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Chapter 103
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 109
Shane raised his voice. “She must be feeling smug right now, thinking she’s won.” “Enough.” Chris’s patience was wearing thin. He turned to Layla, his gaze firm. “Now that I’ve brought you back, I won’t let you leave again. Just focus on recovering.” “Let me go!” Layla repeated stubbornly, her eyes dark and filled with defiance. “Let you go so you can keep running around with other men and dragging the Xander family name through the mud?” Mr. Xander demanded, his voice cutting. “You may not care about your reputation, but we do!” His glare deepened as he spat out his next words. “I’m telling you now, you’re not walking out of this house today! You don’t want to die at home? Too bad—I won’t let you have your way!” At that moment, everything clicked for Layla. They never truly cared about her well-being. Bringing her home wasn’t about helping her recover—it was about saving face. It had nothing to do with her health, her future, or their so-called "family
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 110
Thirty minutes later, William strode into the banquet hall, his presence carrying a chilling weight. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the stage and, in one swift motion, snatched the violin from the musician’s hands. The music came to an abrupt stop. Laughter and chatter died down as all eyes turned toward the stage. A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd as they recognized him.What was the infamous William Lucas doing here?“Apologies for the interruption,” William said, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “I’m looking for someone. Has anyone seen Miss Layla Xander?” The moment his words fell, whispers erupted from the guests below. “Layla Xander? The Xander family's daughter? She’s here?” “Look at him—he seems desperate to find her. What’s going on?” *Scarlett rushed onto the stage, barely squeezing through the sea of murmurs. Her expression was laced with frustration. “William, what the hell are you doing? Are you trying to make
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 111
Over the next few days, Chris needed to get through to Layla and convince her to stay.As long as she was willing to stay, William wouldn’t be able to just take her away by force. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Besides, Layla is my sister. It’s only natural that I brought her back.” Chris’s voice grew more resolute. “Even if William shows up at our door, he has no right to take her, and I’m not afraid of him.” After reassuring his anxious friend, Chris ended the call. Just then, Xena approached, concern evident in her eyes. “Is William giving you trouble?” Chris turned around and smiled gently. “No, you don’t have to worry.” But Xena still looked uneasy. “If anything happens, don’t carry the burden alone. Bringing Layla home was a decision we all made. We’ll face it together.” Hearing her speak so sensibly, Chris couldn’t help but compare her to Layla. One was considerate and understanding, while the other acted as if the whole family owed her something. The
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 124
After hearing about Layla’s accident, Mr. Perry Sr. had called Sean to the family estate to get the full story. At the time, Sean had insisted that he had to earn Layla’s forgiveness. But it was far too late for that. Xena’s pregnancy had completely shattered Mr. Perry Sr.’s faith in him. There was no way he would allow Sean to disturb Layla ever again. So, right then and there, Mr. Perry Sr. had locked Sean in the house, forcing him to stay put. Over the past few days, Sean had gone on and on about how sorry he was, repeating his regrets so many times that Mr. Perry Sr. was sick of hearing them. Thinking about it now, Mr. Perry Sr. felt a headache coming on. “That foolish boy only learned to cherish what he lost after it was already gone. What’s the use of that?” Worried that Layla might overthink things, he quickly added, “I’m not telling you this to ask for forgiveness on his behalf. Frankly, I don’t even have the face to do that anymore.” Layla simply smiled
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 123
“Although the suspect still hasn’t been caught, the police managed to track down a group of young people who were camping on the mountain that night. One of them is absolutely certain they saw someone at the scene.“After examining the area, the police found footprints and were able to estimate the driver’s height and weight. They’ve put together a fairly complete profile, but unfortunately, there’s no match in the national database.“There’s a high chance he’s an undocumented immigrant, which makes tracking him down extremely difficult.” As William spoke, a peeled orange segment appeared in front of him. He paused, glancing up. Layla smiled. “Mr. Lucas, you must be thirsty.” William took the orange without much thought and asked casually, “You’re really not worried?” “What’s the point of worrying? Even the police can’t find him—what, am I supposed to think I can?” Leaning back against the headboard, Layla continued, “I’m just curious. How did Xena even find that drive
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 122
After a week, the nationwide search warrant for the driver had turned up nothing, and Xena was finally released back to the Xander family. To ward off bad energy, Mrs. Xander had burned sage at the entrance, insisting that Xena walk through the smoke before coming inside.“My dear Xena, you’ve suffered so much.” Tears welled in Mrs. Xander’s eyes as she reached out to touch her daughter’s face. “You’ve lost weight these past few days.” “I’m fine.” Xena smiled and shook her head. But Shane wasn’t as forgiving. “She put you through hell in that police station, and you’re still saying you’re fine? Even after everything, you’re still defending that cold-blooded woman?” “Shane, don’t talk about my sister like that.” Xena placed a hand over her stomach, lowering her gaze with guilt. “It’s true that getting pregnant with Sean’s child was an unforgivable mistake. If this makes my sister feel better, then I have no complaints.” “You—” Shane was furious. “This isn’t somethi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 121
Levi narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Aunt Scarlett, you had nothing to do with this, right?” “Of course not!” Scarlett denied it immediately. “I may have wanted her to go back to the Xander house, but I’d never go as far as putting her life in danger!” Levi stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. Then, as if casually, he said, “So, you were involved in getting Miss Xander back to the family, but after that, you had no idea what happened?” “That’s… exactly it,” Scarlett responded instinctively. But the second she said it, she realized she had slipped. Too late to take it back now. Levi let out a sigh. “Aunt Scarlett, if William finds out about this, he’s definitely going to be pissed at you.” “I know…” Scarlett lowered her head, feeling wronged. “I just didn’t expect the Xander family to be this outrageous. They couldn’t even keep an eye on her properly!” “You probably thought Miss Xander left the family just because she was throwing a tantrum, didn’t you?” Levi aske
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 120
After thinking it over, Layla still couldn’t bring herself to ask.Instead, she nodded again. “No matter what, thank you, Mr. Lucas.”All she could say was thank you—over and over again.For some reason, William felt irritated. He stood up abruptly. “Get some rest.”With that, he turned and left the hospital room.Layla frowned in confusion. Since when did saying thank you make someone angry?Meanwhile, William shut the door behind him and spoke quietly to Mike. “You’re in charge here. From now on, you’ll stay by Miss Xander’s side. If anything happens to her, you know what the consequences will be.”Mike lowered his head. “Understood.”Just a word, but his tone was solemn.From this moment on, Layla’s life was more important than his own.William didn’t say anything else. He glanced up and met Levi’s amused gaze.Walking toward him, William asked, “What is it?”“Nothing. Just curious.” Levi slipped his hands into the pockets of his white coat and grinned as he leaned in. “
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 119
“Layla, your brother is right. You need to rest now.” Sean’s voice was gentle, but his gaze subtly flicked toward William, his hostility unmistakable. Layla found it laughable. Even now, Sean still had the energy to be jealous. “Get out.” Sean’s face froze in disbelief. “You’re telling me to leave?” “What else?” Layla snapped impatiently. Sean pointed at William, unwilling to accept it. “What about him?” “Not your business.” Layla’s patience wore thin. Just looking at him made her head hurt. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the pain. Levi took the hint and spoke up. “Mr. Perry, you should listen to Miss Xander. What she needs most right now is rest.” Sean knew exactly who Levi was—one of William’s closest associates. And since Levi was speaking as a doctor, staying any longer would only make him seem inconsiderate. With no choice, Sean reluctantly backed down. “Fine, I’ll go for now.” He looked at Layla with deep affection, hi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 118
Following Layla’s request, William had the police called in. By the time officers arrived, he had already prepared all the necessary documents—medical reports, evidence, and statements. Levi, Layla’s attending physician, had also shown up early to assist with the investigation. Watching everything unfold so smoothly and efficiently, Layla felt a quiet shock ripple through her. “So, while I was unconscious, William had already planned for this,” she silently remarked. Her gaze shifted toward him, a flicker of gratitude rising in her chest. With the officers' assistance, Layla gave a detailed description of the driver. Moments later, the police produced a sketch. The lifelike face on the white paper startled her. It was exactly him. Xena only stole a brief glance before subtly furrowing her brows. A perfect match. Layla’s memory was annoyingly sharp. Once she nodded in confirmation, the officers carefully put the sketch away. “We’ll do everything
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 117
Mrs. Xander rushed forward anxiously. “Xena, are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Xena shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I was just scared… I don’t even know what I did wrong…” Mr. Xander’s expression darkened as he turned to William.“Mr. Lucas, you’ve already found Layla. Can we take Xena home now?”“Don’t you all want to know what she’s done?”Layla forced herself to sit up, her body still weak.Without a word, William reached out to steady her, his grip firm but natural.Then, he lowered his voice just enough for her to hear.“Say whatever you want—I’ve got your back.”Layla froze for a moment, instinctively glancing at him.A warmth spread through her chest, and her confidence grew.Before she could speak, Xena abruptly cut in, panic flickering across her face.“Layla, you begged me to let you go! And I was the one who told Mr. Lucas where to find you!“What are you trying to say now? Are you blaming me for setting you free? Did I force you to run
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 116
At the hospital, Layla slowly opened her eyes, momentarily disoriented by the stark white walls.For a moment, it felt like a dream—like she couldn't tell what was real anymore.“Where… am I?” Her voice was hoarse and scratchy. “You’re awake?” William’s hand instantly gripped hers, his voice urgent. “Do you feel any discomfort?” “I…” Layla instinctively tried to move—only to suck in a sharp breath of pain. “Ahh—” “Don’t move.” William gently pressed her down, his voice soft yet firm. “You have two fractured bones and a stab wound in your abdomen. You need complete rest.” Layla’s brows furrowed slightly as she murmured, “So it wasn’t a dream. Xena really tried to kill me.” William didn’t catch her words. “What?” Before she could answer, a chaotic commotion erupted outside. The door was pushed open, and a group of people forced their way into the room despite the guards’ attempts to stop them. Sean rushed straight to her bedside, his face fu
