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Chapter 49
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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?”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 56
Nearly a month had passed since Layla’s first round of chemotherapy, and now it was time for her second. The pain from the last session was still fresh in her memory, making her reluctant to return to the hospital. She kept putting it off, dragging her feet whenever it was time for a checkup. That afternoon, she was curled up in bed, wrapped in a blanket, enjoying a lazy nap when the sound of the door opening startled her. She bolted upright, only to see William, dressed in a sharp suit, striding toward her with purpose. Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist. Layla’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you doing?” “Taking you to the hospital.” “I’m not going—” William didn’t even give her the chance to refuse. Without hesitation, he bent down and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her straight out of the room. “Put me down!” Layla struggled, but it was useless. To her surprise, William was ridiculously strong. And he still had the audacity to ask,
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 57
Mr. Xander spoke firmly. “This isn’t the time or place. Everyone, keep quiet until we get the results.”At that, the room fell silent. The dramatic scene finally came to an end. At first, Layla had been watching with amusement, enjoying the spectacle. But now, as the commotion died down, her gaze landed on the identical looks of concern on the Xander family’s faces. A dull, delayed ache slowly curled around her heart.Xena had only taken a fall, yet her whole family was in a panic over it. And her? Here she was, going through her second round of chemotherapy alone—no one even asked. A mischievous, almost vengeful thought popped into her head. What if she walked over right now, greeted them casually, and said she was here for chemo? How would they react? Would they cry and fuss over her too? The idea took root, and before she knew it, she was already standing up, resentment swelling in her chest. Just as she was about to take a step forward, something sof
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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
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
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
