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Chapter 474
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 475
“Mister?” Layla blinked, confused, as a few of the kids came running over and pulled her into the small house. And that was when she saw William. He was completely surrounded by the kids, like he was their favorite person in the world.So this was where he had disappeared to.Neither of them had said a word about their plans. But somehow, they had both ended up in the exact same place, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.“Pretty lady, why did you buy so much stuff?” A little girl tilted her head up, her big round eyes blinking curiously at Layla. Layla smiled, finally snapping out of her thoughts. “These are for you guys. Go ahead and share them.” “Wow! You’re the best, pretty lady!” “Thank you, miss!” One by one, the kids swarmed her like bees to honey. In no time at all, the snacks and toys she brought were divided up and gone. As the kids scattered, Layla watched William walk over. She couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I have to admit, I didn’t p
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 476
“I don't know!” The little boy shouted at the top of his lungs, stubborn as could be, thrashing around with all his strength. “Let me go!”But William didn’t so much as budge. Instead, he calmly hit him with another line, deliberately poking at his pride. “So what? You want to be his accomplice?”“I am not!” The boy practically exploded. “Ryan would never do something like that! He’s not a murderer!”“Yeah! Ryan’s a good person!” “He’s always the one looking out for us!” “He’s never hurt anyone!” One voice after another chimed in, loud and clear, echoing through the small, shabby house. The little girl tugged at Layla’s sleeve, her big eyes full of sincerity. “Pretty lady, Ryan is really a good person. It’s always that other kid, Paul, bragging and showing off. That’s the only reason Ryan ever fought with him.“Ryan would never push Paul into the pond.” She lowered her voice, glancing around nervously. “Paul’s mom is really scary. She’s like a tiger.” Layla smi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 477
“The town isn’t that big. There aren’t many places a kid could hide,” William said with a slight frown. “What worries me is him being out there all alone. It’s not safe.”“I don’t think Ryan really pushed Paul into the water. There’s probably more to the story,” Layla let out a quiet sigh. “Tomorrow, I’m meeting with Fabian and the others to go over the video project anyway. I’ll check in then, see if they learned anything new from visiting Paul.”*The next day, Layla met up with Fabian and the others and gave them a quick rundown of what they had discussed in the video call.Fabian was stunned. “You guys are really willing to make a promo video for our little town?”Layla gave a small nod. “Yeah. My team will be here tomorrow. We should have a script ready within two days. After that, we’ll schedule a meeting with your publicity office to go over the details.”“That’s amazing!”Fabian was over the moon for a second, then scratched his head a little awkwardly. “It’s just… our b
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 478
That night, Layla received a text from William.“We found Ryan. Come to the house.”When she arrived at the little house, the place was already packed with people. And even in the middle of all the chatter, Mrs. Lawson’s voice easily rose above the noise.“You people really gonna keep covering for that little murderer?”“My Paul already told me clear as day. It was him who pushed my boy into the water! A kid that young, already that nasty? What’s he gonna be like when he grows up? Nothing but trouble, that’s what!“He might’ve been born, but clearly nobody raised him right. Well, lucky for him, I’m happy to do the job! Somebody’s gotta teach him a lesson before he hurts somebody else!”Her voice got louder and sharper with every word. Somewhere in the back, a child’s muffled sobbing broke through the commotion.Then came a low, cold voice that cut through everything like a knife.“Are you done?”The room fell dead silent.Layla finally squeezed her way to the front of the cro
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 479
Just then, a small but firm voice spoke up.“I didn’t push him! He tried to hit me, and I dodged. He fell in all by himself!”Layla immediately turned back to Paul, her voice steady but clear. “Is that the truth?”“I…” Paul didn’t even dare lift his head. He clung tightly to Mrs. Lawson’s leg, clearly terrified.“That Ryan kid is nothing but trouble! He’s a wild child. You can’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth,” Mrs. Lawson snapped, hands on her hips as she pointed at Ryan. “My Paul would never hit him. It was that little troublemaker who went after my son!”“That’s not true! Ryan would never do that!”“It’s always Paul picking on us first! Ryan only fought back because of that!”One by one, the kids began to speak up, their voices small but unwavering. Their faces were young and innocent, but their courage was unmistakable.And just then, Fabian’s voice cut through the crowd from outside.“Alright, alright, I’m here.”He walked in with four other kids trailing behin
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 480
Mrs. Lawson froze for a second, like someone had just hit a switch in her brain. Then, without any more hesitation, she turned to the kids and gave a deep bow.“I’m sorry, kids. I jumped to conclusions and scared all of you without knowing the full story. To make it up to you, anytime you come to my restaurant from now on, your meals are on the house. Eat as much as you want, and I hope you can forgive me and forgive Paul.”“For real?” Ryan looked at her suspiciously.“Of course it’s for real!” Mrs. Lawson promised immediately. “Eat as much as you like. If I so much as blink, Paul’s gonna gain ten pounds!”Paul, still sniffling, wailed even louder. It was like he couldn’t believe his own mom would swear on something that backfired directly onto him.Mrs. Lawson shot him a side-eye. “Quit crying already. You did something wrong and you’re still crying? Look at Ryan—he was the one getting blamed and he didn’t shed a single tear. You could stand to learn a thing or two from him.”He
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 481
Still, Ryan’s pride wasn’t about to let him back down that easily. He lifted his chin, stubborn as ever. “That’s only because you caught me off guard. Next time, I won’t let you catch me.”William barely reacted. “Is that so? Then you’d better keep practicing.”“You—!” Ryan glared at him, practically fuming.Layla couldn’t help but laugh quietly, her eyes lingering on William a little longer than they should.She had noticed the change in him ever since he cut ties with the Lucas family. But it wasn’t until now that she finally figured out what it was.He felt different. He was somehow softer and more human.He was not that cold, distant man who always seemed out of reach but someone real and present.Fabian’s voice cut in, breaking the moment. “Honestly, tonight wouldn’t have gone half as smoothly without Mr. Lucas.”He turned to Layla, adding with a grin, “He’s the one who told me to track down those four kids. With their side of the story, Paul had no choice but to tell the
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 482
Once Layla’s crew arrived in town, the promo shoot finally started moving forward step by step.Layla was so busy she barely had time to catch her breath, let alone chat with William. Most nights, the moment her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.As for William, he spent his days quietly hanging around the edge of the filming site, keeping his presence as low-key as possible.But even so, that didn’t stop her crew from whispering among themselves.“Hey, do you think Mr. Lucas and Miss Xander are a thing?”“Who knows? But I gotta say, look at Mr. Lucas showing up here every single day. That level of dedication? Tell me that’s not romantic.”“Pfft. That’s such a double standard. If he’s handsome, it’s romantic. If he’s ugly, it’s creepy.”“True, true.”Bits and pieces of gossip drifted into Layla’s ears, but with so much work to juggle and such a tight deadline, she really didn’t have the energy to care.Besides, deep down, she knew perfectly well that she was already gettin
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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
