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Chapter 353
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 361
“Sean!”Kiera watched helplessly as Sean walked away. Fuming, she swept the fruit platter off the table, sending everything crashing to the floor.“Just talking?” she muttered.What, did he think she was a child, that easy to fool? Or was he pretending she was blind—unable to see the regret and longing in his eyes for a woman he couldn’t have?*At the Lucas estate, Scarlett opened the same ribbon-cutting photo and stared in disbelief.The masters standing behind Layla in the picture were the same people she’d spent years trying to get close to. And today, they just casually showed up at Layla’s studio opening?Almost instinctively, a thought crept into her mind.“If Layla had invited me, I could’ve used the chance to make an impression on those masters, too,” she thought.But the very next second, Scarlett shook her head hard, as if trying to shake that dangerous thought right out.“What are you doing?”Mr. Lucas Sr. was coming down the stairs and saw Scarlett tossing h
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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
