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Chapter 358
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 363
“I finally see it now. Miss Jasper really does like Miss Xander,” Ivan said, sweeping his gaze across the room.“She’s not just paving a path for her. She’s building her a golden highway. Can you imagine how many people are secretly jealous?”“Mm.” Levi paused, then said calmly, “But Miss Xander deserves it.”*That night, Layla was all over the trending charts. The grand opening officially put her studio on the map.With the grand opening a success, photoshoot bookings flooded in. Within half a day, nearly her entire schedule for the next six months had been snapped up.The studio had no choice but to post an urgent notice suspending all new appointments. Reopening dates would be announced later.The overwhelming buzz surrounding a brand-new studio lit a fire under every team member. Whenever they saw Layla, their eyes shone with admiration and respect.Everyone was excited—except Carly, who didn’t look impressed at all.“So what if she has a great mentor?” she muttered under
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 364
After leaving the office, Carly returned to her desk. The male coworker with glasses from earlier immediately came over again. “What did Miss Xander want with you?”“None of your business.”That answer lit a fuse. “What’s your problem? I was just trying to be nice and make conversation—”“Alright, that’s enough.” Another coworker pulled him aside. “Why are you getting worked up over a young girl?”“She—”Before he could say more, the coworker cut him off and leaned in to whisper, “Didn’t you notice the designer brands she’s wearing? She’s probably some rich girl just here to ‘experience the real world.’“She’ll probably quit in a few days anyway. And you—do you really want to lose your job over her?”The man went quiet for a moment, then gave a scornful snort. “Fine. Not worth getting into it with some spoiled little princess.”Meanwhile, Carly wasn’t thinking about him at all. Her mind was still stuck on what Layla had said in the office.“This is Miss Xander’s schedule for
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 365
“And you.”Mr. Lucas Sr. turned his sharp gaze on Carter. “You’re no better. I told you before—what kind of respectable man goes into showbiz? Always putting yourself out there and embarrassing the Lucas name. After all these years, you still haven’t made anything of yourself. You’d be better off learning from your uncle.”Carter looked frustrated. “Grandpa, weren’t you talking about Carly? How did I get dragged into this?”Mr. Lucas Sr.'s expression turned stern. “I’m talking about both of you. You’re still young and don’t understand anything.”Zion turned to Carly with a hard look. “Did you hear what Grandpa just said?”“I heard.” Carly muttered the words, her tone dull. She had been through scenes like this so many times since she was a child.Her grandfather was a dictator—always trying to control the lives of everyone in the family. And her father, Zion, was nothing more than a spineless follower, drilling into her since childhood that obeying her grandfather was the only pa
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 366
“I’ve made my stance clear for a long time,” William replied calmly, meeting Mr. Lucas Sr.’s gaze without a flicker of emotion. “Aside from Layla Xander, no other woman has the right to stand beside me.“This thing with Gwen Harris—it's been your plan from the very start. Not mine.”“You—” Mr. Lucas Sr.’s face clouded over. “Didn’t you go to pick her up at the airport?”William remained composed. “Only because Wilson couldn’t make it, so I stepped in. We’ve known each other since we were kids. It was just a small favor. Nothing more.”At that, Mr. Lucas Sr. finally lost it. He slammed his palm down on the chessboard, scattering black and white pieces across the table.“I don’t care what history you two have! The only woman you’re allowed to marry is Gwen Harris!“A marriage alliance with the Harris family is your ticket to power—secure, unshakable! I’ve laid out the best path for you, and you’d better stop sabotaging yourself by chasing dead ends!”William rose slowly from his s
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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
