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Chapter 381
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 382
Since William couldn’t peel Layla’s hands off, he had no choice but to let her sit on his lap. He stayed seated in the back of the car, holding her the whole time—back straight, posture impeccable, radiating gentlemanly restraint.“Stupid rich families… screw your stupid rich families…“So what if you’ve got money? You’re not giving any to me! Acting like you’re some big shot? Go ahead, throw your money at me—see if it knocks me out!”She sniffled, rubbing her teary eyes on his suit jacket. “I’m gonna make money… a lot of money…“I’ll be my own damn rich family…”Then she looked up at him, eyes red and watery, and stared straight at William. “Why don’t you marry into my family?”William was rendered speechless.In the front seat, Mike had been holding back his laughter for ages. When he caught a glimpse of William’s exasperated face in the mirror, he couldn’t hold it anymore. A snort escaped.He had followed William for years but had never seen a woman this bold, this gutsy.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 383
Online, netizens were practically analyzing the photos under a microscope, adding their own imagination into the mix. Before long, the comments had turned into a full-blown soap opera about two heiresses fighting for love in a wealthy family.“Gwen Harris is clearly full of herself just because she comes from a powerful family! That arrogant attitude is practically dripping off the screen. Why are all rich girls the same?”“Let’s be real—she is born superior. She’s the Harris family heiress, and she’s set to marry into the Lucas family. If she looks down on people, honestly, who can blame her?”“Layla Xander isn’t some nobody either, okay? When she launched her studio, a ton of major figures from the art world showed up to support her. You think that kind of backing comes without talent?”“Why are we pitting women against each other? If anyone has a say in this, it’s William Lucas. Let him step up and say who he actually wants!”Just as Gwen was scrolling halfway through the heate
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 384
“Tell Gwen to step out of the car,” William said coldly.Scarlett’s expression darkened. “So you really did come here for Layla Xander. What did she say to you? I bet she didn’t mention how her dear mentor, Jenny Jasper, insulted me in front of everyone, did she?“Your own mother had her face trampled on by an outsider, and you just stand by, saying nothing? Worse, you're actually taking her side?“William Lucas, you’ve really let that woman mess with your head! You’ve lost all sense of right and wrong!”Scarlett stepped forward, planting herself in front of him with her hands on her hips. “If you’re mad about Gwen going to talk to Layla, then blame me. I told her to go. I asked her to stand up for me.“I’m your mother! I raised you for decades! And now you’re telling me that some woman you met halfway through life matters more than I do? Fine. Show me today just what kind of son I raised.”Scarlett’s voice rose with every word, full of heartbreak and accusation.But William rem
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 385
“William,” Gwen said softly, meeting his eyes. “I know that since I came back, all the kindness you've shown me has just been to provoke Layla. You wanted to make her jealous.“Even if I was just a tool,” she added with a sad smile, “I was willing to let you use me…”“You don’t need to be,” William interrupted coldly. “I’ve changed my mind. From now on, I’ll be keeping my distance.”It was clear that he had seen through her.At first, he had treated Gwen like an old friend. He thought she was still the same naive girl from years ago. But when she repeatedly went behind his back to confront Layla, she showed him she wasn’t as innocent as she seemed. More importantly, she wasn’t someone he could control.A woman like that? He couldn’t risk using her again.“And one more thing,” he added. “You’d better stay away from Miss Xander. Don’t appear in front of her again.”It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order and it didn’t require a response.William turned to leave, but Gwen sudden
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 386
The next morning, Layla woke up in the sunlight, her head pounding like crazy. She gasped and winced. “Ugh…”She raised a hand to rub her temples and blindly reached for her phone with the other. When she turned on the screen, she saw several missed calls and messages from Jenny.It was already 10:30 a.m.She had been out cold for nearly twenty-four hours!Layla was stunned. How could those sweet homemade wines hit so hard? She had completely blacked out. The last thing she remembered was stepping out of the private room and having a brief conversation with Gwen.She didn’t even remember what they talked about.And how had she gotten home? She had zero memory of it.Still foggy-headed, Layla scratched at her hair in frustration, then quickly called Jenny back, hoping to piece things together.Jenny answered almost instantly. “Layla, you're finally up! You scared the hell out of me. You've never even had sweet wine before. Why would you down so much of it your first time?“Than
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 387
William’s answer was straightforward.Layla let out a small breath of relief. “So… I just slept the whole way?”“No,” William replied flatly. “You were causing a scene for half the ride.”“Causing a scene?” Layla’s throat tightened. “What kind of scene?”William looked at her, a faint, lazy smile flickering in his eyes. His tone was casual. “You said you wanted to make money. A lot of money. That you were gonna be your own damn rich family.”Layla exhaled again. “That sounds like me… I am pretty shallow.“You said you wanted to marry me.”Layla stared at him, completely dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.“I said that?”“Yep.”She was rendered speechless.Whatever hope she had left just died—completely gone, without a trace.Her mind went totally blank. Then she heard William let out a low chuckle and that only made her more annoyed.“Are you messing with me?” she snapped. “Why would I ever say something like that?”“Mike was in the car too,” Willia
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 388
An hour later, the meeting wrapped up.Layla leaned her elbow on the table, resting her head in her hand, eyes closed as she listened to the sound of people leaving the conference room.Eventually, the room grew quiet.“Are you really going to work tomorrow?”At the sound of the voice, Layla opened her eyes. Not far away, Carly was watching her with a strange look.Layla gave a small laugh. “It’s a weekday. What, am I supposed to take the day off?”“Tomorrow…” Carly frowned slightly, hesitating.As Layla lowered her head to gather her papers, she said casually, “I know tomorrow’s the big day—the Lucas and Harris families meeting.”Carly was caught off guard. The question slipped out without thinking.“Aren’t you going to see my uncle?”Layla didn’t even pause. “What for? There’ll be plenty of chances to congratulate him. No need to rush.”She stood, arms full of folders, her tone light as if joking. “Or do you need to be there too? Want me to approve time off for you?”Carl
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 389
“You're really the owner of QS Entertainment?” Layla asked, clearly surprised.Hannah nodded. “What do you say? Since I’m the boss, think you could give my artist a really great shoot—for me?”Layla smiled. “Even if it weren’t you, I’d still give it everything I’ve got.”“You haven’t changed a bit,” Hannah said with a soft laugh. “Still got nothing but that camera in your head. Totally clueless when it comes to human relationships.”Layla laughed too, giving Hannah a quick once-over. She looked different than Layla remembered—more mature now, with sharper features and a confident air.Her gaze landed on Hannah’s cropped hair, and she couldn't help but sound a little regretful. “Hannah, how could you bear to cut off that gorgeous hair?”Hannah raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t I tell you? I’m just learning from you. You looked amazing with short hair back then.”“That short hair of mine was…” A result of regrowing it after a serious illness.When she first met Hannah, it had only just
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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
