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Chapter 412
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 413
Just as Scarlett was finally winding down her rant, William reached over and pressed her arm, signaling her with a look to stop talking.But at this point, it was already too late. Everything that should have been said and plenty that shouldn’t, had already come spilling out of her mouth.For a moment, an awkward silence settled over the room.Mr. Lucas Sr. cleared his throat a few times before speaking. “All I said was one sentence, and you fired back with a whole speech. Was that really necessary?“You always have to have the last word, huh? Must be nice to always think you’re right.”Scarlett scoffed, clearly still not backing down. “William didn’t stay away from home because he was rebellious. He stayed away because he was working his tail off for Lucas Corporation. I’m proud of him.“And now that he’s finally back home, it just shows he’s filial and still cares about family. I’m just as happy about that.”In Scarlett’s mind, William could do no wrong. No matter what the sit
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 414
Ever since William moved back into the Lucas family estate, the atmosphere around the house had felt complicated.The only person who seemed genuinely happy about it was Scarlett. She was completely in her element, busy every day fussing over William, making soups and cooking up all kinds of dishes to help him recover.In front of her, William would play along and take a few polite sips. But the moment she left the room, the rest of the soup always ended up in Carter’s stomach.Carter groaned, practically on the verge of tears. “Uncle William, if I keep drinking like this, my manager’s seriously going to lose it. I’ve got a photoshoot next week for new promo pictures. There’s no way I can keep helping you with this.“Oh, speaking of the shoot,” Carter squinted at William, a little too knowingly, “I’m actually having Layla do it this time.”Then, as if remembering something important, Carter narrowed his eyes. “By the way, you didn’t tell her you moved back home, did you?”William
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 415
Lately, Carter had made a habit of secretly snapping photos of William’s daily life and sending them to Layla.Even though Layla’s replies were always short and half-hearted, Carter didn’t mind one bit. In fact, he was starting to understand why paparazzi loved their jobs. There was just something about sneaking around snapping secret photos that felt dangerously exciting.“Why are you so invested in getting Layla and Uncle William together anyway?” Carly asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.Carter blinked, then answered without hesitation. “Isn’t it obvious? I just think they’re a perfect match.”Carly frowned, her gaze drifting toward William’s room, her expression complicated. “Shouldn’t Gwen be the better match? In terms of family background, education, she and Uncle William are on the same level.“She can offer him way more than Layla ever could.“Layla doesn’t even come close to Gwen. Her own family didn’t even want her. She—”“She’s the one who walked away from them
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 416
Not long after Gwen left the Lucas estate, Carter strolled right into William’s room.“Uncle William, what were you two talking about just now? Why did Gwen leave after barely twenty minutes?” Carter asked curiously.“Nothing at all,” William replied.Then, as if casually, he glanced over at Carter. “Did you send those photos to Layla?”Carter froze for half a second before immediately playing dumb. “Uh... what photos? What are you talking about?”William didn’t answer. He just looked at Carter, calm and steady, like he could see right through every bit of his terrible acting.Carter lasted all of three seconds before raising both hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I admit it! I snuck some pictures. If you’re mad, go ahead — yell at me, ground me, take my phone.”“Let me see them.”“Huh?”When William extended his hand, Carter finally realized he wasn’t joking and reluctantly handed over his phone. “I sent them to her already but she didn’t reply.“That’s pretty normal for her.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 417
“You’re already discouraged and the show hasn’t even aired yet? That’s so not like you.” As Layla spoke, something else occurred to her. “By the way, why didn’t you and the Best Actor shoot your promo photos together?”Carter’s expression darkened immediately at the mention of it. “He wanted to hire Eason Lopez.”Just saying the name had Carter grumbling under his breath. “His whole pitch was that this drama’s supposed to be a huge hit, so of course the promo photos had to be done by some big-shot photographer to set the tone right from the start.“Everyone knows I don’t get along with Eason, so of course I didn’t agree. After a few rounds of meetings, the producers finally compromised and let us shoot separately.”Layla nodded thoughtfully. “I see.”Carter frowned. “Sis, how are you not mad about this at all? They were basically looking down on your studio.”“Everyone has their own choices,” Layla replied calmly. “Maybe he just thinks Eason’s style suits him better.”She smil
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 418
Outside the studio, Carter climbed into the passenger seat of Layla’s car, only to realize there was already someone sitting in the back.He turned and immediately groaned. “Sis, why’d you bring her along?”Carly, sitting comfortably in the backseat, rolled her eyes at him. Without saying a word, she popped in her wireless earbuds and crossed her arms. She leaned back and promptly closed her eyes to nap.Seeing that only made Carter even more annoyed. “Hey, I’m still technically your older cousin, you know. Ever heard of basic manners?”“She’s been working all day. Let her rest for a bit,” Layla said casually as she started the car. “Besides, she’s coming with me to check out the photo display at the gala tonight. It’ll be a good learning experience for her.”Carter stared at the two of them, back and forth, looking deeply troubled. “Wait... you guys aren’t seriously planning to show up to the gala dressed like this, are you?”Layla didn’t answer. She just smiled faintly.Carter
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 419
For a brief moment, the air grew awkward and tense. No one at the scene had expected Layla to be this blunt.Carter, on the other hand, was absolutely loving it. “That’s how you shut down fake people,” he silently remarked. No way was he letting that little fake angel act of Xena’s get any screen time tonight.Layla couldn’t be bothered to waste another word on the Xander family. She turned back to Mrs. Jackson and asked calmly, “Would it be alright if I took another look at the photos?”Snapping out of her daze, Mrs. Jackson nodded quickly. “Of course! I’ll have someone take you over right now.”Layla gave a polite nod. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”As Layla and her group walked away, Mr. Xander fumed behind them.“Look at her attitude,” he muttered bitterly. “Are we really supposed to keep lowering ourselves just to talk to her?”“Dad, maybe she’s just in a bad mood…” Xena chimed in softly, playing the pitiful daughter role to perfection. “Now that the Lucas and Harris famil
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 420
Hearing that, both Mr. and Mrs. Xander's expressions turned a little stiff.Fortunately, the guest had only been making polite conversation and didn’t press further. Before long, he was pulled away by friends to talk about the auction items.Mrs. Xander stared at the photos still playing across the large screen, her voice low and thoughtful. “Honey, if Layla were still our daughter, don’t you think we’d be basking in her success tonight instead of standing here, hoping no one remembers we’re even related to her?”Now, here they were, standing awkwardly on the sidelines, doing everything they could to avoid attention. The last thing they wanted was for anyone to remember they were Layla’s family. Even worse was the fear that someone might recall just how foolishly they had cut ties with her in the first place.The more Mrs. Xander thought about it, the worse she felt. Eventually, all of that frustration and regret built up into a long, heavy sigh.Mr. Xander still had not said a wo
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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
