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Chapter 73
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 74
In the consultation room, the doctor finished examining Xena and called in the family to explain the situation. “This young lady has signs of a threatened miscarriage. She also has a body type that makes it hard to conceive. If you want to keep this baby, you’ll need to be extremely careful.“She should stay in the hospital for observation for now. By the way, where’s the baby’s father?” “He…” Mrs. Xander’s expression stiffened. After a brief hesitation, she said, “He’s busy with work.” The doctor shook his head. “What could be more important than his child? Never mind, I’ll write up the admission slip. Go pay the fees and get her admitted.” Shane followed the doctor out, while the others stayed behind by Xena’s bedside. Xena’s face was deathly pale. She held her abdomen tightly but said nothing. Mrs. Xander placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Xena,” she said softly, “you saw it yourself… Sean didn’t even come after you. He’s made it clear—he doesn’t want t
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 75
Layla would never forgive her family. She was never coming back.The thought weighed heavily on Chris. He rubbed his temples and muttered, “I’m going for a walk.” *Carter and Mike arrived at the Luxe Villa in a separate car, ten minutes later than Layla. The moment he walked through the door, Carter made a beeline for her. “Sis! Right after you left, Xena ended up in the hospital. Looks pretty bad,” he said, his voice brimming with excitement. “Honestly, I gotta say—Sean’s a piece of work. But watching him nearly drive Xena up the wall? That was so satisfying.“She thought getting knocked up would guarantee her a spot in the Perry family. Joke’s on her—Sean doesn’t give a damn. Hell, he turned around and proposed to you!” The more Carter spoke, the more fired up he got—completely oblivious to the dark cloud settling in William’s eyes. “When Sean proposed, you didn’t say a word. I was this close to thinking you’d gone soft again…” He leaned in, eyes sparkling wi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 76
“Why not?” Carter looked puzzled. “Don’t you love photography? Jenny Jasper is a huge name in street photography…” “I know.” Layla knew Jenny better than anyone. She was the dream Layla once chased. “You know her. You like her. So go.” William, casually picking up the tickets from her hand, added lightly, “I’ll go with you.” Layla froze. “That’s not—” “What’s wrong?” William’s gaze lowered slightly, his tone calm but cool. “You turning me down?” Layla was rendered speechless.Was this… an invitation? Why did it feel more like a threat? Layla sighed. There was no winning against him. Especially when he was the most powerful man in North City. “Well, since Mr. Lucas is interested,” she relented, “let’s go have a look.” Carter, watching from the side, rolled his eyes. Artistic sense? His uncle had none. A photography exhibit? Yeah, right. No way Uncle William actually cared about that. No… Carter’s gaze flicked between the two of them. Wh
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 77
Suddenly, Sean remembered that this photo was the one Layla had asked a friend to buy for her at a photography exhibit. When she first got it, she treated it like a treasure, staring at it every chance she had, as if she couldn’t admire it enough. She used to drag him over, excitedly explaining the composition and the techniques behind the shot. He had always brushed her off, irritated, thinking, “It’s just a photo—what’s there to analyze?” Even now, as he stared at the picture, he couldn’t understand why she loved it so much. Mrs. Lincoln rushed over, snatching the frame from his hands as if afraid he would break it in a fit of anger. “Miss Xander used to wipe this frame clean every single day. She cherished it more than anything,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “Really?” Sean’s voice came out low, laced with a sudden, hollow ache. How had he never known that? “Yeah,” Mrs. Lincoln said, carefully wiping the photo frame, “Miss Xander told me this was
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 78
The exhibit hall spanned two floors, showcasing thousands of Jenny's photographs. Layla guided William through the gallery, her voice filled with passion as she explained each piece in detail. Her eyes sparkled, and a satisfied, joyful smile lit up her face. William, though uninterested in the art itself, kept his attention firmly on Layla. He barely registered her words, but he never looked away from her. The soft indoor lighting cast a gentle glow on her face, bringing color to her cheeks and making her look more vibrant than he had seen in a long time. Since her illness, it had been rare to see her so full of life. It was clear that this was pure, genuine happiness. A subtle smile tugged at William’s lips. “That brat Carter actually did something right for once,” he thought.Midway through the exhibit, Layla stopped in front of a photograph and couldn’t seem to move on. Her almond-shaped eyes shone with fascination. Following her gaze, William saw the image: A
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 79
“Yes!” Layla agreed without hesitation, her heart leaping with excitement, as if she had just won the lottery. With smiles and laughter, Jenny and Layla walked ahead, chatting easily, while William trailed silently behind them. Before long, Jenny was thoroughly impressed by Layla’s insightful critiques. The more they talked, the more Jenny felt a growing sense of connection—like meeting a kindred spirit. Others could only comment on the technical aspects of her photographs, but Layla could see deeper. She grasped the emotions beneath the images and understood the stories Jenny sought to tell. When they finished their tour, Jenny held Layla’s hand, reluctant to part with her newfound companion. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation. “You must have your own portfolio, don’t you?” Jenny asked warmly. Layla nodded. “I do. I used to love photography and took a lot of pictures myself.” “That’s wonderful!” Jenny’s excitement was clear as she reached into he
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 80
Almost on instinct, Layla turned her face away, dodging Sean’s approach. She pushed against his chest with all her strength. “Get off me!” But the difference in strength was too great. She couldn’t budge him. Instead, he seized her wrists and pinned them above her head. The more she struggled, the more excitement flickered in Sean’s eyes. Memories of their most intimate moments surged to the surface, hot and vivid. “What are you running from?” His forehead pressed against hers, his breath heavy and uneven. “It’s not like we haven’t kissed before. Don’t you miss it?” “Disgusting.” Layla’s patience snapped. She spat at him, her eyes burning with loathing. “I feel nothing but disgust!” Sean didn’t even flinch. He wiped the spit away with a cold smirk. “Tell me… have you kissed William? I heard he’s known for keeping his distance from women. Can’t get it up, is that it? Can he satisfy you?” Layla’s blood boiled. Without thinking, she shot back. “He’s bet
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 81
“Wait… isn’t that William Lucas? Damn! The financial magazine cover mogul is gracing us mere mortals with his presence?” “Even in these raw, unedited shots, Mr. Lucas’s long legs are killing it! I swear, I could lick the screen!” “Sean Perry? That guy trended before for being a useless scumbag. Does he even deserve to stand on the same stage as Mr. Lucas?” “Forget the two men—I’m more curious about the woman! She’s the real winner here. Two top-tier guys chasing her? She must be incredible!” *And just like that, public opinion online took a sharp turn. By the end of the night, it wasn’t the two men but Layla Xander who shot to the top of the trending charts. Netizens tried digging into her background.But to their surprise, the Xander family heiress had a resume so bland she could have been anyone off the street. In contrast, her sister, Xena Xander, was a classic high-society darling—studied abroad, hosted solo photography exhibitions, debuted as a popular star
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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
