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Chapter 91
Bab terkait
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 92
In the end, Layla couldn’t even reach the halfway point. She had to ride up the mountain in the small trail shuttle that William had arranged in advance, the cool breeze brushing against her face as they climbed higher.There was a hint of regret, but she knew she had to accept reality. Her body simply could not handle the strain anymore. Just a few extra steps had her swaying on her feet, barely holding herself up. When they reached the campsite, two large tents stood proudly on the open platform. The mouthwatering aroma of noodles wafted through the air from where Mike was cooking over a portable stove. The fatigue and disappointment that had weighed on Layla vanished instantly. She lit up with curiosity, taking a quick tour of the spacious tents before returning to Mike’s side with wide-eyed amazement. “You set all this up by yourself?”“Yeah,” Mike replied, stirring the pot. “That’s incredible!” Layla’s praise was genuine. The tents weren’t small. They were practic
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 93
Carter’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Uncle William, are you… are you planning to come clean to Grandpa?” “He’s going to find out sooner or later,” William replied calmly, rising to his feet. “I’m tired.” “Wait, wait—” Carter sounded exasperated. “Uncle William, you can’t just drop a bomb like that and walk off! At least explain it to me first!” But William was already walking away. Carter rubbed his temples with a long, defeated sigh. “Great… The Lucas family’s about to be turned upside down.” *That night, everyone turned in early. Carter, exhausted from the climb, barely lasted a minute before sleep started pulling him under. Between yawns, he muttered to William, “Uncle William, wake me up in the morning, okay? I want to see the sunrise too.” He didn’t even wait for a reply before he drifted off into a deep sleep. Lying on his air mattress, William picked up his phone and sent a message to Layla. “I forgot to ask—do you want me to wake you up for the sunr
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 94
A sudden flutter of wings broke the silence as a flock of birds took off from the trees. Layla flinched, startled by the noise. When she looked back at William, the tenderness in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a calm, unreadable gaze. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Nothing…” Layla turned her face away, her eyes returning to the morning sun on the horizon. A small frown tugged at her brows. “It must be the sunlight,” she told herself. “That’s the only reason I thought I saw something in his eyes.”William followed her gaze, his fingers curling into a subtle fist. So close... Just a moment ago, the urge to pull her into his arms had been almost impossible to resist. *“You can’t be serious, Uncle William! How could you not wake me up? I climbed that mountain for the sunrise!” Carter’s voice was loud and full of frustration. “I did call you,” William replied evenly. “No, you definitely didn’t! There’s no way I would’ve slept through it!” “Are you question
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 95
Hearing this, Mr. Lucas Sr.'s face flushed red with anger. “You… Are you threatening me?” “It’s just a reminder,” William replied calmly. His eyes swept over both of them, and he added slowly, “You both know my temperament well enough. There’s no need to test my limits.” “You… you—” Mr. Lucas Sr. was so furious that he could not find his voice. He had never imagined that the son he trusted the most, the one who had always been his greatest source of pride, would defy him so completely. And it was all because of a woman who was utterly ordinary, painfully insignificant, and cursed with misfortune. “William,” Scarlett’s voice softened as she reached out to tug his arm, “Don’t provoke your father anymore.” But before her hand could land on his sleeve, she faltered, shrinking back from the sheer force of his presence. Scarlett, spoiled and domineering for most of her life, feared no one—except her only son. Now, caught between her husband and William, she stood froz
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 96
Following the time and location on the invitation, Mrs. Xander arrived at the gathering with Xena right on schedule. The moment they stepped inside, Xena spotted Kiera among the guests. It was clear that Kiera hadn’t expected to see Xena here either. Surprise flashed across her face, quickly replaced by a look of disdain. However, Xena was unfazed. Instead, she smiled sweetly, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation as she greeted her, “Miss Jenkins, fancy seeing you here.” Kiera’s mother had already heard from her daughter about Xena’s pregnancy with Sean’s child. The news had left Kiera heartbroken for days. Despite everything, Kiera still couldn’t let go of Sean. And now, here was Xena, parading her pregnancy around like a trophy. It was obvious that she was doing it just to get under Kiera’s skin. With that thought, Mrs. Jenkins’s expression turned icy. She sneered, “Well, it seems just about anyone can get into these gatherings these days.” A few of the lad
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 97
Moreover, ever since the photo exhibition hit the trending searches, several friends had already reached out to ask Scarlett about the situation. She figured this was the perfect chance to address everything at once, saving herself from repeated explanations. “It’s just that my son is too kind…” she said with a sigh. Her words caused a stir among the guests. What did she mean by that? Was she implying that Layla had been clinging to William and even moved into his home? How shameless! Mrs. Jenkins quickly caught the insinuation, and the smile returned to her face. “Oh, I see! Mrs. Xander, you’ve certainly raised a talented daughter.” Another woman chimed in with a smirk. “With a daughter like that, Mrs. Xander should have no trouble joining our circle. With those skills, even if she can’t marry into the Lucas family, she’s bound to catch herself a rich husband.” The mockery continued to ripple through the room. “Exactly! Ladies, we should all be care
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 98
That evening, the Xander family sat down for dinner. Mrs. Xander barely ate a few bites before setting down her utensils. She looked upset and had no appetite. Mr. Xander glanced at her and asked casually, “What’s wrong? Didn’t you go to a gathering today? What’s got you in a bad mood?” “Don’t even mention it.” The memory of the gathering reignited Mrs. Xander’s anger. “If I had known Scarlett was the host, I wouldn’t have gone.” “Scarlett Dixon?” Mr. Xander paused, his brows knitting into a frown. “Why would she invite you?” “Dad, don’t ask,” Xena said softly, trying to warn him. But Mr. Xander’s expression darkened. “Did Scarlett bully you?” Mrs. Xander sighed, “It’s not entirely her fault. We’re the ones who failed to raise our daughter properly and gave Scarlett something to use against us. If she brought it up, it’s only fair.”She shook her head, her voice heavy with frustration. “Hubby, I still believe we must bring Layla home. It’s not just about
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 99
Meanwhile, Layla had no idea that her family was still scheming to bring her back. At this moment, she was curled up on the sofa, half-listening to Carter’s endless complaints. “It’s ridiculous! Their photos were terrible, so how is it my fault that sales are tanking?“I mean, look at me! I’m this good-looking, but the photographer couldn’t even capture one percent of my charm! Absolute garbage!“I swear, I’m never working with that useless magazine again!” Carter ranted until his mouth was dry. Finally, he grabbed his cup and gulped down some water before turning to Layla. “So, what do you think, sis? I’m right, aren’t I?” Layla, barely suppressing a yawn, replied lazily, “You’re absolutely right. Couldn’t agree more.” Her voice was perfunctory, and she couldn’t help but stifle another yawn. Lately, her energy had been getting worse—most likely a side effect of her medication. No matter how much she slept, it never felt enough. If Carter hadn’t called on her
Bab terbaru
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
