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Chapter 22
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 23
A sharp glint appeared in William’s eyes. “Are you planning to take her from me by force? You’d better think carefully about whether the Xander family has what it takes to challenge me.” Hearing the threat in his words, Mr. Xander’s heart sank. Layla refused to leave, and William wouldn’t let her go—this was a deadlock. “Layla…” Tears welled up in Xena’s eyes as she knelt on the ground. “I know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Please don’t be mad at Mom and Dad anymore, okay?” Shane immediately stepped forward to pull her up. “What are you doing? Get up!” “Xena, stop begging her,” Mrs. Xander said, her voice thick with disappointment as she turned to Layla. “If I had known back then that this is the kind of daughter I’d give birth to after fighting to keep the pregnancy, I should’ve let her die.” Those words were like a knife stabbing into Layla’s heart. Even though she had mentally prepared herself for this fallout, the pain was still suffocating. Nothing was more
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 24
Shane was the first to react, frowning as he questioned, “Sean, what are you talking about? Layla’s perfectly fine. You…” “Do you think I’d joke about something like this?” Sean gave a bitter smile. “If I could, I’d wish it was all just a bad joke, so I could turn back time and still have a chance to make things right with her.” Sean’s seriousness sent a wave of panic through Mrs. Xander. She rushed forward, grabbing Sean’s arm, and asked anxiously, “Tell me—what’s wrong with Layla?” “She has a tumor in her brain,” Sean said grimly. “It’s in a dangerous spot, and the chances of a successful surgery are very slim.” His words hit the Xander family like a bolt of lightning. They stood frozen, their faces full of disbelief. Mrs. Xander thought back to the cruel words she had said earlier. Guilt and heartbreak overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face. “How… how could I say something so horrible to her?” she muttered, her voice breaking. Overcome with regret,
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 25
Mrs. Xander hesitated, then let out a heavy sigh. “If Layla really dared to joke about something like this, I would never forgive her for the rest of my life.” Sean fell silent. If this whole situation was orchestrated with Mr. Perry Sr.’s help, then Layla’s position in his heart must be far too important.If Sean were to marry her, wouldn’t he be overshadowed by Layla forever, with Mr. Perry Sr. constantly supporting her and keeping him in check? The more he thought about it, the heavier Sean’s heart grew. …Inside the villa, William stood outside Layla’s bedroom door, hesitating to knock. He wanted to comfort her but couldn’t find the right words, afraid he would only make things worse. The mighty head of the Lucas family, undefeated in the business world, was at a complete loss when it came to consoling a woman. Just as he was caught in indecision, the door suddenly opened. Both of them froze. Layla forced a smile and handed him her empty cup. “The coffe
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 26
It was a large transfer notification. Layla squinted, carefully counting the digits in the amount. Not only did it cover her startup capital, but it also included funds from the sale of her shares, far exceeding what she had expected. With this sum, she could now consider herself quite wealthy. William glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “What’s making you so happy?” Layla put her phone away. Compared to him, this was nothing but a drop in the ocean, so she chose not to brag. “Nothing much. I just got what I wanted,” she said casually. “Sean transferred the money to you?” William asked. “Yep.” Layla held up her phone. “Tonight, dinner’s on me.” “No need. Tonight, I’m taking you to a cocktail party,” William replied. At first, Layla thought this was his polite way of declining, but then he added, “There’s a charity auction tomorrow evening. Once it’s over, we can go for dinner.” Realizing he wasn’t dismissing her offer, Layla nodded. “That wo
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 27
Events that someone like William attended were usually gatherings for high-profile deals, often involving some level of business confidentiality. Layla knew her role well. As a simple date, she was merely there to add a decorative touch, like an ornament. William noticed her composed demeanor and didn’t offer further explanation. His gaze flicked briefly to her hand resting on his arm. “Let’s go.” Together, they stepped into the venue, instantly drawing the attention of nearly every guest. A middle-aged man quickly approached them, beaming with excitement. “Mr. Lucas! Well, this is a rare sight! You actually brought a date with you today!” As he spoke, his eyes swept over Layla, nodding repeatedly in approval. “Not bad, not bad at all. Someone as stunning as her is exactly what one would expect for Mr. Lucas’s companion!” Hearing such direct praise, Layla couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. “You flatter me,” she replied politely. “He’s just telling the truth
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 28
“Cough, cough…” Mrs. Watson cleared her throat, shooting a warning glance at the young woman, silently telling her to watch her words. But the woman deliberately ignored her, smirking as her lips curved into a mocking smile. “Miss Xander, why don’t you teach me a thing or two? I’d love to land a rich man like you.” The others exchanged awkward glances, unsure of the situation and too nervous to speak up. Amid the uneasy silence, Layla slowly glanced at the model, her expression calm and measured. “With just you?” The model froze for a moment before springing to her feet. “What about me? I’ve got the looks, the body, and I’m young!“And you, an old woman who’s been played out, still think you’re better than me?” Her harsh words rang clear through the soft strains of the violin music, startling everyone. Mrs. Watson’s expression immediately darkened. “That’s enough! Do you even know where you are?” The young model, full of bravado, crossed her arms and shot a defian
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 29
Mr. Lawrence quickly picked up the jacket. “I... I’ll buy an identical replacement and have it sent to you, Mr. Lucas.” “That won’t be necessary.” William cast a cold glance at the model, making her shiver. Understanding the unspoken message, Mr. Lawrence thumped his chest in assurance. “I’ll make sure she disappears.” The model froze, stunned. Just last night, this man had been glued to her side, promising to marry her. Now, in an instant, he had abandoned her completely? Watching the color drain from the model’s face, Layla felt no satisfaction, only indifference. “Let’s go.” She turned and walked away, with William following close behind. The commotion ended, leaving the model standing amidst judgmental stares. Her mind reeled. When had Layla become like this? In her memory, Layla had always carried herself with the poise of a lady from the Xander family—composed, restrained, and never stepping out of line. Even if someone criticized her to her face, sh
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 30
“Mr. and Mrs. Watson have a great relationship. Word is, they’ve been together since their college days, and Mr. Watson is known to be a doting husband who listens to his wife,” Layla replied.Layla had looked into Mr. Watson when she sought to collaborate with him, tailoring her approach to his personality. Seeing the couple together in person today stirred an unexpected wave of envy in her. She had once been obsessed with the idea of finding a pure and genuine love like theirs. She had loved Sean for so many years, believing they would become a couple others admired. But in the end, it was all a joke, one that anyone could laugh at her expense. She must have been born under an unlucky star. All these years, she had experienced neither sweet love nor the warmth of family. To leave the world like this felt like a bitter regret. Noticing the hint of sorrow in her eyes, William said softly, “You could try living a little longer. Who knows? You might find the right person.”
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 400
“Don’t tell her I’m awake. And don’t let her come to the hospital,” William said quietly.Ivan frowned. “Why not? She’s been running herself ragged for you. She even made me promise to notify her the moment you woke up…”“Not until I know whether this accident had anything to do with me,” William cut in, his voice calm and unreadable.What Ivan didn’t know was that William had been awake for a while—long enough to overhear the full story Ivan shared about the car crash.Layla had just returned to the country. She couldn’t possibly have made any enemies dangerous enough to try and kill her.And yet the timing of the crash was too perfect. It happened the same night the two families were supposed to meet.Whoever orchestrated it clearly wanted to use Layla to throw him off and keep him from showing up.William’s eyes darkened. “I’ll have someone keep an eye on her—discreetly.”Ivan hesitated. “But… won’t she be really hurt by this?”“Will she?” William closed his eyes slow
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 399
“That accident felt way too convenient,” Wilson said, narrowing his eyes at Ivan. “What really happened?”Given how worked up Wilson had been earlier, Ivan knew he couldn’t keep him in the dark any longer. He gave him a look and motioned toward the window, away from the bedroom door.Keeping his voice low, Ivan spoke cautiously, always watching the door out of the corner of his eye.When he finished explaining everything, Wilson was visibly stunned. “Someone was trying to hurt Miss Xander?”“Yeah. The driver’s still in the ICU. No idea when he’ll wake up.”Ivan’s brows drew together, his expression tight. “I read the report from the scene. For the impact to be that severe, the other car had to be going fast and with all that traffic on the overpass…“If William hadn’t swerved to block it, it could’ve caused a multi-car pile-up. And if Layla had been the one brought to the hospital instead, her injuries might’ve been a lot worse.”“Wait… are you saying—” Wilson’s face went
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 398
At the Harris estate, the moment Gwen heard that William had been in a car accident, she shot to her feet.“I have to go see him!”Mrs. Harris Sr. grabbed her hand, frowning. “What’s the rush? Didn’t the Lucases say he’s not seriously hurt?”Gwen pressed her lips together. “But Grandma, the only reason William didn’t show up last night was because of the accident. Are you still angry with him?”“And that accident happened a little too conveniently, don’t you think?” Mrs. Harris Sr. snapped.“Grandma! You can’t just assume things like that. Do you really think William would risk his life just to get out of an engagement?”Seeing Gwen’s tone shift, Mrs. Harris Sr. frowned. “Look at you—raising your voice to me over this boy.”“I just think it’s unfair,” Gwen said quietly.“You’re letting your feelings cloud your judgment.”Mrs. Harris Sr. gave her a pointed look. “I asked their man for details about the accident and he couldn’t give me a straight answer. He didn’t ev
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 397
Scarlett shot to her feet and stormed toward the door, ready to confront Layla—only to be stopped by Ivan, who rushed in just in time.“Aunt Scarlett, where are you going? William hasn’t even woken up yet. You should be with him.”“Move!” she shouted, shoving at him with all her strength. But Ivan held firm, refusing to budge.“Please, calm down,” he said urgently. “William’s condition isn’t critical. Once he wakes up, we can get the full story. But right now, we can’t blame Miss Xander.”Scarlett was furious. “You’re still defending her? Are you trying to get William killed too?”“No!” Ivan was growing desperate. “I’m just stating the facts. This crash was anything but normal. Miss Xander had no idea it was coming. She’s the one who brought William to the hospital. She stayed up all night with him!“She was the one who asked me to suppress the news. Because of that, we avoided a PR nightmare. She’s done everything she could to help. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 396
By the time Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Sr. arrived at the hospital, Levi had already been alerted and rushed to the inpatient wing to meet them.As soon as he stepped off the elevator, a sharp slap rang out down the hallway.It was immediately followed by Scarlett’s shrill, out-of-control voice.“It’s you, isn’t it? You brought this on him! You’re a curse—anyone who gets close to you ends up ruined! Can’t you just stay away from William?“Layla Xander, how far are you planning to drag him down before you’re satisfied? He’s my only son! If anything happens to him, I swear I’ll take you with me!”By the time she reached the end, Scarlett had broken down completely, sobbing hysterically as she shoved Layla aside and stormed into the hospital room.Mr. Lucas Sr. followed behind her without sparing Layla a single glance.Layla stood frozen in place, a bright red slap mark across her cheek but her face remained eerily calm, like the sting hadn’t even registered.The whole thing happened so f
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 395
“I heard from Wilson,” Ivan said. “Mrs. Harris Sr. and Mr. Lucas Sr. both blew up when William didn’t show last night. Word is, Mr. Lucas Sr. has people out searching the whole city for him.“If they find out he got into an accident while…” He trailed off mid-sentence, but Layla didn’t need him to finish. She was smart and she already knew what he meant.“This has to do with me. I can’t avoid that,” she said quietly. “If the Lucas or Harris families want to come after me, let them.”Her eyes never left William.Right now, the only thing she cared about was seeing him open his eyes—and asking him why he would risk his life just to block that car.*But the truth couldn’t stay hidden for long.The news of William’s accident inevitably broke.At the Lucas family estate, Mr. Lucas Sr. shot to his feet. “What? You’re telling me William got into a car accident last night?”“Yes, sir,” the assistant said, head lowered. “Mr. Ivan Dixon had the story locked down. We only manag
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 394
That night, news of William’s car accident on the overpass was kept tightly under wraps.When Ivan arrived at the hospital, William had just been wheeled out of surgery. Panicked, he grabbed Levi and immediately started firing off questions.“How is he? Did he lose an arm or a leg? Will he wake up? Is he—”“Calm down,” Levi said patiently.“The impact hit the passenger side. William is mostly okay—just a mild concussion and a fractured right hand. He just got out of surgery.”Ivan finally exhaled. “Thank God… When Miss Xander called and asked me to lock down the news online, I was scared out of my mind.”“Wait—” Levi blinked. “Miss Xander called you?”“Yeah!” Ivan looked curious. “It all happened so fast, I didn’t even get the full story. Was she with him when the accident happened?“I mean, I heard from Wilson Harris that William skipped the dinner with the Harris family but I didn’t think he’d gone to find Miss Xander.”Ivan glanced around. “Where is she, anyway?”“She went
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 393
At this point, Mrs. Harris Sr. was done playing nice.She turned to Mr. Lucas Sr. and said bluntly, “We’re all here now. Just tell me straight—did William actually agree to this engagement or not?”“He did, he did—” Scarlett cut in quickly, trying to smooth things over.But Mrs. Harris Sr. slammed her palm on the table, making everyone jump. “If he agreed, then where is he?”Mr. Lucas Sr. finally spoke, his voice slow and steady. “This isn’t up to him. Whether he agrees or not doesn’t matter. He’s not here? Fine. We can still move forward with the engagement.”“What kind of logic is that?” Mrs. Harris Sr. snapped. “If he couldn’t even bother to show up, that tells me exactly how little he cares about my granddaughter. And you expect me to hand her over just like that?”She glared across the table. “Let me be very clear. Before I agree to anything, William has to look me in the eye and swear that he’ll treat Gwen right for the rest of his life. No sincerity, no marriage.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 392
Hannah stood frozen in shock, watching as Layla smashed through the car window and reached inside to unlock the door.“William, can you hear me? William, wake up…”Layla’s voice trembled with panic. She had managed to get the door open, but she didn’t dare move him. Her first instinct was to check his breathing. As her fingertips brushed under his nose, she felt the steady warmth of his breath.Only then did the tight knot in her chest loosen slightly. Her mind slowly began to clear.She knew the risks. With an accident like this, unconsciousness could mean internal injuries and without trained medics on-site, moving him could do more harm than good.So all she could do was keep calling his name.“William… please, wake up. Don’t scare me like this…”Her voice cracked, and a wave of helplessness crashed over her. She was choking back tears now, unable to stop her hands from shaking as she pounded weakly on the seat.Hannah finally stepped closer and gasped.Layla’s hands were c
