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Chapter 421
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 422
As the evening drew to a close, Mrs. Jackson took the stage to thank all the guests who had participated in the charity auction.“And before we wrap up,” she added with a warm smile, “there’s one more person I’d like to thank — Begonia.”The spotlight shifted, landing directly on Layla.She stood there in simple business attire, her hair loosely tied up in a messy bun. Even without elaborate makeup or fancy clothes, her understated elegance still stood out effortlessly. If anything, her casual look only added to her calm, artist’s charm.Bathed in the light, with all eyes on her, Layla looked calm and composed.“I was truly honored to have Miss Xander photograph my collection,” Mrs. Jackson continued. “Every photo she took was made with heart, and every single one is worth treasuring.“This charity gala turned out to be even more successful than I could have hoped, and it’s all thanks to Miss Xander’s incredible work. Her photos brought out the beauty of these pieces in a way tha
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 423
Mrs. Jackson reached out her hand with a warm smile. “It’s truly been a pleasure working with you, Miss Xander. I hope we’ll have the chance to collaborate again.”Layla shook her hand but didn’t let go right away.“Would you mind passing along a message for me?” Layla said calmly. “Please thank whoever it was that gave me such a huge honor tonight.”She paused, her voice steady. “But I don’t like taking credit for something I didn’t do. I don’t want to owe anyone, and I definitely don’t want to benefit from someone else’s generosity. When the donation goes through, please make sure my name isn’t mentioned.”Layla hadn’t brought it up earlier because she didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere of the charity event. But in private, she wasn’t about to let things stay unclear.Mrs. Jackson was slightly surprised. “Miss Xander, there’s really no need to—”Layla cut her off politely but firmly. “Please, Mrs. Jackson.”Finally, she let go of Mrs. Jackson’s hand and turned to leave. “It’s
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 424
Mrs. Xander turned to look at Mr. Xander, her voice full of worry. “Felix was clearly upset tonight. Do you think he’s going to come after our family again?”“He won’t,” Mr. Xander replied, his expression dark and grim. “If he was willing to come crawling back and make peace before, that means someone behind the scenes must have warned him. Right now isn’t the time for him to burn bridges with the Xander family.”As he spoke, Mr. Xander turned to Xena. “You’d better watch yourself these days. Keep him happy. Don’t give him any reason to lose his temper again. We don’t need any more trouble.”“Dad!” Xena stared at him in disbelief. “It’s not even my fault he’s mad. Why should I be the one to put up with this and take the blame?”“Xena, that’s not what your father meant,” Mrs. Xander quickly stepped in, pulling her daughter’s hand gently. “He just wants you and Felix to get along. If you can marry into the Perry family, it’ll be a huge advantage for us.”Mr. Xander’s tone hardened.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 425
Mr. Lucas Sr. didn’t even look up from the chessboard as he barked at Carter. “What, nobody taught you to knock before coming in? What, your mom never taught you manners?”Carter slumped in defeat. “I’ll remember next time.”“Sit.”Carter dragged himself over and dropped into a chair, eyeing the chessboard like it might bite him. He muttered under his breath, “But Grandpa, I don’t even know how to play chess. What am I supposed to be sitting here for?”“Then learn.”Mr. Lucas Sr. shot him a sharp glare. “You spend all your time out fooling around. What good is that gonna do you? You should take advantage of the time your uncle is staying here and learn something from him.”Carter could not have felt more wronged. “I’m not out playing, I’m working.”“What kind of job keeps you out this late, huh? Don’t try to fool me.” Mr. Lucas Sr. picked up a chess piece and knocked it against Carter’s head. “Your dad’s overseas, so it’s up to me to keep an eye on you. I’m only nagging you so
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 426
The next morning dawned bright and clear, with perfect weather for a day out.In high spirits, Mr. Lucas Sr. decided to bring the whole family out to their countryside villa for an overnight trip. It wasn’t often he suggested something like this, so naturally, no one dared say no.And just like that, several luxury cars pulled out of the Lucas estate, one after another.William shared a car with Scarlett and Mr. Lucas Sr., and from the rearview mirror, he could clearly see the cars trailing behind them.“William, ever since you’ve been home, your dad’s mood has been so much better,” Scarlett said happily. “Honestly, he looks like he’s ten years younger.“You know, now that your father and I are getting older, what we love most is seeing the whole family together like this. Days like today, all of us going somewhere together — that’s real happiness.“Oh, and I invited Gwen to meet us at the villa later. Your arm still isn’t fully healed. You’ll need help fishing, and she’s perfect
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 427
Lucien fell silent.The atmosphere in the car grew heavy, and even Zion quietly shut his mouth.It took nearly two hours for the entire Lucas family convoy to finally arrive at their countryside estate.Scarlett, who had been carsick the whole ride, perked up the moment she spotted Gwen and Mrs. Harris Sr. waiting outside the villa.As soon as the car stopped, Scarlett hurried over with a bright smile. “Mrs. Harris Sr., you came all this way too? Gwen didn’t mention a word about it to me.”Mrs. Harris Sr. kept her usual stern expression. “We’re just here to take a look. No need to make a fuss about it.”She paused, then added, “I heard William was in an accident. I should have come sooner, but these days… age catches up with me. My health isn’t what it used to be.”Scarlett’s smile grew even more earnest. “Just having you here means so much to us. William’s lucky to have elders like you who care about him.”She quickly turned to call William over. “William, come thank Mrs. Harr
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 428
Hearing that, Scarlett’s heart sank a little. “Mrs. Harris Sr., may I ask who did you invite?”“Who else? The hottest photographer in town these days — Begonia,” Mrs. Harris Sr. replied calmly. “It’s not every day the whole family gets together like this. I figured it’d be nice to have her come by and take some photos for everyone to remember the day.”“Grandma, why would you…” One sharp look from Mrs. Harris Sr., and Gwen immediately shut her mouth.The other Lucas family ladies exchanged glances. It was obvious to everyone now that Mrs. Harris Sr. came fully prepared.Scarlett’s face twitched slightly, but she forced a light laugh. “Mrs. Harris Sr., it’s just a few photos for memory’s sake. There’s really no need to trouble a professional photographer. We’ve got plenty of staff here who can help take pictures.”“That’s way too casual.”Mrs. Harris Sr. took a slow sip of tea, her every move relaxed and effortless, yet her quiet dominance filled the air and pressed down on ever
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 429
“That’s actually a pretty good idea.” Lucien met William’s gaze head-on. “Didn’t expect you to not only let it go but actually want to help the guy. Very generous of you.” The last few words came out with just the slightest edge, his emphasis unmistakable.William smiled faintly, his expression unreadable. “There’s one more thing that’s been bothering me. I had planned to help his kid get treatment, but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to track down the mother and child.”He paused before adding casually, “Word is, someone arranged for them to go overseas for medical treatment. Makes me wonder if that car accident really was just an accident.”“What?” Mr. Lucas Sr.'s voice sharpened instantly. “You think someone was behind it?”“Just a theory,” William replied calmly, his gaze never leaving Lucien’s face. “What do you think, Lucien?”“If someone really orchestrated that crash, then you should definitely get to the bottom of it,” Lucien answered smoothly, his tone open and dir
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“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
