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Chapter 100
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 101
“Why wouldn’t it work?” William responded quickly, without a hint of hesitation. Layla paused for a moment, surprised. Even William trusted her that much?Not wanting her to pick up on anything unusual, William quickly added, “When we went to that photography exhibition, Jenny Jasper seemed to really admire your work. She has a good eye. I doubt she’d be wrong.” “That’s just theory on paper.” Layla didn’t dwell on it. She curled up on the sofa, yawning as she mumbled, “Forget it. I already said yes, so I might as well give it a shot.” Noticing how tired she looked, William suggested, “If you’re sleepy, you should go lie down in your room.” “No need. I’ll just doze off here for a bit.” With that, she closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep. William grabbed a blanket and gently draped it over her. He stood by the sofa for a long time, his sharp, deep-set eyes lowered, his dark lashes casting faint shadows.On a stormy night eight years ago, a girl stood dr
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 102
The dry leaves by the lake rustled as a sharp winter breeze swept through, tousling Carter’s hair and revealing a pair of bright, clear eyes that stood out against the blue sky and drifting white clouds.Under Layla’s guidance, Carter moved through one pose after another, his confidence growing with each shot until he seemed to shine from within.Before they knew it, an hour had passed. Layla carried her camera over to the table, preparing to transfer the photos to her laptop. Seeing the brand-new camera and lenses, the team grew even more doubtful. Was she a complete amateur? Had they wasted their time on this? “Carter, are you messing with us? You hired a rookie to take your pictures—what do you think you’re gonna get?” “Yeah, if we’d known this was just some play-pretend photo shoot, we wouldn’t have put in all this effort.” Grumbles and complaints filled the air. But Layla ignored them, focused entirely on her work. Carter stepped beside her, arms crossed, an
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 103
“Got it!” Carter immediately rallied his team, getting everyone moving to change outfits and prepare for the next set of shots. For the remainder of the shoot, Layla pushed through sheer exhaustion, barely holding on. By the time they were wrapping up, her head felt light, and dizziness crept in. Carter and the team gathered around the computer, selecting photos, while Layla stood off to the side, carefully packing up her camera and lenses. She wiped down each lens with meticulous care, treasuring them like a general cherishing his sword. Given her condition, this could very well be the last photoshoot of her life. She was exhausted, but she had loved every moment of it. Thinking about it now, she was genuinely grateful to Carter for giving her this opportunity. Once she was done, Layla tried to stand up and let Carter know she was heading out. But the moment she rose to her feet, a wave of darkness washed over her, and she collapsed backward, completely drained
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 104
Carter scrolled through the comments on his phone while talking to Layla over voice chat, grinning from ear to ear. “Sis, this is hands down the best day I’ve had since entering this industry! “Eason Lopez is probably tossing and turning in bed tonight, wondering who shot these photos for me!“Just look at this engagement—it’s off the charts…” Then, with a hint of regret, Carter sighed. “But why wouldn’t you take credit? You worked so hard on these shots. Wouldn’t it mean more if the whole world knew?” Before posting the photos, he had asked for Layla’s opinion. But she had been firm—no name. So, he respected her decision. “What’s the point?” Lying flat on her back, Layla stared at the ceiling, her voice indifferent. “With my condition, who knows when I’ll drop dead? The less attention, the better.“Besides, this is bound to make enemies. If my name is attached, won’t Eason Lopez come knocking at my door?” She yawned. “I’d rather avoid unnecessary trouble, so d
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 105
In elite circles, flaunting wealth outright was considered tacky. Instead, the truly influential pursued higher forms of sophistication, using culture and refinement to showcase their status. Collecting art had become their new battleground for social competition. A group of wealthy socialites gathered, animatedly discussing Jenny Jasper’s work, each offering their own "insightful" critique. Scarlett, though utterly uninterested, couldn’t let it show. She forced herself to recite, word for word, the art analysis she had memorized the night before. Faking it was exhausting, but hearing the other women praise her expertise? That, she enjoyed. “Oh, it’s nothing,” Scarlett said with a polite smile, though her expression betrayed a hint of smugness. “Once you’ve studied as much art as I have and immersed yourself in enough exhibitions, you’ll develop your own sharp eye.” Just then, one of the women tugged at her arm. “Isn’t that Layla over there?” Scarlett followed her
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 106
“Miss Xander, come with me. I still have something to ask you!” Jenny didn’t bother giving the socialites another glance. She simply took Layla by the arm and led her away. The group stood frozen in place, stunned. The words they had just thrown at Layla had come back like a boomerang, smacking them right in the face. “Why didn’t you tell us Layla actually knows Jenny?!” “We were talking so much trash just now. What if Layla twists our words and tells Jenny? How are we supposed to buy her work in the future?” “Exactly! Were you trying to set us up to offend Jenny on purpose?” All eyes turned accusingly toward Scarlett Duan. Scarlett was speechless. How was she supposed to know Layla and Jenny were close?! But after a brief moment, she straightened her posture and regained her composure. “Oh, so now it’s my fault? You all jumped to conclusions. Even if I wanted to say something, none of you gave me the chance!“Besides, wasn’t it Mrs. Jones who insisted we co
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 107
Layla froze in surprise. “How did you know?” Jenny smiled knowingly. “A photographer’s vision is reflected in their work. Besides, since you’re close with Mr. Lucas, it makes perfect sense that you’d be the one taking Carter’s photos.” Her eyes were filled with admiration. “Miss Xander, you have real talent. If you’re interested in going further, I can help you.” Those were words Layla had once dreamed of hearing. But fate was cruel. Now, she had no choice but to turn her down. “Miss Jasper, I really appreciate it, but photography is just a hobby for me. As long as I can take pictures here and there, that’s enough.” Jenny sighed, clearly disappointed, but she didn’t push. “I see. Everyone has their own path. I can’t force you to take this one.” Then, unable to hide her regret, she added, “It’s just… my instincts as a mentor are kicking in. It’s a shame to see talent go to waste.” Layla lowered her gaze slightly. “I’m sorry, Miss Jasper, for letting you down.”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 108
Mr. Xander sat in the main seat of the living room in the Xander family estate, his expression stern. Beside him, Xena gently massaged his shoulders, her posture prim and obedient.Meanwhile, Shane paced anxiously back and forth, constantly glancing toward the front door. His frustration was evident. “I don’t know if Chris can pull it off! I told him to let me go with him, but he wouldn’t listen!” “Don’t worry,” Xena reassured him in a soft voice. “Chris always follows through on his word. No matter how unreasonable Layla is, she should at least respect him. Besides, it’s not like this house is some kind of death trap…” “That’s exactly what she thinks!” Mr. Xander slammed his hand against the armrest of the sofa, his face dark with anger. “We begged her nicely to come back, and she refused! She’d rather live under William’s roof and ruin her own reputation! As if we’re some kind of monsters who’d eat her alive!” “Honey, don’t be so harsh,” Mrs. Xander said worriedl
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 454
Watching Carly turn and leave without looking back, Layla’s assistant was still fuming. She instinctively took a step to chase after her, wanting to argue. However, Layla reached out and stopped her.“Miss Xander, that was way out of line! Total ungrateful brat!” The assistant couldn’t help venting. “Did she forget how much you’ve done for her since she started here?“If it weren’t for you giving her so many chances, would a fresh grad like her even have gotten to go out on assignments with us?”“It’s fine,” Layla patted her assistant’s shoulder lightly. “Guess I misjudged her.”“But…” The assistant could only sigh in frustration. “Whatever. Right now, the most important thing is figuring out how to fill all these canceled bookings. If this keeps up, she might actually end up being right.”Layla frowned slightly. “You’re not going to ask me…”The assistant gave her an exasperated look. “I’ve worked with you long enough to know what kind of person you are, Miss Xander.”Layla
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 453
“You looking for me?” “Where are you going?” They both spoke at the same time.For a second, the moment felt awkward. Layla quickly explained, “Something came up at the studio. I need to head over and deal with it.”“What happened?” William asked, his voice low and serious.“It’s nothing major.”As she spoke, Layla tried to walk past him but William reached out and caught her wrist.“Does it have something to do with the Lucas family?”Layla paused but didn’t look back at him. After a beat of silence, she replied softly, “I’m not sure yet. But even if it does, I’ll take it.“This whole thing is partly my responsibility anyway. Since I chose to get involved from the very beginning, I should’ve been prepared to deal with the fallout. Consider it paying you back for saving me that night — for taking the hit from that car.“Besides,” she added, “you lost your position at Lucas Corporation because of all this. Compared to that, me losing a few client appointments really isn’t
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 452
“Miss Jenkins?”The nurse called out to Kiera several times, but she didn’t respond at all. Finally, the nurse reached out and gently tapped her on the shoulder.Kiera snapped back to reality, her tear-reddened eyes turning toward the nurse, making her flinch in shock.“Miss Jenkins, are you okay?” the nurse asked with concern.“I... I’m fine...” Kiera hurriedly put her phone away and wiped at her tears with the back of her hand, not even caring how messy it looked. “Did you need something?”“Your test results are ready. The doctor wants to see you,” the nurse explained. “Also, didn’t you have another report you wanted the doctor to check? If you give it to me, I can help you book the appointment with the right department.”Seeing the nurse reach her hand out, Kiera hesitated for a second. Then she shook her head.“No need. I don’t want it checked anymore.”She looked up at the nurse with a faint smile. Her eyes, still glistening from tears, looked clearer than ever. Along w
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 451
“It’s really a boy?” Sean asked.“Mhm. I even brought the report with me.” Xena turned and pulled a folder from her bag. Unfolding the paternity test results, she handed it to Sean, her lips curling into a proud smile. “I had it done at one of the best labs. No chance of a mistake.”Sean glanced at the report, satisfaction flashing across his face. “Good. A son’s good.”Xena leaned closer, her voice sweet and coy. “So… what are you planning to do? In another month, there’s no way I’ll be able to hide this bump.”Like a bucket of cold water, her words instantly doused the small flicker of joy that had just risen in Sean’s heart.“We’ll talk about it later.”Sean folded the report neatly and handed it back to her. “Kiera’s still overseas. We’ll have to wait until she’s back.”Xena had expected this. She wasn’t planning to press him now anyway. She just showed a hint of disappointment. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.”Sean gave a quiet hum of approval.Her obedience earned he
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 450
Right on time, Xena showed up at Sean’s villa, holding a shopping bag in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other. She pressed the doorbell without hesitation.When Sean opened the door, the first thing he saw was the bright red roses and Xena’s radiant, smiling face framed perfectly behind them.“Sean!” Xena threw herself straight into his arms, acting sweet and clingy like a spoiled girlfriend. “I missed you so much.”Sean hesitated for a second before raising a hand to lightly rest on her shoulder. “Didn’t you say you had something to talk to me about? Let’s talk first.”“What’s the rush?”Xena held up the bag in her hand. “I bought some things and I’ve been learning how to cook from videos online. Tonight, I want you to try my cooking. We can eat and talk at the same time.”Before Sean could respond, Xena was already happily skipping toward the kitchen, casually setting the bouquet down on the island counter.Sean followed her to the doorway, watching her busy figure
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 449
Chris had actually been thinking about this for a while. He just hadn’t found the right opportunity to bring it up. Now that Mr. Xander had asked him directly, he decided to go with it.“I want to represent the Xander family and apologize to her. See where she stands.”Mr. Xander fell silent.If Chris had brought this up a while ago, Mr. Xander would have scolded him on the spot without hesitation.But now, things were different.He had just seen Layla shine at the recent charity gala. And after that night, he had given it a lot of thought.If Layla was willing to come back to the Xander family, it would absolutely be a good thing for them.“Alright,” Mr. Xander finally said, making his decision. “Go see how she feels. Now that William’s been kicked out of the Lucas Corporation, if she knows what’s good for her, she should realize that coming back to the Xanders is the smart move.”Hearing this, Shane immediately jumped in. “Chris, I want to go too!”Chris gave him a look. “
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 448
Outside the door, Layla hesitated, unsure if she should ring the bell.Suddenly, the door swung open.She froze for a second when she came face-to-face with William.“You need something?” he asked.Snapping out of it, Layla cleared her throat. “Uh… I just wanted to check if you’ve eaten. I made a little too much food tonight.”“I haven’t eaten yet. Let’s go.”Without waiting for her response, William walked right past her and headed straight into the apartment next door like it was the most natural thing in the world.Layla followed behind, feeling more and more puzzled. Why did it feel like William was getting way too comfortable around here? He didn’t even bother with the usual polite small talk anymore.She watched him sit down at the dining table like he owned the place. After hesitating for a moment, she sat across from him and casually served him a bowl of soup.Then, almost without thinking, she started, “I don’t know what your plan is, but if—”“Let’s eat first.”Wil
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 447
“If that’s the choice he’s made, then so be it!” Mr. Lucas Sr. said coldly. “As long as he refuses to admit his mistake, he can forget about ever coming back to the Lucas family! From this moment on, I don’t have a son like him!”“Honey, you can’t—” Scarlett tried to plead.But one sharp look from Mr. Lucas Sr. stopped her cold.Facing his overwhelming fury, Scarlett froze in place.Her own son was being kicked out of the family. Her husband was blaming her too. And for the first time ever in this house, Scarlett felt completely alone.She could only stand there helplessly, watching Mr. Lucas Sr. storm off. It wasn’t until Hazel called her name several times that she finally snapped out of it.Scarlett turned to Lucien, guilt filling her heart.“I’m sorry, Lucien. On William’s behalf, I apologize. Focus on recovering. If you need anything, just let me know.”With that, she turned and walked away like a woman who had lost her soul.Zion, of course, didn’t miss the chance to kis
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 446
Half an hour later, William walked out of the office with Mike following close behind.His suit jacket was gone. The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, revealing the lean, muscular lines of his forearms.William had always been known for being precise and put-together. He was always calm and composed. But right now, there was nothing calm about him. He carried a dangerous, almost violent edge that sent chills down anyone watching.The secretaries from the Executive Office stood quietly, watching the two men leave without daring to say a word.Outside the Lucas Corporation building, William had just gotten into the car when his phone started to buzz. He glanced at the caller ID, frowning slightly.Not surprisingly, the moment he answered, a man’s gloating voice came through.“Word is, you got kicked out of Lucas Corporation? Damn, looks like the old man finally lost it for real this time!”The man laughed even harder. “Man, this is the best news I’ve heard in forever. Hur
