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Chapter 360
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 367
“So what?”William followed Mike’s gaze out the window. His eyes, half-hidden in the shadows, grew darker, colder.“If they want it, let them come and try. Let’s see how much they’ve actually grown over the past three years.”Mike glanced back at him. The car’s interior was dim, and he couldn’t quite make out William’s expression but the commanding aura was unmistakable. Even in silence, William exuded that quiet force of control.Over the past three years, he hadn’t stayed still. Behind the scenes, he had grown rapidly—amassing power and resources no one had expected. He had been preparing for this moment for a long time, fully ready to give up everything that came with being part of the Lucas family. He was willing to walk away from it all and choose Layla without hesitation.But no matter how determined a person might be, the Lucas legacy wasn’t something one could just toss aside without feeling the weight of it. When it came time to truly let go, it was only natural to
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 368
“Friday night, the elders from the Lucas and Harris families are meeting,” Carter said casually over the phone. “Pretty sure they’ll be discussing Uncle William’s engagement to Gwen.“Who would've thought—even my brilliant and invincible uncle couldn’t escape a classic rich-family marriage arrangement.“Everyone on the outside thinks he’s the one running the Lucas family, but honestly? The real decision-maker is still my grandpa. Look at this—he’s got Uncle William’s future all mapped out.”He paused, then added with a grin, “Don’t you think so, sis?“Sis?”Carter called her several times before Layla finally responded, “Yeah. I heard you.”“What are you doing?” he asked curiously.“I have a shoot tomorrow. Just reviewing the materials the client sent over.”Layla flipped through the documents on her desk as she spoke, trying to cover up the fact that she had been totally distracted just moments earlier.“Oh, I see…”Carter glanced at Ivan, who was sitting next to him, clearl
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 511
“Who exactly was hiding something?” Kiera only muttered the words in her heart. On the surface, she kept her tone casual and said, “I was watching a promotional video Miss Xander produced. I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea if you saw it.“If you don’t believe me, take a look for yourself.”As she spoke, Kiera handed her phone to Sean, her expression calm and composed.Sean frowned slightly. “Layla Xander? Isn’t her studio the one Mr. Lucas Sr. basically shut down?”“You seem pretty up to date on her situation,” Kiera said with a half-smile. “Here I thought you didn’t know anything.”“I just... heard about it. Everyone in the circle has,” Sean said, clearly uncomfortable, avoiding her gaze. “She crossed the Lucas family. Of course she was going to end up like this. When she first came back, everyone was talking about her, but in the end, all it took was one word from Mr. Lucas Sr. and her studio couldn’t land a single project.”“Is that so?” Kiera tightened her grip on
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 510
Kiera had always played the part of the gentle, obedient wife.But right now, the cold sarcasm in her eyes made Sean feel like he was looking at a stranger.Sean sobered up a little in an instant. “What the hell are you talking about?” he snapped. “All I did was ask you to play the harp. Do you really have to twist it into something so ugly?”He huffed and continued, “Mr. Zimmer has sent us quite a few projects over the years. I know he’s into classical music, so I thought bringing you tonight might give you two something to talk about.“How was I supposed to know that asking you to play one song would feel like pulling teeth? You refused to drink, which was fine, but then you just sat there with that sour face. Who would even dare start a conversation with you like that? Anyone watching would have thought I treat you like garbage at home.”Grumbling, Sean let go of her arm and leaned back against the car door, putting distance between them.To his surprise, Kiera didn’t move clo
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 509
“I’ve heard Mrs. Perry plays the harp,” someone across the round table suddenly said. It was Mr. Zimmer, one of the business partners. “There happens to be one here tonight. Mrs. Perry, would you mind playing a piece for us?”“This…” Kiera hesitated, but before she could reply, Sean jumped in with a smile, “Of course not. My wife plays beautifully. Tonight’s the perfect chance for everyone to enjoy it.”Hearing that, Kiera’s heart sank.It was rare for Sean to ask her to attend a business dinner. In all their time married, this was the first time he had willingly brought her into one of his work events.If she didn’t already know better, she might have been flattered, maybe even excited to join him.But she knew too much. She could see right through him. When something felt this out of the ordinary, there was always a hidden reason. Still, she smiled and nodded. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”A few minutes later, the restaurant staff wheeled in a harp and set it up in the private di
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 508
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
