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Chapter 161
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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
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 166
While the days in Haven City remained sunny and bright, North City was covered in snow for days, the skies gray and heavy. It took Susan a lot of effort to get permission to visit the old manor. Carrying bags full of supplies, she stepped inside and found Sean, confined to the study, forced to endure hours of solitude.Her heart twisted with pain. “My poor boy! How could they make you suffer like this?!” Hearing her voice, Sean turned to see her rushing toward him. “Mom? What are you doing here?” Susan didn’t waste a second. She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him up. “Come home with me. I’ll talk to your grandfather. If he wants to take his anger out on someone, let him take it out on me!” “Mom, stop this.” Sean pulled his arm free. “Grandfather is furious this time. Do you really think you can take that on? Besides, he sent me up here on purpose. He’s not going to let me leave that easily.” As he spoke, Sean lifted his gaze to the surveillance camera in the corne
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 167
Sean snatched the phone out of Susan’s hand and hurled it to the ground, his voice raw with fury. “She’s just using William to get a rise out of me! I’m the only one she loves!” Tears streamed down Susan’s face. “Sean, why won’t you listen to me? Layla isn’t worth it.” “She is.” Sean sounded almost possessed, whispering the words over and over. “I love her. That makes her worth everything.” Seeing him like this, Susan’s heart ached. She cried silently for a moment before finally pulling herself together and standing up with effort. “Sean, staying here is pointless.“Are you really going to just sit back and let Felix take everything from you?” She didn’t wait for a response. Instead, she turned to leave, but before she could step out the door, Sean’s voice rang out behind her. “Mom, pick out a gift for Kiera. Something nice. Consider it my apology for last time.” He paused for a beat. “Whether she forgives me or not, at least she’ll know I meant it.” Hear
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 168
The call was from Haven City’s Tourism Board. They were reaching out to request permission to use Layla’s photos on their official tourism page. They also extended an invitation for her to attend a promotional event at the end of the month. Layla was in a great mood, so she agreed without hesitation. But after hanging up, she realized something—was she even fit to be in front of a camera? William immediately saw through her hesitation. “Since when is being sick something to be ashamed of?” “That’s not it.” Layla furrowed her brows. “I just don’t want people thinking I’m trying to gain sympathy. I want them to focus on my work, not me.” She exhaled softly, as if convincing herself. “Whatever. I’ll just take it one step at a time. If I really don’t feel up to it, I can always come up with an excuse.” William didn’t say anything right away. He studied her in silence, his gaze thoughtful. *Her sudden online fame barely changed her daily routine. She still spent he
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 169
Meanwhile, Keira sat in her car, still staring at her phone. She had been waiting for Layla’s proper reply, but it never came.With a quiet sigh, she finally lowered her phone and turned to look out the window. When she had sent that message, she had already been parked outside the Perry family’s old manor. She had driven all this way, yet now she hesitated. Should she really go in? Indecision gnawed at her, which was why she had reached out to Layla in the first place. But Layla hadn’t given her an answer. Keira knew her question must have left Layla speechless. She knew she was lowering herself by even considering this. But after coming all this way, could she really just turn around and leave? She clenched her hands slightly, as if steeling herself. Then, before she could change her mind, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car. She walked toward the old manor. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the quiet space. Sean assumed
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 472
Half an hour later, Layla, fresh-faced without a trace of makeup, found William waiting outside.“Where exactly are you taking me?” she asked.“You’ll see.” William started walking.As they stepped out of the guesthouse, they happened to run into Fabian and Diana.“Miss Xander, Mr. Lucas, heading somewhere?” Fabian asked curiously.Diana, on the other hand, was practically beaming at Layla. “Miss Xander, I heard you saved Mrs. Lawson’s son last night! That’s amazing!”Layla chuckled lightly. “It really wasn’t a big deal. Just did what anyone would.”“Oh, come on, you literally saved his life! That’s huge! You have no idea how much Mrs. Lawson adores that kid.”Once Diana started talking, there was no stopping her.“A lot of the young couples around here actually work out of town most of the year,” she explained. “Mr. and Mrs. Lawson used to do the same thing. It wasn’t until Paul turned three that they decided to come back and stay for good.“They told us that sure, you can m
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 471
Layla paused for a moment, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “Too bad my luck wasn’t as good as that little kid’s. Even though I survived, my family’s gone. Then again, maybe that’s for the best.”Just thinking about her two brothers showing up the other day made that smile turn even more self-deprecating. What was the point of having a family like that?William watched her quietly. In his mind, all he could see was the way she had just thrown herself into saving that boy’s life. She was exactly like the girl he remembered — standing in the middle of that storm, fearless and unshaken, willing to risk everything to save someone else.Years had gone by. She had gone through so much chaos and suffered so many betrayals. But somehow, Layla had not changed one bit.Sitting here now, William knew without a doubt that the girl he had been holding onto in his heart had always been her.After everything. After all the wrong turns and all the time lost. She was still right here, stan
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 470
Williama and Layla left the restaurant and followed the noise toward the other side of the town. From a distance, Layla could see a crowd gathered near a fish pond. Even through the night air, Mrs. Lawson’s heart-wrenching sobs cut sharply through the noise.Layla instinctively quickened her pace. Pushing her way through the crowd, she quickly knelt down beside Mrs. Lawson.Lying motionless on the ground was their chubby little boy, his face pale, eyes shut tight, not moving an inch. His school uniform was still dripping wet. It looked like he had just been pulled out of the pond.“Step back,” Layla instructed without hesitation, immediately beginning CPR.She had learned first aid while she was abroad, but she never imagined the first time she would actually use it would be on a child.The mountain air was damp and cold, but Layla quickly broke into a sweat. Flashes of the family's happy photos on the restaurant wall played in her mind. She couldn’t bear to imagine what life woul
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 469
The next second, the door swung open. Layla looked up at William with a small smile. “You hungry too?”“Come on.” William didn’t waste any time. He walked ahead while Layla shut the door behind her and quickly caught up.The town was small, with half of it made up of farmland and the other half a quiet residential area. A narrow stream wound its way through the middle, with trees lining both sides, their leaves swaying gently in the evening breeze.The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of grass and earth. It felt clean and calming, like it could quietly wash away all the noise and pressure of city life.Layla stretched her arms overhead with a relaxed sigh. “Feels like a vacation more than work. Honestly, I could get used to this.”William glanced sideways at her. “You like it here?”Layla answered without hesitation. “I do. It’s rare to find a place this peaceful. Feels like the perfect spot to slow down... maybe even reset.”Halfway through her thought, her ey
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 468
The next day, after flying from North City down to the southern region, Layla stepped out of the airport still wondering how they were going to get to the small town.Before she could even ask, she saw William walking toward a black Range Rover parked by the curb.The driver quickly got out, handed him the keys, and stepped aside.William turned to her. “Come on.”Layla walked over, just in time to hear him calmly explain, “I had someone rent the car last night.”She chuckled awkwardly. “Looks like you really do think of everything, Mr. Lucas.”“Get in. I'll be your driver for the next few days.”With that, William loaded their luggage into the trunk, got into the driver’s seat, and smoothly pulled away from the airport.Sitting in the front passenger seat, Layla glanced sideways at him and couldn’t help but feel that letting him tag along might have actually been the smartest decision she made.It was a two-hour drive from the airport to the town.William drove steadily, his
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 467
On second thought, maybe bringing William along wasn’t such a bad idea after all. He might actually end up being helpful.Besides, people who wanted to gossip would always find something to talk about. No matter how careful she tried to be, it wouldn’t stop the rumors. Instead of tiptoeing around awkwardly, it was probably better to just get along naturally and save them both the unnecessary awkwardness.Not to mention, things between them had already gotten to this point. There really wasn’t much reason to keep dancing around it anymore.With that thought, Layla stopped overthinking it. She might not have said it out loud, but in her heart, she had already agreed to let William tag along.*Meanwhile, over at the Xander family dinner table, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more tense.Mr. Xander barely touched his food before slamming his chopsticks down in frustration. “Forget it. I’ve lost my appetite.”Earlier that day, both Chris and Shane had come home and told him everyt
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!
