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Chapter 81
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 85
Layla was at a loss for words.She felt awkward and hesitated before suggesting, “Mr. Lucas, isn’t it a bit harsh to leave your mother outside? Maybe you should let her in, and I can explain everything properly.” “No need,” William replied flatly. Releasing his grip, he turned away without looking back. “Let her shout for a while. She’ll leave on her own. There’s no point wasting your breath.” “But…” Layla hesitated. What kind of mess was this? She had only planned to use William as a temporary shield, never expecting to stir up the entire Lucas family. Her gaze followed his retreating figure, her expression thoughtful. No matter what, she couldn’t drag him into her troubles. “If you’re thinking about moving out, you’d better drop that idea now,” William said, his back still turned. It was as if he could read her mind without even looking. “With your current condition, living alone isn’t safe. If I let you leave, it’d be no different from murder—and I’m not intereste
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 86
Mrs. Xander stood behind Scarlett, her voice tentative and uneasy. “Layla, I made some chicken soup for you.” “No need,” Layla replied coldly, not even sparing the thermos a glance. “Layla, I…” Mrs. Xander’s voice trailed off as her eyes fell on Layla’s knitted hat, covering her bare scalp with not a strand of hair in sight. Her heart ached, and she found herself unable to continue. “Just go back,” Layla said flatly, her expression emotionless. Seeing Layla's cold and emotionless dismissal, Scarlett immediately stepped in, indignant on Mrs. Xander’s behalf.“How can you talk to your mother like that?” she snapped. “She went through all that trouble to make you chicken soup. Not only do you refuse to drink it, but you will not even let her through the door!”Layla frowned. “Mrs. Lucas, this is not your concern.”“Why shouldn’t it be?” Scarlett retorted, her tone sharp with irritation. “I am a mother too. No one understands a mother’s heart better than I do!”She co
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 87
“Mom, how did you manage to see Layla today? Didn’t Mr. Lucas order that we weren’t allowed inside?” Xena asked curiously.“I ran into William’s mother at the gate. She was the one who brought me in,” Mrs. Xander replied.Thinking of Scarlett’s demeanor, Mrs. Xander frowned. “That woman from the Lucas family is certainly a tough one.”In the social circle of wealthy wives, Scarlett was notorious.The youngest in her generation of the Dixon family, she had been spoiled from birth, growing up willful and arrogant.Years ago, she had fallen head over heels for Mr. Lucas Sr.—a man more than twenty years her senior. Ignoring her family’s objections, she pursued him with fiery passion and ultimately married into the Lucas family. Her story became something of a society legend.Despite the large age gap, Mr. Lucas Sr. adored his young wife. And once she gave birth to their brilliant son, who later became the head of the Lucas family, Scarlett’s status soared even higher.With her husba
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 88
When Sean awoke from the general anesthesia, it was already evening. Xena was by his bedside. The moment his eyes opened, she quickly stood up. “Sean, how are you feeling? Does your stomach still hurt?” A voice suddenly called out. “Sean!” Susan rushed over, her face filled with concern. “How did you end up in the hospital like this?” she cried, her heart aching at the sight of him. Sean furrowed his brows and tried to speak, but his throat felt like it was being slashed with razors. Xena stepped in to explain, “Aunt Susan, Sean just had an endoscopy. He probably can’t speak much right now…” But Susan cut her off, her voice sharp and cold. “Why are you here!” she snapped, her expression darkening. “This is all your fault! Get out!” Xena’s face fell in shock. “Aunt Susan, I rushed over as soon as I heard Sean was in the hospital. How can you say this is because of me?” “It is because of you!” Susan spat, her eyes burning with fury as she pointed st
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 89
Sean’s hands trembled slightly as he gripped Susan’s. Layla still cared about him. She had gone to Susan on purpose to push her into targeting Xena. It was a petty trick. She was jealous. There was no way she could simply stop loving him overnight. “Mom…” Sean’s voice was filled with desperate hope as he looked at Susan. “She’s being so cruel to me. Is it because she knows she’s sick and doesn’t want to drag me down?“She’s pushing me away… so I’ll give up on her. That way, she can leave without regrets. Is that it?” His voice cracked, and his chest felt like it was being ripped apart. Layla loved him so much that she would leave him in the most painful way possible. “Mom… I’m such a bastard.” His eyes reddened, and suddenly—SMACK! He slapped himself across the face, the sound sharp and harsh. Susan gasped and rushed to grab his hand. “Sean! Stop this! This… this is all just your guess, isn’t it?” But Sean’s voice was firm, his eyes burning wi
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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
