Mag-log inShare
Chapter 354
Kaugnay na kabanata
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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 362
At the evening banquet, soft music played in the background as guests chatted and laughed over glasses of wine.Layla stayed by Jenny’s side the entire time, making the rounds and finally putting faces to names with the many masters in attendance.It had been a long time since she had this much intense social interaction, and the exhaustion was beginning to catch up with her.Jenny handed her a glass of champagne. “Already tired? This is just the beginning.”Layla smiled without answering, a bit of playful pleading in her expression.Jenny couldn’t help but laugh. She lightly tapped Layla on the nose. “Alright, that’s enough for tonight. You’ll have plenty of chances to connect with them in the future.”“What they said to you today wasn’t just small talk. If you ever really need help, don’t hesitate to ask. My name still carries a little weight.”“Okay. Tha—”“No more thank-yous,” Jenny cut her off with a playful glare. “If you keep being this polite with me, I’m going to start
Pinakabagong kabanata
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 526
When William got home and pushed open the door, he immediately saw Scarlett sitting on the sofa, stewing in anger. The living room lights weren’t even on.Even from a distance, he could feel the heavy cloud of resentment surrounding her.He casually flipped on the lights and walked over. “You really didn’t eat tonight?”Scarlett huffed, puffing up like an angry cat. “I was going to, but your father pissed me off so much I’m full of rage instead.”“Oh?” William raised an eyebrow with interest. “He came by?”“He was skulking around like a thief. I ran into him outside.”Scarlett turned to him, her eyes sharp. “Be honest with me—over the years, you’ve seen how I treated your father, haven’t you? I was good to him, right? I did everything he said!”William thought for a moment, taking the question quite seriously. “I guess you could say that.”“What do you mean, ‘guess’?” Scarlett shot him a glare. “It’s a fact! Back when I was at the Dixon family home, I got anything I wante
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 525
“Don’t get involved in her business anymore.” William picked up his utensils and bowl, clearly signaling he wanted to end the conversation.Layla hesitated, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just lowered her gaze, hiding the flicker of thought in her eyes.*Meanwhile, Scarlett was tossing and turning in bed, completely unable to sleep. Her stomach growled loudly, and eventually, she gave up and got out of bed, heading to the kitchen to raid the fridge.Inside, there was only half a bag of sad-looking whole wheat bread and a few eggs.Scarlett shut the door with a hopeless look, instantly regretting her earlier stubbornness. Why had she refused dinner?Clenching her teeth, she downed a glass of warm water, threw on a jacket, and headed out the door.She figured, after years of being spoiled with gourmet food, just a few meals of Layla’s home cooking had completely won her over. There had to be some home-style restaurant nearby that could satisfy
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 524
That evening, William knocked on the door next door.When Layla opened it, she didn’t see Scarlett anywhere and couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s Mrs. Lucas?”“She’s not coming. Probably ate enough at the gathering today.”After a brief explanation, William stepped inside, speaking casually, “I saw today’s trending topics.”“I actually invited you over to talk about that!” Layla followed behind him, her face lit up with excitement. “I really didn’t expect the promotional video to attract such a major corporation! Fabian told me the kids will soon have a brand-new space to play and learn. They’re all thrilled!“I didn’t know much about YT Corporation before this, but after hearing about everything they’ve done, I was really impressed. They’ve been committed to children’s charities for years—building schools, sponsoring education for kids in the mountains.“For a company to care so much about children’s welfare, the CEO must have a really kind heart.“He even asked Fabian for
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 523
Unexpectedly, Scarlett didn’t react the way Mrs. Jenkins had hoped. Instead, she seemed distracted.“She...” Scarlett frowned, forcing out a stiff response. “She’s definitely not a good person.”But... she didn’t seem that bad either.The second half of her thought, Scarlett kept to herself.After all, in this setting, if she dared to speak up for Layla, she would only make herself stand out and not in a good way.Besides, it was her own son that Layla had "harmed."And yet, after watching quietly these past few days, Scarlett had seen a side of Layla she had never seen before.Since the promotional video’s success, Layla had been leaving early and coming back late, throwing herself completely into her work. She didn’t even bother cooking anymore, much less looking for opportunities to see William.This didn’t look like a woman desperate to cling to someone rich. It looked more like a woman determined to become someone successful on her own.Back at the round table
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 522
“Yeah.”Just a soft, low response.Ivan was caught off guard for a moment before bursting into loud laughter. “Nice! All that hard work wasn’t for nothing. You two are finally making progress!”William had always been steady and cautious. If something didn’t fully meet his expectations, he wouldn’t give a definite answer. So even without any detailed explanation, just that one word was enough.“By the way...” Ivan suddenly thought of something, his eyes lighting up with a teasing glint. “Was it because of that kiss the other night?”A cold glare shot his way.But Ivan just laughed even harder. “What’s the big deal? We’re all adults here. It was just a kiss. You don’t have to be so uptight about it!”He leaned in with a mischievous grin. “But seriously... under those circumstances, you still managed to stop at just a kiss? Are you sure you’re... fully functional?”As he spoke, Ivan deliberately gave William a once-over, grinning wickedly.“Are you looking to die toda
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 521
Hearing this, Layla agreed. “All right. Please go ahead and give him my contact information.”“Got it!”*At that moment, Xavier was on the phone, proudly reporting his success.“How about it? I came through for you, didn’t I? I got your girl trending at the top of the hot search list!“Spending thirty million for a good cause and earning a huge favor from you—this is hands down the best money I’ve ever spent!”Listening to the smug laughter on the other end of the line, William remained quiet for a few seconds before giving a flat reply. “Good job.”Xavier immediately felt frustrated. “That’s it? Nothing else?”“Yeah.”Standing by the tall window, sunlight in his eyes, William asked casually, “Has Zion come after you again?”“It’s been two days since he last contacted me. But now that the news is out today, you can bet he’s not going to leave me alone.”Xavier sighed heavily. “I sacrificed a lot for your woman, you know. If I end up traumatized from all this, yo
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
