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Chapter 396
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 397
Scarlett shot to her feet and stormed toward the door, ready to confront Layla—only to be stopped by Ivan, who rushed in just in time.“Aunt Scarlett, where are you going? William hasn’t even woken up yet. You should be with him.”“Move!” she shouted, shoving at him with all her strength. But Ivan held firm, refusing to budge.“Please, calm down,” he said urgently. “William’s condition isn’t critical. Once he wakes up, we can get the full story. But right now, we can’t blame Miss Xander.”Scarlett was furious. “You’re still defending her? Are you trying to get William killed too?”“No!” Ivan was growing desperate. “I’m just stating the facts. This crash was anything but normal. Miss Xander had no idea it was coming. She’s the one who brought William to the hospital. She stayed up all night with him!“She was the one who asked me to suppress the news. Because of that, we avoided a PR nightmare. She’s done everything she could to help. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 398
At the Harris estate, the moment Gwen heard that William had been in a car accident, she shot to her feet.“I have to go see him!”Mrs. Harris Sr. grabbed her hand, frowning. “What’s the rush? Didn’t the Lucases say he’s not seriously hurt?”Gwen pressed her lips together. “But Grandma, the only reason William didn’t show up last night was because of the accident. Are you still angry with him?”“And that accident happened a little too conveniently, don’t you think?” Mrs. Harris Sr. snapped.“Grandma! You can’t just assume things like that. Do you really think William would risk his life just to get out of an engagement?”Seeing Gwen’s tone shift, Mrs. Harris Sr. frowned. “Look at you—raising your voice to me over this boy.”“I just think it’s unfair,” Gwen said quietly.“You’re letting your feelings cloud your judgment.”Mrs. Harris Sr. gave her a pointed look. “I asked their man for details about the accident and he couldn’t give me a straight answer. He didn’t ev
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 399
“That accident felt way too convenient,” Wilson said, narrowing his eyes at Ivan. “What really happened?”Given how worked up Wilson had been earlier, Ivan knew he couldn’t keep him in the dark any longer. He gave him a look and motioned toward the window, away from the bedroom door.Keeping his voice low, Ivan spoke cautiously, always watching the door out of the corner of his eye.When he finished explaining everything, Wilson was visibly stunned. “Someone was trying to hurt Miss Xander?”“Yeah. The driver’s still in the ICU. No idea when he’ll wake up.”Ivan’s brows drew together, his expression tight. “I read the report from the scene. For the impact to be that severe, the other car had to be going fast and with all that traffic on the overpass…“If William hadn’t swerved to block it, it could’ve caused a multi-car pile-up. And if Layla had been the one brought to the hospital instead, her injuries might’ve been a lot worse.”“Wait… are you saying—” Wilson’s face went
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 400
“Don’t tell her I’m awake. And don’t let her come to the hospital,” William said quietly.Ivan frowned. “Why not? She’s been running herself ragged for you. She even made me promise to notify her the moment you woke up…”“Not until I know whether this accident had anything to do with me,” William cut in, his voice calm and unreadable.What Ivan didn’t know was that William had been awake for a while—long enough to overhear the full story Ivan shared about the car crash.Layla had just returned to the country. She couldn’t possibly have made any enemies dangerous enough to try and kill her.And yet the timing of the crash was too perfect. It happened the same night the two families were supposed to meet.Whoever orchestrated it clearly wanted to use Layla to throw him off and keep him from showing up.William’s eyes darkened. “I’ll have someone keep an eye on her—discreetly.”Ivan hesitated. “But… won’t she be really hurt by this?”“Will she?” William closed his eyes slow
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 401
Wilson stood frozen in place, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. “What kind of messed-up fate is this?”*Ever since leaving the hospital that day, Layla had been waiting at home for news from Ivan.By early Monday morning, she couldn’t help herself. She sent him a message asking about William’s condition.Before she got a reply, the doorbell rang.She got up to answer it and was immediately met with an enormous bouquet of flowers, followed by Hannah’s grinning face.Layla blinked in surprise. “Hannah? How did you even get my address?”“I was planning to stop by your studio today to check out the photos and maybe drag you out for lunch.” Hannah stepped inside, holding the bouquet. “But when I asked around, I found out you hadn’t been to work at all. Not only that—you pushed back your entire week’s schedule.“So, I asked your assistant for your address and came straight here. First time visiting, figured I’d bring a little housewarming gift.”She handed over the flow
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 402
Hannah finally spoke after a long pause. “Layla, I want to start my own fashion magazine. And I want you to be the lead photographer. What do you think?“I’ve got connections in the entertainment industry. You've got the talent and the name. With the two of us working together, there’s no way this magazine fails.“If we do this right, we could turn it into one of the top fashion magazines in the country. People would be lining up just to get a cover.“It’s the fastest way to turn your skills into money. Like a money tree...”“Hannah.”Layla gently cut her off, her gaze suddenly more serious. “That all sounds great. And I do remember you used to talk about starting your own fashion magazine. But have you forgotten what you said back then?”Back then, Hannah had deliberately gotten close to her because she wanted to convince her to start a fashion magazine together.But at the time, Layla was still studying under Jenny, with a lot left to learn. Hannah, too, was immersed in
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 403
Before Layla could respond, Hannah picked up her bag and walked out.As she stepped out of the elevator, Hannah got a call.Her tone was clearly irritated. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for my update?”“She still hasn’t agreed?” The voice on the other end sounded displeased.“It’s almost settled. I already brought it up with her. Once she reviews the launch proposal, she’ll get back to me.”Hannah rubbed her temple with one hand, frustrated. “Don’t rush me. You’ll hear something soon.”“Fine. I’ll give you a bit more time.”The call abruptly ended.Hannah lowered her phone and muttered under her breath, annoyed, “So damn pushy.”*A whole day passed, and Layla still hadn’t heard back from Ivan. At dawn, she made up her mind to head to the hospital.But just as she was about to enter the main doors, several bodyguards suddenly rushed out and blocked her path.Then came Scarlett’s voice, “What are you doing at the hospital?”“I’m here to see Mr. Lucas.”Layla turned to find Sc
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 604
“Get her out of here!” At Scarlett’s command, the bodyguards stepped forward.Ivan quickly moved to shield Layla, turning to plead with Scarlett. “Aunt Scarlett, can’t you just ask her to leave? There’s no need to get physical. I’ll walk Miss Xander out, okay?”As he spoke, he gently nudged Layla’s arm. “Miss Xander, come with me.”Layla’s mind was still spinning. She couldn’t make sense of anything.William had been in that car accident because of her and now he didn’t even want to see her? How could that possibly make sense?Seeing her frozen in place, Scarlett snapped impatiently, “Letting you leave on your own is already me being generous. You, more than anyone, should know why William’s in the hospital right now.“He’s done so much for you, and all you’ve ever done is hurt him. Do you even have a conscience?“Let me be clear today. William and Gwen will absolutely end up together. Our families will see to it. They’re the perfect match.“You, on the other hand—you’re jus
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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
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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
