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Chapter 76
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 82
William stood by the floor-to-ceiling window at Luxe Villa, listening to Carter’s endless chatter on the phone.“Uncle William, how could you let the news get out? What is the PR department even doing?“You don’t know—Grandpa nearly blew up when he saw the headlines! He’s demanding you return to the old house immediately to explain yourself.“If he finds out that I was the one who gave you those tickets, I am finished! He would never lay a finger on you, but me? I'd be dead meat!”Carter’s voice was filled with grievance. He had been ranting for a while without getting a single response. But he was used to it. After venting everything, he added seriously, “Uncle William, you have to cover for me.” “I know,” William finally replied. Carter sighed, feeling helpless but somewhat relieved to hear an answer at last. “How is Layla doing?” he asked. William glanced toward the bed. Under the blanket, the figure moved slightly. “She should be awake now,” he replied. He
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 83
“Let’s just pretend I never received the business card today,” Layla thought to herself.“What’s wrong?” Hearing William’s inquiry, Layla quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just too happy. Ever heard of crying tears of joy?” Under the soft light, her tear-filled eyes carried a sadness so deep it was almost shattered. William frowned slightly and, after a brief silence, chose to respect her feelings without confronting her. For a moment, he felt an indescribable heaviness in his chest. He did not linger. After staying with her for a short while, he quietly left the room. *Once inside his study, William immediately made a phone call to Levi. “Offer more money,” he said. “As long as they agree to treat her, no matter the cost, I’ll pay it.” Levi hesitated for a moment. “Is she really worth all of this from you?” “She is,” William replied without a second thought. In that fleeting moment earlier, he felt a single, clear wish—he wanted
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 84
A middle-aged woman stood outside the door, dressed in an elegant silk dress with a white fur stole draped over her shoulders. She was adorned in jewelry from head to toe, exuding wealth and elegance. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of Layla’s shaved head. The flawless makeup on her face seemed to crack, inch by inch. “You… you…” she stammered. Layla looked puzzled. “And you are…?” “I… I…” The woman clutched her chest as if she might faint at any moment. Layla was still confused when William suddenly appeared behind her. His voice rang out calmly but firmly. “Mom.” Layla froze. Her instincts kicked in, and she quickly covered her bald head with both hands. “Sorry, ma’am. Did I scare you?” she apologized awkwardly. “You… you two…” Scarlett Dixon’s gaze darted between them, her expression one of sheer disbelief. It felt like the sky was falling. Her precious son who she had raised so carefully, was standing next to a bald woman. The sight
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 520
“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
