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Chapter 47
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 48
When they arrived at the dessert shop, Carter eagerly followed a viral food review to make sure they ordered the best items. He then grinned proudly at Layla. “Sis, I guarantee you’ll love this!” Layla chuckled. “Then I’ll thank you in advance.” Living at Luxe Villa was peaceful, almost too peaceful. No one could bother her, but sometimes, it felt a little too quiet. William was always out early and back late, and since Layla had been resting to recover, sleeping early and waking up late, they barely crossed paths. Luckily, Carter visited whenever he had free time, keeping her from feeling completely suffocated in the massive mansion. Tonight’s meal was on her—no question about it. With that in mind, she took the opportunity to slip away to the register while Carter was in the restroom, intending to pay the bill. As she turned around, she bumped into someone. Just as she was about to apologize, a familiar cologne filled her senses. Layla’s expression froze.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 49
Overwhelmed by emotion, Sean finally lost control. He strode over to Layla’s table, slammed his hands down, and leaned in close, eyes locked onto hers. “Having fun?” Layla didn’t even flinch. “Watching my ex go on a blind date? Pretty entertaining, actually.” "Ex." That single word hit Sean like a punch to the gut. His jaw clenched as he grabbed her wrist, his grip tightening. “How far are you going to take this? Do you even realize you almost destroyed the company?” Layla blinked. “Excuse me?” Wasn’t he the one who had nearly tanked his own company? Cutting corners, forcing violent evictions—those were all his brilliant decisions. None of it had anything to do with her. Her expression turned cold as she looked him dead in the eye. “Sean, do you ever get tired of barking at people like a rabid dog?” “Haha.” Sean let out a sharp laugh, his eyes filled with anger. “Still playing innocent? If it weren’t for you running to William, how else would he have known
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 50
Layla barely had an appetite, despite the dessert shop’s well-earned reputation. Noticing her mood, Carter didn’t push her to stay any longer and drove her back to Luxe Villa early. As she stepped out of the car, he hesitated before asking, “Sis, are you upset with Uncle William because of what Sean said?” “No.” Layla shook her head. “Just drive safe on your way back.” With that, she turned and walked toward the villa without looking back. Carter could only sigh and lower his head to send William a quick message, giving him a brief rundown of what had happened at the dessert shop. The message was delivered, but William only glanced at it before the sound of the front door opening pulled his attention away. At the entrance, Layla changed into her slippers and glanced at the shoe cabinet. A pair of men’s dress shoes sat neatly in place. He’s back early today. She entered the living room and met William’s gaze. Neither of them spoke. The air between them w
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 51
“Mind your own business.” Carter shoved his hands into his pockets, his usual carefree attitude on full display. “You should focus on Sean instead. If you're not careful, one of these blind dates might actually work out, and then you’ll be out of the picture.” Xena’s expression darkened. “What did you just say?” “Oh, you didn’t know?” Carter chuckled. “Guess that says a lot. A huge thing like this, and Sean didn’t even bother telling you.” Xena’s face turned even paler. “That’s impossible. Sean wouldn’t go on a blind date.” “Why not? I saw it with my own eyes. And really, what do I gain from lying to you?” Carter smirked, raising a teasing eyebrow. “Believe it or don’t. It doesn’t matter to me.” With that, he turned and strolled away, leaving Xena standing frozen in place, her hands clenched into fists. She knew Sean well enough to be sure that he wouldn’t agree to a blind date—not at a time like this. That only meant one thing. His mother, Susan, must have s
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 52
“That’s right! My sister is the ultimate lifesaver!” Carter strode up beside Layla, only then noticing her tightly shut eyes. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sis, relax. We’re all decent people here.” He had only been joking earlier, but apparently, Layla had taken his words at face value. “Uncle William had some friends over for a card game, and he’s been wiping the floor with them. At this rate, they’ll be lucky to leave with their boxers still on.”Layla’s expression went blank for a moment. She opened her eyes and shot Carter a glare. Carter only laughed harder. “Let me introduce you.” He pointed casually around the room. “This is Ivan Dixon, that’s Wilson Harris, and I assume you already know Dr. Levi Young.” Their last names alone were enough to trace them back to their influential families.They were from the Four Great Families of North City. The Lucas family stood at the top, followed by the Dixon, Harris, and Young families.In their world, high society
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 53
An hour passed. Layla had warmed up to Ivan and the others, chatting and playing effortlessly. Watching her, William’s gaze darkened slightly. She had just won another round and was eager to continue when a firm grip locked around her wrist. Before she could react, she was pulled to her feet. “It's late. Time to go home.” With that, William casually slung his suit jacket over his shoulder and led Layla out of the lounge. As the two of them disappeared through the doorway, Ivan raised an eyebrow. “Is William actually starting to fall for someone?” “Have you ever seen him in a bad mood over a woman?” Wilson countered. They had all grown up together and knew William’s temperament inside and out. He was always calm, cautious, and impossible to read.He had always seemed above worldly desires—untouchable, composed, as if love and lust had no place in his world.Yet tonight, the moment William walked in, they could tell something was off. And as soon as Layla appear
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 54
Xena hurriedly gathered her things, forcing a casual smile before stepping out of the bathroom. Her mother stood outside, holding a cup of warm milk, her brows furrowed in suspicion. “What took you so long to open the door?” “Nothing, just using the bathroom.” Xena took the milk with a sweet expression. “Mom, it’s already late. You should get some rest.” Just as her mother was about to turn away, her gaze dropped to Xena’s feet. Her frown deepened. “Why are you still wearing your heels?” “I…” Xena’s mind raced. Without missing a beat, she clutched her stomach with her free hand. “I had an upset stomach. Had to rush.” Her mother’s concern grew instantly. “Did you eat something bad? Do you need me to get you some medicine?” “No, no need.” Xena quickly shook her head. “It’s not that bad anymore. I’ll be fine after some sleep.” Her mother hesitated for a moment before sighing. “Alright, just take care of yourself.” The moment she left, Xena shut the door behin
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 55
Kiera clutched the fabric of her dress, hesitating for a long moment before finally speaking in a small voice. “Miss Xander, aren’t you going to ask me anything?” Layla didn’t even spare her a glance. Instead, she responded lazily, “Shouldn’t you be the one asking me something?” Kiera stiffened. Carter glanced between them, sensing that the atmosphere was a little off. Trying to smooth things over, he offered a friendly nudge. “Miss Jenkins, if you have something to say, just get to the point. My sister isn’t a fan of beating around the bush.” “I…” After a deep breath, Kiera finally found the courage. “You saw it the other day. I went on a blind date with Sean.” “Yeah, we’re not blind.” Carter leaned forward, looking intrigued. “You’re here because of that scumbag?” “He’s not—” Kiera instinctively wanted to defend him, but as her gaze flickered to Layla, the words caught in her throat. “Miss Xander, I just wanted to ask… why did you call off the engagement?”
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 505
Inside the car, Layla caught a glimpse of Mr. Xander through the rearview mirror, hurling his cane several feet in a fit of rage. A cold smirk tugged at her lips.The Xander family really hadn’t changed one bit. They only showed kindness to people they could use. They acted like their condescension was generosity, then expected gratitude in return.But to her, this so-called “Xander bloodline” was nothing but bad luck.Shaking off the thought, she turned up the volume on the stereo, letting the music drown out the lingering irritation. If anything, she felt even more satisfied than before.Humming along to the tune, she swung by the market and picked up groceries before heading home.When she got off the elevator, she walked over and rang the doorbell to William’s apartment.Just as the door opened, a woman’s voice called from inside, “William, I ordered food from Stonebridge Bistro. Let’s have dinner together tonight!”William gave a quick explanation, “That’s my mom.”He glan
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 504
The internal review meeting wrapped up smoothly, and everyone left the conference room full of confidence.That afternoon, the finalized promo video was handed over to Fabian, who would submit it to the local publicity office for the final round of approval.With nothing left to do until feedback came in, Layla gave the whole team a well-deserved break.By the time the workday ended, the office had completely emptied out.Layla stayed behind to chat with Fabian after receiving a message from him, and as a result, she ended up being the last one to leave the studio.After locking the front door, she headed toward her car out of habit, thinking about stopping by the market on the way home. She was planning to cook dinner and invite William over.She didn’t notice the stern figure getting out of a nearby car—her father.“Layla Xander.”She turned at the sound of his voice and met his displeased gaze, her brow twitching slightly.With a cane in hand, Mr. Xander approached her, his
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 503
After thinking it over, William figured the whole thing felt more like a guilt-trip performance. It seemed like Scarlett was putting on an emotional act to pressure him into going back to the Lucas family. The only question was how long she planned to keep it up.Still, Scarlett had been pampered all her life. Living in his place, with no one to wait on her hand and foot, she probably wouldn’t last long. Sooner or later, she would give up and leave.With that in mind, William didn’t bother chasing her out. He simply gave her a cold warning. “You can stay. But don’t cause trouble for Layla.”“No problem at all!”Scarlett agreed far too quickly. “I already made up my mind before I came. I won’t interfere in your love life ever again. You can count on that.”William was rendered speechless and frowned. Now he was even more certain. Something about her behavior just wasn’t right.*Meanwhile, Layla had left early that morning. The roads were clear, and after a smooth half-hour drive
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 502
“No, thanks.”Layla gave a tired smile and gently turned down William’s offer. “I have an early meeting tomorrow, and eating late messes with my sleep.“Mr. Lucas, you should get some rest too. Good night.”With that, she walked past him and returned to her apartment, closing the door behind her without hesitation.The sound of the door clicking shut made William frown slightly. Something felt off.Meanwhile, Layla stood in the entryway, slipping off her shoes as her mind wandered.“Layla Xander, you ruined him. You ruined the Lucas family,” she thought to herself.Gwen’s harsh words echoed suddenly in her mind, stirring the emotions she had tried to bury.All this time, she had avoided thinking too deeply about William’s choices. She was afraid that if she read too much into them, she would just end up fooling herself.But after seeing Gwen today, it finally hit her.William had stepped down from his pedestal for her. And she was still pretending not to see it.If the dista
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 501
“You’re a perfectly decent young woman. Why do you have to go and steal someone else’s man?”“Hannah,” Layla gently tugged on Hannah’s sleeve, giving her a look to stop.As Gwen walked toward the lounge door, Layla spoke up calmly, “The matching engagement ring—the woman’s one. You don’t have it, do you?”Gwen paused for a second at the doorway but didn’t reply. Without looking back, she walked out.That was all the answer Layla needed.She had suspected for a while that Gwen didn’t have the ring.William had always worn the man’s band. And knowing how much Gwen loved him, there was no way she would have hidden the woman’s ring if it had truly been hers.Now it seemed clear that he had never given that ring to anyone. Not yet.“What was that question about?” Hannah asked, suspicious.Layla snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh… nothing. I was just curious.”Hannah rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Seriously? That’s all you had to say after everything Gwen just threw at you? Y
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 500
“I know William went south with you this past month. He stayed by your side the entire time. He’s shown, through his actions, that his heart and eyes are only on you.”Gwen stared straight at Layla, her voice dry and strained. “You told me yourself that you had feelings for him. And now that he’s gone this far for you, you must be proud of yourself, aren’t you?”But she didn’t give Layla a chance to respond. Instead, she pressed on.“Because of you, William was kicked out of the Lucas family. He was forced out of Lucas Corporation. His mom and Mr. Lucas Sr., a couple who’d been loving and devoted for decades, had their worst fight ever. She even moved back in with her family.“If Mr. Lucas Sr. hadn’t landed in the hospital from the stress, she still wouldn’t have forgiven him. The entire Lucas family is in chaos—all because of you.“The William I knew was always calm, reliable, never made his parents worry.“He’s the most capable man I’ve ever met. He was meant to lead Lucas Corp
