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Chapter 296
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 297
“That wasn’t excessive,” William said calmly. “It was self-defense.”He walked up to Layla, giving her a subtle once-over. “You’re not ready yet?”“Mm-hmm.” Layla glanced toward the exhibition hall. “I was just thinking... what’s the least dramatic way to show up without scaring the hell out of everyone? I mean, this is kind of a resurrection.”Hearing her joke about it, William felt reassured. Clearly, his worry had been unnecessary. Layla wasn’t the type to lose her cool.“No matter what, I’m back now.”As she spoke, a brighter smile lit up Layla’s face—soft, radiant, touched with the quiet relief of someone who had made it through the fire.“I survived. I came back alive.”*Inside the exhibit hall, buzz about Begonia was building with each passing minute.“I heard she’s pretty young—and from North City, too. That’s why she picked here as the final stop. Word is, she’s thinking of staying.”“Seriously? I’ve never heard of anyone like that coming out of North City.”“Well,
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 298
As the calls of excitement echoed through the hall, the sharp click of camera shutters followed in rapid succession.A woman in a sleek, pale floral dress made her way through the crowd, escorted by security. The soft, fitted fabric highlighted her graceful figure as she ascended the spiral staircase at the center of the gallery.In that moment, every pair of eyes turned to her.Then she turned around.Light makeup framed her delicate features, and a faint smile played on her lips—stunning, radiant, unforgettable.A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.“Isn’t that Layla Xander?” “I thought she was dead!” “Am I dreaming? This isn’t a ghost, right?”Among them, Scarlett and her group looked absolutely stunned.Scarlett went pale. “What in the world… am I seeing a ghost?”Carly blinked, still staring. “There’s no such thing as ghosts… but maybe she just looks really, really similar?”“Nope.” Carter crossed his arms, brow raised. “Begonia is Layla. She never died.”A b
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 299
“Let’s give her some respect. It’s a big day for Layla’s return. No need to drag that cursed family into it.”Bit by bit, social media lit up with support for Layla.At the same time, the buzz was spreading outside the art museum too.“Begonia is Layla Xander!”“I just saw it trending. This is insane! Who would’ve guessed?”“If I’d known this was going down today, I would’ve done anything for a ticket. Front-row seat to the biggest plot twist of the year!”Hearing the chatter, Xena quickly grabbed someone’s arm. “Wait—what are you talking about?”“Begonia is Layla Xander,” the person began, but was interrupted by a quiet whisper from a friend. “That’s her sister—the one who once passed off Layla’s work as her own at an exhibit.”The person froze, eyes narrowing at Xena. “So you’re the thief?”“Disgusting.”Others chimed in with sneers and scoffs, spitting on the ground near her.Seeing the situation, Mrs. Xander quickly pulled Xena away, afraid that if they stayed any longer
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 300
Inside the gallery, Layla was completely surrounded by media. Reporters packed around her in layers, so tightly that she could barely be seen at the center of the crowd.The space buzzed with movement and chatter.Standing among the onlookers, Sean looked like the life had drained out of him. His eyes were locked in the direction of Layla, lost in a daze.“That’s really her, isn’t it?” Kiera turned to look at him—only to catch the storm of emotions churning in his eyes. It was a look she had never seen before.They had been married for over two years now, and Kiera had always known that a part of Sean still belonged to Layla.But she had assumed Layla was gone for good. Dead. No longer a threat to their marriage, just a ghost in his past.Now everything had changed.Layla was alive and even more stunning, more magnetic than she had been three years ago.A wave of dread surged through Kiera’s chest. Her stomach sank.Meanwhile, Sean didn’t even notice her unease. His mind was f
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 301
Halfway through his sentence, Carter watched William stride off without warning.“Uncle William! I’m trying to break this down for you. Why are you just walking away?”“Boring.”William tossed the word over his shoulder and didn’t look back.Carter sighed and shook his head, watching William disappear down the corridor. “Looks like things are about to shift again in the Lucas family.”*Later that night, video clips of Layla’s interview were still trending at the top of social media.“Life gave me a second chance, and I intend to make the most of it—spending my time and energy on what I truly love.“You have to remember where you came from to know where you’re going. I’m grateful for everything I’ve been through. It’s made my path forward that much clearer.”Carter sat at an outdoor cafe booth, watching the video for the third time.“Now that’s how you throw shade with style,” he said to himself, chuckling. “If I were a Xander, I’d be fuming right now. ‘Remember where you cam
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 302
Hearing that, Kiera quickly responded, “Yes, Dad. But we didn’t stay long. Sean even took me shopping afterward.”“So that means you two didn’t know Begonia is actually Layla Xander?”Mr. Jenkins got straight to the point, his eyes locking onto Sean. “You know she’s still alive, right?”Sean’s hand paused mid-motion. He knew exactly what Mr. Jenkins was implying, and there was no point in dodging it.“I know,” Sean said evenly, meeting Mr. Jenkins’s gaze. “She’s alive and I’m genuinely happy for her. But that’s it. I have no other feelings for her.”He turned to Kiera, gently taking her hand. “Kiera and I are married. She’s the only one in my heart. I would never betray her. You have my word.”His expression was steady, his eyes full of warmth as he looked at her. But all Kiera could think about was the way he had looked at Layla during the exhibition—that look had been full of love. Real love. The kind she had never seen directed at herself.Still, she forced a smile. “I believ
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 303
“You know how I felt today?” Sean’s voice was low but sharp. “Like a criminal. One after another, people lining up to interrogate me. Threatening me.“Do I have to carve out my heart and lay it on the table before anyone stops doubting me?”Kiera flinched at the bitterness in his tone. “I didn’t mean to… Sean, I just—”“Let me ask you one thing,” he cut in, eyes still on the road. “Am I married to you, or to your parents?”“To me, of course.”“Good.”Sean pulled the car to a stop and turned toward her. His face was partly shadowed, his expression unreadable.“As we already agreed, we’re not forcing anything with the baby. Your health—your peace of mind—that’s what matters most. Don’t stress yourself out. When the time is right, we’ll have a child of our own.”“But…”Seeing the firm, unyielding look in Sean’s eyes, Kiera bit her lip. In the end, she said nothing more.*Later that night, Chris had just bailed Shane out of the police station, and the whole ride back, Shane wou
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 304
The photography exhibition had wrapped up successfully, but the buzz around Layla still hadn’t died down.Prominent photography bloggers compiled detailed threads of Begonia’s past work—awards, gallery appearances, even her celebrity shoots. Every post praised her eye, her talent, her unmistakable presence behind the camera.Three years ago, she was on the brink of death. Now, she had returned, radiant and confident, thriving in the career she loved. Anyone watching had to admit: she was a force.But to the Lucases, it was nothing more than a calculated show.“What’s all the fuss about? She’s just a damn photographer,” Mr. Lucas Sr. snapped. He had come across the news first thing that morning and, in a fit of irritation, tossed his iPad onto the table.Around the breakfast table, the rest of the family kept their heads down, quietly chewing their food, pretending they hadn’t heard him.“Where’s William?” he barked suddenly, turning to Scarlett. “Don’t tell me he ran off to see h
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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
