LOGINShare
Chapter 157
Related chapters
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 158
“I didn’t go see her.” Scarlett lowered her head, bracing herself for the storm she knew was coming. “I just… I feel bad for her. The Xander family doesn’t even treat her like one of their own. If she goes back, she’s as good as dead…” Her voice grew quieter. “Last time they took her away, they nearly killed her. I had a part in that, so I… I just felt responsible.” “Are you getting soft?” Mr. Lucas Sr.’s voice cut through the room like a blade. He slammed his glass onto the table with a loud thud, making Scarlett jump. “Oh, come on!” She clutched her chest, exasperated. “Can’t we just talk like normal people? Do you have to scare me half to death?” “If I don’t make myself clear, you’ll think I’m joking.” His glare darkened. “You pity Layla—what about William? Are you really going to stand by and let him waste his time on a dying woman?” The frustration in his voice grew. “Your so-called kindness is going to destroy him.”“You’re being too dramatic,” S
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 159
“No, you—” “Go back and tell Dad I haven’t changed my mind. If he wants to take away my position, he can have it. But he needs to stay out of my business.” “You—” Scarlett panicked as William turned away. Her frustration boiled over, and she snapped, “It’s just a woman! How can she possibly compare to your position as head of the Lucas family?“William, you’ve lost your mind! You’re throwing away your future for Layla! Do you have any idea how much your father and I have sacrificed to get you here? Is this how you repay us?” William’s gaze turned icy. His patience had clearly run thin. “Don’t use your standards to judge my choices.” His voice was calm but firm. “Since you’re here, I might as well tell you—I won’t be coming home for Thanksgiving. You and Dad can enjoy your perfect family gathering without me.” Scarlett froze. She watched in disbelief as William walked away, only snapping back to her senses when he was almost out of sight. “You’re not even com
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 160
“Layla, can’t you do this one last favor for the family?” Hearing Mr. Xander’s voice, Layla gestured for Mike to step aside. She then lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes head-on. “If I remember correctly, you said I had nothing to do with the Xander family anymore.” Mr. Xander faltered. “I… I did say that. But blood ties aren’t something you can just sever with a few angry words.” “Well, in my world, they’ve been severed.” Layla didn’t even bother asking what he wanted. The whole thing was laughable. “Coming to beg a woman in a wheelchair for help? You people really have no shame.” “Miss Xander has made herself very clear,” William said coldly. “Step aside.” “Mr. Lucas, you’ve been meddling in our family affairs for long enough. Out of respect for the Lucas family, I’ve tolerated it, but don’t forget—I’m still your elder.” “You don’t get to pull rank on me.” William’s patience had run out. He shot Mike a look, and Mike immediately stepped forward, grabbing Mr.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 161
Clicking heels echoed through the office building as Xena walked confidently toward the floor where Sean’s company was located. Now that Felix was in charge, the office had naturally fallen into his hands as well. The secretary led Xena to the office door and knocked. Once she received permission to enter, she stepped aside, allowing Xena to go in alone. As the door shut behind her, Xena looked toward Felix, who was lounging on the sofa. She hesitated for a moment before cautiously greeting him. “Felix…” To her surprise, he greeted her with warm enthusiasm, flashing a wide, almost dazzling smile. “Come on in, Xena! Have a seat!” Something about his attitude felt off, but she didn’t question it. Instead, she obediently sat down on the opposite couch. Felix handed her a cup of coffee. “Here, have some. We can talk after you’ve had a sip.” Xena accepted the cup but couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. Felix’s smile felt off. Almost calcula
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 162
As soon as Xena got into the car, Chris asked, “How did it go?” She shook her head. “Chris, I don’t want to see Felix again. I’ll wait for Sean to return from the old manor, and then I’ll ask him for help.” Chris frowned. “Why? You and Sean are impossible now. He—” “Chris, just drop it.” Xena buckled her seatbelt firmly. “I’m not going to Felix again. If the Perry family comes after us for the debt, I’ll take full responsibility.” Seeing how stubborn she was, Chris hesitated, then let out a silent sigh. His sister had always been spoiled. She acted recklessly, never thinking ahead. Maybe this time, after learning her lesson, she would finally grow up. After all, the Xander family couldn’t keep cleaning up her mess forever. With that thought, Chris shifted his gaze back to the road. “Forget it. I’ll take you home first.” *The moment William and Layla stepped into Luxe Villa, a rich scent of roses filled the air. Layla glanced up—the entire living room
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 163
After that, William had Mike take Layla back to her room to rest. Now, only Carter and William remained in the living room, locked in a silent stare-down. “Uncle William, I get it. The less Sis knows about the Lucas family affairs, the better.” Carter lounged lazily with his hands in his pockets. “But I heard something interesting. Grandma Scarlett went straight to Grandpa and told him you’re skipping Thanksgiving. He got so mad he said you might as well never come home again.“If you really don’t go back this year, this might actually be the first time the whole Lucas family shows up in full.” Ever since William took over as head of the family, his uncles had always found excuses to avoid Thanksgiving gatherings. Not once had they all been in the same room together. Mr. Lucas Sr. had mentioned it plenty of times, saying it was the only way the others could express their dissatisfaction—by refusing to sit at the same table as William. But now that William had taken t
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 164
By the time their plane landed, night had fallen. As they stepped out of the airport, a light evening breeze greeted them—cool but not harsh. Layla settled into the car and lowered the window halfway, letting the fresh air brush against her face and fill the space inside. After weeks of being cooped up in North City with the heat constantly blasting, it felt stifling to never have the windows open. Now, finally, she could enjoy the breeze without worrying about the cold. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling. “No wonder Dr. Young recommended I spend the winter down south. The moment I stepped off the plane, I could already feel the difference.” “Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out.” William glanced at his phone and added casually, “The high is going to be 77 degrees. Perfect for going out.” “That’s amazing!” Layla lit up, her excitement resembling a kid on a field trip. Just like that, she had left behind all the unpleasant mem
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 165
They had arrived at the villa late last night, only knowing that it had a great location—right by the ocean. Now, in the bright morning light, the view was breathtaking. The sea shimmered under the sun, waves rolling gently toward the shore, while dozens of seagulls glided low over the water. Layla was completely mesmerized. She was so lost in the beauty of the moment that when a camera was suddenly placed in front of her, it took her a second to react. “If you like it, capture it in pictures.” William’s voice was low and steady. Layla blinked in surprise. “You brought my camera?” She hadn’t expected that. “It’d be a shame to take a trip like this and not take a few photos.” More than that, he knew how much photography meant to her. Doing something she loved, in a place she had never been before—it would make her feel better. That was why, without a word, he had made sure to bring her camera along. Layla held it carefully, like a treasured possession, h
Latest chapter
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 466
This was the first job offer to come their way in an entire week.The call came from a small town’s tourism office. The town was tucked away in the mountains of a southern coastal region. It was surrounded by lush scenery, but not exactly famous. It had only recently been included in a cultural tourism development project, and was still relatively unknown.At first, the person on the other end of the call sounded genuinely surprised. A studio like Layla Studio was actually willing to take on such a small, thankless project? They even wondered if it might be some kind of scam.To show her sincerity, Layla offered to visit the town in person the very next day.Once she made up her mind, she didn’t waste any time. After wrapping up her meeting, she clocked out early and headed home to pack.That night, as usual, William dropped by for dinner. The first thing he noticed when he walked in was the suitcase sitting next to the couch.“You’re going somewhere?” he asked.“Yeah,” Layla an
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 465
“Fine! Looks like you’ve really grown a backbone! From now on, don’t expect us to treat you like Layla Xander anymore. Our daughter... has been dead for a long time.”Two separate recordings echoed through the office, every word harsh and ugly, cutting through the air like a slap to the face.Shane's expression twisted between green and pale. His voice shook as he stammered, “How... how did you get that recording?”That first recording was from right after news of Layla’s death had spread.Shane had gone out drinking at a club, drowning himself in booze, and even jumped up on stage to announce he was buying drinks for the whole place.Back then, it never crossed his mind that one drunken outburst would one day become the very thing Layla would use against him.As for the recording itself? That came from Levi.He had casually told Layla that a friend happened to be at the club that night and just so happened to catch Shane’s little performance on video.Layla had extracted the a
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 464
“Miss Xander…” The assistant hesitated, about to speak, but saw Layla lift her hand slightly, signaling for her to leave first.“If you need anything, just call me.”With that, the assistant turned and glanced pointedly at Chris. “Go on in.”The moment Chris stepped inside, the assistant closed the door behind him hard. The breeze from the shut door practically slammed into Shane’s back like a silent warning.Shane scowled. “Seriously? Your assistant’s just like you. She has no manners at all.”“Manners?” Layla let out a cold laugh, still sitting lazily in her chair, not bothering to get up. She stared at Shane from across the room. “Coming from you, that word sounds like a joke.“After all,” she added lightly, “nothing decent’s ever come out of that mouth of yours.”“You—!”Shane shot to his feet, glaring at her like he wanted to start a fight. “Do you even realize what situation you’re in right now? Once this studio goes under, let’s see who still gives a damn about you!
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 463
“What’s the big deal if Carly stays in bed for a few days?” Camila argued. “It’s still better than her working at that studio.”Zion frowned and brushed her hand off his arm. “What studio?”Camila glanced around cautiously before leaning in and whispering right next to his ear. “Layla Xander’s studio.”“What?!” Zion’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at her. “She actually went and worked for—”“I only found out a few days ago myself.” Camila sighed helplessly. “If it wasn’t for the way she’s been acting after losing her job, I wouldn’t have even thought to look into where she’d been working.“This girl’s really grown up, huh? She’s got her own ideas now. She actually dared to hide this from us. Thank God your dad didn’t find out, or she’d never hear the end of it.”Camila glanced at Carly’s bedroom door. “I’m guessing the whole thing with Layla disappointed her too. She quit on her own. And honestly, she hasn’t been in a great headspace since.”“What’s so great about Layla
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 462
A week went by.Mr. Lucas Sr. was still fuming. He called Zion into his study and asked, “What’s the situation with that studio now?”“With your word out, no one dares to work with her,” Zion replied respectfully.“I heard they haven’t had a single client reach out all week. Give it another month and Layla will come crawling back to apologize for sure.”“Good.” Mr. Lucas Sr.’s expression darkened. “She’s just a photographer. Crushing her is no harder than crushing an ant. This is the perfect chance to show William exactly what kind of woman Layla Xander really is — pretty face, but absolutely useless.”“Exactly, Dad.” Zion laughed flatteringly. “If it weren’t for your generosity, she wouldn’t have lasted this long. She really thought you wouldn’t dare touch her. That’s why she’s gotten so arrogant.”Mr. Lucas Sr. shot him a look. “Alright, enough flattery. You should start using your brain for once. Stick close to your brother these days and learn something from him. Now go.”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 461
“What’s with that attitude? I’m still your brother, you know... I’m talking to you!” “Let go!” Hannah snapped, shaking Stanley’s hand off with all her strength.Stanley stumbled backward, landing flat on the floor with a loud thud. His expression darkened instantly, rage surging up. “What the hell is wrong with you, Hannah? Out there messing around with some guy, and now you come home and take it out on me?”“What’s all this shouting about in the middle of the night?” Their father, Steven Stone, stepped out of his room. Their mother, Nancy Stone, followed right behind, pulling a coat over her shoulders.“Dad, she came home and just started yelling at me!” Stanley shouted, playing the victim as he sat on the cold floor.Seeing him sitting there, Nancy rushed over to help him up. “The floor’s cold. Get up, quick.”Steven, however, turned his sharp gaze on Hannah, his voice stern and unforgiving. “What is wrong with you? A young woman like you, coming home at this hour?”
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 460
“I used to think I knew her pretty well,” Layla said as she leaned casually against the doorframe, crossing her arms loosely over her chest. She tilted her head slightly to look at William. “But people change, don’t they?”William lowered his gaze, only to meet the teasing glint in her eyes. For a moment, his heart skipped a beat.“I’ve actually heard a few things about Hannah Stone,” Carter chimed in, stepping closer. “She’s the youngest daughter of the Stone family. She’s got an older brother, Stanley Stone. He’s a total screw-up. A couple of years ago, he got hooked on online gambling, lost a ton of money, and even had loan sharks show up at their door.”Carter shook his head, clicking his tongue. “If someone like that existed in the Lucas family, Grandpa would’ve kicked him out of the family tree ages ago.“But Hannah’s dad? He’s a different story. Not only did he pay off all of Stanley’s debts, he even forced him into the family business and had Hannah work under him as his
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 459
“I already ate...” Hannah said, standing awkwardly by the table. She couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. “Layla, I didn’t know you had company tonight. Am I interrupting?”“It’s fine.” Layla smiled easily. “Mr. Lucas and Carter are both friends of mine. No need to feel so nervous.”Just then, Carter suddenly smacked his forehead like he had just remembered something. He pointed at Hannah in surprise. “Wait a second... you’re the General Manager of QS Entertainment!”Hannah gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah, that’s me. I’m Hannah Stone.”“You know Layla?” Carter looked at Layla, full of curiosity. “How come I didn’t know about this? When did you two meet?”“We met overseas,” Layla replied casually.She reached out, pulling Hannah toward the table with a smile. “You’re a guest. Come on, have a seat.”Hannah sat down obediently, though she still felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was quietly sizing her up.She glanced around a
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 458
Night had fallen by the time Layla finally dragged her exhausted body home. The moment she stepped out of the elevator, she heard Carter’s excited voice.“Sis! You’re back!”She looked over when she heard his voice and saw Carter and William standing outside her door, seemingly about to ring the doorbell.“Why are you back so late? Didn’t Grandpa already put the word out not to—”Halfway through his sentence, Carter suddenly realized he had said too much. He quickly cut himself off, looking embarrassed.“Sorry, Sis. I didn’t mean that.”“It’s fine.” Layla walked toward them and caught sight of the takeout box in Carter’s hands. One glance and she instantly recognized the packaging. It was from a Michelin-starred restaurant in North City.Carter immediately lifted the box like he was showing off a treasure. “You haven’t eaten yet, right? Perfect timing! Uncle William told me to bring you dinner so we could eat together. The head chef at this place is notoriously hard to book.
