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Chapter 9
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 10
“Of course,” William replied. “Then… can I move into your place?” Layla asked tentatively. William: “?” Even Mike, the usually stoic bodyguard trailing behind William, couldn’t hide the flicker of surprise on his face. He shot Layla a glance, clearly amazed at her audacity. This was William Lucas she was addressing—someone who valued peace and quiet so much that even his household staff had to avoid him during his hours at home. “Yes, you can.”Hearing William's response, Mike’s expression faltered completely. He stared at William in disbelief. “Did those words really just come out of Mr. Lucas’s mouth?” he questioned himself.“You don’t need to worry. I won’t stay for free,” Layla quickly offered. She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and held it up for him. “Add my contact info. You can name your price, and I’ll treat it like I’m renting a room. I promise to keep a low profile. You can pretend I’m not even there if you like.” “That won’t be ne
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 11
When Sean escorted Xena back to the Xander residence, the family immediately swarmed around them with questions. “Sean, is everything they’re saying online true?” “What’s going on with your company? Are you really giving Layla her shares?” “Enough!” Xena interrupted, frustration evident in her voice. “Sean’s already dealing with enough. Stop adding to the stress.” It was only then that Mrs. Xander noticed Xena clutching her arm. “What happened to your arm?” “It’s nothing, just a little bruise,” Xena replied awkwardly, trying to hide it. But Sean grabbed her arm gently and pulled it closer, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a sizable bruise on her fair skin. His brows furrowed. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” “It’s fine,” Xena reassured him with a faint smile. “As long as the injury didn’t land on you, I’m happy.” Sean’s grip tightened as guilt flickered in his eyes, his focus remaining on her arm. “What happened?” Mr. Xander asked, his tone sharp. “It’s
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 12
The next morning, Layla finally noticed the buzz online. Lost in thought, she didn’t realize her other hand was still holding the kettle, pouring water until a firm hand gripped her wrist. Startled, she looked up to meet William's calm, steady gaze.“What’s got you so distracted?” he asked. Snapping out of it, Layla quickly pulled her hand back and placed the kettle on the counter. “I was just checking my phone…” she said, hesitating for a moment before turning the screen toward him. “I went out with Carter yesterday and didn’t expect someone to take pictures. It seems like it’s causing a lot of trouble for him. Should I talk to him and help clear things up?”Layla wasn’t familiar with entertainment news and had no idea Carter was preparing to debut as a celebrity. If she had known, she would have been more cautious.“No need,” William replied just as his phone buzzed with a call from Carter.As soon as he answered, Carter’s anxious voice came through. “Uncle William, is Layl
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 13
Sean hadn’t managed to hear a word from Layla before Xena suddenly dropped to her knees, pleading desperately.“Sis, please, let Sean go,” Xena’s voice was choked with sobs. “You love him, don’t you? How can you bear to let him suffer like this? If Grandpa Perry keeps going, Sean might really get hurt!”Susan quickly joined in, raising her voice. “Layla, do you want my son dead before you’re satisfied?”Layla calmly set down her teacup, her gaze shifting to Xena with an air of indifference. “First of all, whether or not I love him is none of your business. And second, whether or not he’s hurting, you’re in no position to feel sorry for him.“He betrayed me. He deserves this.”Hearing this, Susan raised her voice in protest. “What has Sean ever done to wrong you? You’ve been his only girlfriend, his only fiancée, from the very beginning!“My son is outstanding! He’s already treated you better than most would. What more do you want?”Layla curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Th
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 14
That evening, Carter arrived on time to pick up Layla. When they reached their destination, Layla hesitated as she looked at the bright, flashy bar sign. “Are you sure this is the right place? It doesn’t really seem like my scene.” “What’s not to like?” Carter didn’t give her a chance to back out, pulling her out of the car. “My friends are already inside waiting for us!” Left with no choice, Layla followed him inside. The thumping bass of the music hit her like a wave, mingling with the overpowering scent of perfume. They maneuvered through the bustling crowd until they reached a VIP booth. Before Layla could process her surroundings, Carter tugged her into a seat beside him and started introducing her to his friends. The swirling lights made it hard for Layla to focus, and she could barely make out anyone’s face. Forcing a polite smile, she nodded along, trying to keep up. “So, this is the girl you rear-ended? She’s gorgeous! Don’t tell me you did it on purpose j
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 15
The atmosphere in the car was stifling. Even the sound of Carter nervously swallowing was painfully audible. Layla glanced back and forth between them, hesitating for a long moment before clearing her throat to break the silence. “Mr. Lucas, this all started because of me—” “Twenty years old and still can’t control himself? That’s his problem,” William interrupted her in a deep, displeased voice. Earlier that night, William had received a call from a bar informing him that Carter had been involved in a fight and taken to the police station. He had rushed out without even changing out of his sleepwear. Thankfully, Layla hadn’t been hurt, but if she had been, William might have broken Carter’s legs himself. “From now on, you’re not allowed to take Miss Xander anywhere. If you want to make a fool of yourself out there, fine, but dragging someone else into your mess is unacceptable,” William said, his tone dropping into something almost menacing. “But, Uncle William—” Carter
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 16
At the Perry family estate, Sean instinctively adjusted his shirt collar as he walked through the door, trying to hide the marks left from the previous night. His thoughts lingered on Xena, who was still at the villa. Before leaving, he had promised her he would return early to take her back home. Without wasting time, he got straight to the point. “Grandpa, what did you need? If it’s about Layla again, there’s no point in discussing it. Between her and me…” A teacup came flying toward him. Sean startled and dodged instinctively. The cup shattered on the floor behind him, pieces scattering everywhere. With that kind of force, it would have left him with a bleeding head if it had hit.Frowning, Sean spoke up, “Grandpa, I’m your actual grandson. Layla hasn’t even married into the family yet—she’s still an outsider. Why do you always take her side over mine?” “Shut your mouth!” Mr. Perry Sr. was furious, not sparing Sean a glance despite the visible injuries on his f
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 17
“Q” was an extraordinarily powerful international organization that catered exclusively to the upper echelons of society. As long as the money was right, there was no task they couldn’t accomplish. Within its ranks was a world-renowned medical genius, known for their miraculous ability to save lives and heal the seemingly incurable. However, the individual had an eccentric personality and only took on cases based on their mood. If money couldn’t fix it, getting it done became nearly impossible.Thinking about this, Levi sighed. “I’ll keep an eye on it for you, but your priority right now should be convincing Miss Xander to start chemotherapy as soon as possible.” William was silent for a moment before responding, “Understood.” After hanging up, William finally noticed the commotion downstairs. It was Carter, yelling as usual. He stood up, made his way downstairs, and followed the noise to the kitchen, where he saw Carter buzzing around Layla like an excited monkey. L
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 499
“Maybe…” Lucien paused, brows furrowed even deeper. “Maybe Xavier just saw that William left and decided to use the opportunity to renegotiate the deal.“We’re all businessmen. Everyone knows that bringing emotions into business only costs you money. To someone like Xavier, profit is always the top priority.”He picked up the contract and said calmly, “As long as we’re willing to compromise, there’s still a chance to keep the partnership going. Now it just depends on whether we can feed Xavier’s appetite.“For now, don’t let Dad find out. Let’s handle this quietly.”He slid the contract back into the drawer. “Once we’ve secured the renewal, then we’ll tell him the full story that William left the company high and dry just to plan his own exit strategy.“Once that happens, he will finally give up on him. And I’ll officially take the reins. William won’t have any reason or right to come back to Lucas Corporation.”Hearing the plan, Zion gave a bootlicking grin and raised a thumb. “
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 498
Back in North City, a mountain of post-production work was waiting.Layla was in charge of editing the entire promotional video. For a full week, she was working around the clock, leaving early in the morning and coming home late every night.Even though William lived right next door, he only caught glimpses of her through the smart doorbell camera. Knowing how much pressure she was under, he didn’t dare disturb her.Instead, each morning before she left, he would quietly leave a fresh cup of coffee outside her door, along with a sticky note reminding her of the day’s weather.And every time Layla passed his door on the way out, she would peel the note off and stick it on his door in return, letting him know she had seen it.Spring in North City was unpredictable. It was rainy and damp. Thanks to his reminders, Layla always remembered to bring a coat and an umbrella. The coffee in her hand felt extra warm, enough to chase away the chill in the air.*Around the same time, Lucas
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 497
“I never expected him to be some damn heir to begin with. All I ever wanted was for us to live a peaceful life together. You were the one who said he was gifted, different from his brothers. You were the one who insisted on grooming him to take over!“Well, you’re right—he only became heir because of you. And now that you’ve taken it back, congratulations! You got what you wanted!“He may be nothing to you now, but to me, he’ll always be my son. He’s still the best in my eyes. And don’t even think about controlling me with your so-called rules!”The more Scarlett spoke, the angrier she got. Her eyes turned red with frustration. “I may not be your wife anymore, but I will always be William’s mother.”These past few weeks, William’s words had echoed in her mind over and over:“Why don’t you want me to marry someone I actually want to marry? Don’t you want me to be happy?”She was the one person in the world who wanted his happiness more than anything, yet he had questioned her like
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 496
After a long wait, William seemed to realize he might have come off a little strong. He lowered his gaze and added casually, “That compliment you wanted.”Watching him lower his head again to sip the ginger tea, Layla couldn’t help but smile. “Alright,” she said gently. “Whatever you feel like having from now on, I’ll make it for you.”He paused just before taking another sip. A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.The night was quiet and soft, the warm evening breeze drifting lazily into the kitchen, stirring up something subtle and tender between them.Neither of them said anything else, but there was a silent understanding in the air.After their time in the small town, something between them had changed—unspoken, but undeniable. It felt like there was just a thin veil left between them, one that could be lifted with the lightest touch.*Eventually, the day came when they had to leave the town.Surprisingly, none of the kids cried. Instead, they all beamed with smil
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 495
There was really no getting out of this now. Even if she swore on a stack of Bibles, no one would believe her.Layla shot William a sharp glare, furious he had blurted out the truth for absolutely no reason.William caught the look she gave him and just smiled. His eyes were slightly hazy from the drinks, his lazy smirk pure mischief. He looked exactly like a troublemaker who had just gotten away with it.And just like that, his smile lit up in her mind like fireworks — bright, reckless, and impossible to look away from.She could hear the wind.And she could hear her own heartbeat, quickening without warning.That blurry, half-buried memory slowly sharpened — the dimly lit bathroom, the way he leaned in close and that teasing smile tugging at his lips.And for the first time, it hit her.Her boldness that night hadn’t just come from the effects of the drug.More than anything, it had come from sheer desire.Because she liked William.*The celebration lasted late into the
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 494
”Do more good, and maybe you’ll get into heaven,” William said lazily, his voice drifting on the night breeze.The man on the other end of the line snorted. “If you’re going, I’m definitely not. Dealing with you in this life is bad enough. Why would I wanna be stuck with you in the afterlife too? Sounds like pure torture.”But his joking tone faded as he got serious again. “I’ve already arranged for the donation to the town. Roads, bridges, infrastructure — it’s all in motion.“When Miss Xander’s promo video goes live, we’ll coordinate on the marketing side too. It should get pretty good results.”He paused, then added, “And hey, the first quarter’s almost over. Our contract with the Lucas Corporation is about to expire. If you’re planning to walk away, they’re definitely going to send someone. When are you planning to show your face?”“No rush.”William heard cheers and laughter behind him. When he turned around, he saw Layla in the center of the crowd, tilting her head back as
