publicity office for the final round of approval.With nothing left to do until feedback came in, Layla gave the whole team a well-deserved break.By the time the workday ended, the office had completely emptied out.Layla stayed behind to chat with Fabian after receiving a message from him, and as a result, she ended up being the last one to leave the studio.After locking the front door, she headed toward her car out of habit, thinking about stopping by the market on the way home. She was planning to cook dinner and invite William over.She didn’t notice the stern figure getting out of a nearby car—her father.“Layla Xander.”She turned at the sound of his voice and met his displeased gaze, her brow twitching slightly.With a cane in hand, Mr. Xander approached her, his
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 503
After thinking it over, William figured the whole thing felt more like a guilt-trip performance. It seemed like Scarlett was putting on an emotional act to pressure him into going back to the Lucas family. The only question was how long she planned to keep it up.Still, Scarlett had been pampered all her life. Living in his place, with no one to wait on her hand and foot, she probably wouldn’t last long. Sooner or later, she would give up and leave.With that in mind, William didn’t bother chasing her out. He simply gave her a cold warning. “You can stay. But don’t cause trouble for Layla.”“No problem at all!”Scarlett agreed far too quickly. “I already made up my mind before I came. I won’t interfere in your love life ever again. You can count on that.”William was rendered speechless and frowned. Now he was even more certain. Something about her behavior just wasn’t right.*Meanwhile, Layla had left early that morning. The roads were clear, and after a smooth half-hour drive
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 502
“No, thanks.”Layla gave a tired smile and gently turned down William’s offer. “I have an early meeting tomorrow, and eating late messes with my sleep.“Mr. Lucas, you should get some rest too. Good night.”With that, she walked past him and returned to her apartment, closing the door behind her without hesitation.The sound of the door clicking shut made William frown slightly. Something felt off.Meanwhile, Layla stood in the entryway, slipping off her shoes as her mind wandered.“Layla Xander, you ruined him. You ruined the Lucas family,” she thought to herself.Gwen’s harsh words echoed suddenly in her mind, stirring the emotions she had tried to bury.All this time, she had avoided thinking too deeply about William’s choices. She was afraid that if she read too much into them, she would just end up fooling herself.But after seeing Gwen today, it finally hit her.William had stepped down from his pedestal for her. And she was still pretending not to see it.If the dista
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 501
“You’re a perfectly decent young woman. Why do you have to go and steal someone else’s man?”“Hannah,” Layla gently tugged on Hannah’s sleeve, giving her a look to stop.As Gwen walked toward the lounge door, Layla spoke up calmly, “The matching engagement ring—the woman’s one. You don’t have it, do you?”Gwen paused for a second at the doorway but didn’t reply. Without looking back, she walked out.That was all the answer Layla needed.She had suspected for a while that Gwen didn’t have the ring.William had always worn the man’s band. And knowing how much Gwen loved him, there was no way she would have hidden the woman’s ring if it had truly been hers.Now it seemed clear that he had never given that ring to anyone. Not yet.“What was that question about?” Hannah asked, suspicious.Layla snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh… nothing. I was just curious.”Hannah rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Seriously? That’s all you had to say after everything Gwen just threw at you? Y
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 500
“I know William went south with you this past month. He stayed by your side the entire time. He’s shown, through his actions, that his heart and eyes are only on you.”Gwen stared straight at Layla, her voice dry and strained. “You told me yourself that you had feelings for him. And now that he’s gone this far for you, you must be proud of yourself, aren’t you?”But she didn’t give Layla a chance to respond. Instead, she pressed on.“Because of you, William was kicked out of the Lucas family. He was forced out of Lucas Corporation. His mom and Mr. Lucas Sr., a couple who’d been loving and devoted for decades, had their worst fight ever. She even moved back in with her family.“If Mr. Lucas Sr. hadn’t landed in the hospital from the stress, she still wouldn’t have forgiven him. The entire Lucas family is in chaos—all because of you.“The William I knew was always calm, reliable, never made his parents worry.“He’s the most capable man I’ve ever met. He was meant to lead Lucas Corp
