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Chapter 37
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 38
Layla turned around and saw Xena gesture for her team to leave before slowly walking toward her.Xena glanced at Carter, instantly putting two and two together, then smiled. “Busy, aren’t you, sis?” Just a few days ago, she was with William, and now she was back with Carter. She had never heard of someone supposedly on their deathbed having this much energy to juggle two men at once. “Sean told me you’re seriously ill. Everyone at home is really worried about you.” She sounded concerned, but her eyes told a different story—like she was waiting for a show to unfold. “When are you planning to come home? Mom and Dad want to see you.” Xena stepped closer, putting on a show of warmth and sincerity. “No matter what, we’re family. We can even go with you to the doctor.” Layla scoffed inwardly. See a doctor? More like drag her in for a test to prove whether she was faking it. “No need. I’ve already cut ties with the Xander family. My life is none of your business.”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 39
At the time, Layla thought that giving it up would earn her parents' love. But all it did was make them push their luck even further. Xena went abroad, gained recognition off her work, and even held her own photography exhibition. During the darkest period of her life, Sean had been the warmth that kept her going. That was why she had been so utterly devoted to him.Layla pulled herself out of her thoughts, feeling nothing but emptiness inside. In the end, she had been too naive. What was the point of regretting it now? She didn’t even have much time left. What was the use of talking about passion anymore? At that thought, the light in her eyes dimmed. She turned and walked away. * Half an hour later, Carter’s shoot began, and Layla waited for him in the lounge. She was curled up on the couch, flipping through a magazine out of boredom, when the door opened. She looked up and locked eyes with Xena, who had a mocking smile on her face. Layla’s expression inst
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 40
“You—!” Xena shot to her feet and strode toward Layla, raising her hand to slap her. But before she could, a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. “Miss Xander, a real lady uses words, not fists. You’ve already run your mouth, and now you’re throwing hands? That’s just low.” Carter still wore his usual carefree smirk, but his tone had cooled. “Then again, considering the bloodline you come from, I guess I shouldn’t expect much better.” Xena was livid, her jaw clenched tight as she glared at Carter, eyes burning with rage. He smirked, then shoved her back lightly. “Quit wasting time here. Your so-called ‘lover’ is neck-deep in trouble, and you’re still standing around showing off?“Acting like you hit the jackpot when all you got was a useless, washed-up scumbag.” With that, Carter nudged Layla with his elbow. “Come on, Sis. I just shot some killer photos. I need your expert opinion.” “Sure.” Layla nodded and left the lounge with him. Once they were in the
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 41
“Xena, I should have listened to you long ago and been wary of William. This was my mistake. I trusted Layla too much. I never thought she’d go so far as to sell out the company just to force my hand.”Hearing this, Xena could barely contain her joy, but she forced herself to sound shocked. “What? It was Layla?” “Yeah. The mastermind behind all of this is the Lucas Corporation.”Sean’s eyes darkened. Just moments ago, he had finally pieced together Layla’s motive. She wanted to use William to show him that without her, this company would crumble. That foolish woman. She was so busy scheming against her own people that she never considered how much William stood to gain from it. “So… what now?” Xena asked hesitantly. “I’ve already gotten calls from several shareholders this morning. They all want to pull their investments.” Sean rubbed his temples, irritation written all over his face. “And with how badly things have been between my grandfather and me lately, there’s
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 42
In the examination room of St. North Hospital, Levi studied the scans that had just arrived. His expression darkened. “Miss Xander’s condition has worsened.” William remained silent, his entire presence exuding an oppressive coldness that seemed to lower the temperature of the room. Carter stood off to the side, barely daring to breathe. Layla had been doing well for a while. She had even gone on a business trip with William recently. At times, he had almost forgotten she was sick. But reality had slapped him hard across the face. When he had carried her into the hospital earlier, this six-foot-tall guy had nearly broken down in tears. She had been so full of life just moments ago, and suddenly, she had collapsed. How was he supposed to handle that? “Why did she pass out?” William’s deep voice broke the heavy silence. Carter scrambled to respond. “Today… I took her to a shoot. I never expected to run into Xena at the studio.“When I went to work, I even t
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 43
If William weren’t afraid of scaring Layla, he would’ve tied her up and taken her to the hospital for chemo himself. He wasn’t great with words, but he had the people and the power to make it happen. The only reason he hadn’t was because he couldn’t bring himself to force her. “Whether you like it or not, you’re getting the treatment.” His tone left no room for argument, edged with a kind of forced arrogance—like he had to act tough just to make sure she listened. Layla didn’t fully understand why he cared so much, but as she looked at the people surrounding her bed, something inside her softened. The people she had loved—her own family—had all been waiting for her to die. Yet it was outsiders who were fighting to keep her alive. She had spent so long clawing her way up, thinking the people above would pull her to safety—only for them to stomp on her hands instead. And as she fell, she finally realized there were hands beneath her, holding her up. She had wanted
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 44
“Almost doesn’t count.”Layla’s tone remained indifferent as she turned to Levi. “Dr. Young, I’m heading out.” “Alright.” Levi nodded and was about to walk her to the door when Susan suddenly stepped in their way. “Dr. Young, don’t even think about running off! I tracked you down all the way here. I’m getting my appointment today, no matter what.” Then she turned to Layla with a smug smile, her voice dripping with mockery. “I know you’re doing this on purpose. You’re bitter that things didn’t work out with my son, aren’t you?” She let out a self-satisfied laugh before adding in a sickly sweet tone, “But you really shouldn’t be so upset. You should be happy for him instead! Isn’t there a saying? True love means letting go. Surely you want Sean to have a better life, don’t you?” After hearing that, Levi finally put the pieces together. Layla’s engagement had fallen apart, and she had caused an uproar at Sean’s company. The whole ordeal had made waves, and Levi ha
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 45
The words Layla had just spoken weren’t just blunt truths. She had driven a wedge between Susan and Xena, planting a thorn right where it would hurt. *As Layla stepped out of the hospital, she spotted Carter in the distance, standing in the sunlight with an oversized bouquet in his arms. His grin was even brighter than the red roses he held. The flowers were bold and vibrant, but his smile was even more dazzling. Layla walked toward him, shaking her head with a helpless smile. “Is all this really necessary?” “Of course! From now on, every time you finish a round of chemo and get discharged, I’m bringing you flowers. And on the day you fully recover, I’ll bring a whole truckload!” Carter stuffed the bouquet into her arms. “Sis, you’re prettier than any flower.” Layla didn’t respond, just smiled softly. She knew he was mostly just trying to make her feel better. After all, she was well aware of how she looked. The chemo had drained so much from her, leaving her
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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
