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Chapter 323
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 324
The servant quickly retrieved the brooch and placed it gently into Mrs. Young’s hands.Her expression turned so solemn that the entire room fell silent.“Miss Xander…” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she carefully cradled the brooch. “Is this from the royal family in Yorona Empire?”Layla nodded. “Yes. Last year, I was invited to shoot a family portrait for the princess and her family. She was very pleased with the photos, and along with my payment, she gifted me this brooch.“I’ve always believed that only someone truly distinguished should wear it,” she continued with a calm smile. “So I kept it in my collection until today. I thought this would be a meaningful way to show my respect and hopefully bring you joy.”She then glanced meaningfully at Quinn. “Though it seems… Miss Young wasn’t too impressed with the gift.”A royal heirloom—and Quinn had trashed it like junk?Gasps rippled through the room. The murmuring began immediately.“Seriously? Quinn didn’t re
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 325
“Mm.” Layla responded with a quiet, flat tone—completely devoid of warmth.Kiera immediately picked up on her coldness, and though it rubbed her the wrong way, she had no choice but to keep up her polite facade. “If there's a chance, maybe we could grab a coffee sometime,” she said with a strained smile. “I’ll try to talk Quinn into apologizing to you in person.”“No need,” Layla replied bluntly. “She’s young, impressionable, and impulsive. It’s the age where mistakes happen. I’m not going to dwell on tonight, and you don’t need to go out of your way for an apology.”Then her gaze sharpened. “Miss Jenkins, I’d suggest you stop wasting your energy on me. Worry about your own life. That’s what really matters.”After all, her own husband had a child with another woman, and here she was, still scheming through a ‘best friend’ to pick a fight with Layla.Layla had nothing more to say to someone that deep in denial. Some lessons, people just had to learn the hard way.Witho
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 326
Inside the Maybach, Gwen sat in the passenger seat, still able to hear Ivan’s booming voice through the phone.She leaned toward William’s phone and teased, “I was starting to think you’d completely forgotten about me, Ivan. You’ve been on the phone forever and haven’t even said hi.”They had all grown up together. Gwen had always been more tomboyish—running around after the boys, never one to shy away. Eventually, the Harris elders, worried about her lack of restraint, shipped her off overseas. Years later, she had grown into an elegant young woman.After college, instead of returning home, Gwen had wandered the globe. But now, with marriage age approaching, her family feared she would never settle down. They pressured her to come home, find a job, and start spending more time with her parents.Ivan shot back through the phone, voice even louder than before. “Says the girl who’s been MIA for years! You never call, never text—what if some foreign guy had run off with you? We w
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 327
“Alright,” Layla replied as she took the stack of résumés and made her way to the center seat at the long table. She flipped through them briefly, her fingers pausing on one particular name.Carly Lucas?There weren’t many people in North City with the surname Lucas. Add to that an impeccable résumé that screamed elite upbringing, and it didn’t take much to figure out that this had to be someone from the Lucas family.What was this? Was she just stopping by out of curiosity, like a secret royal visit? Or was there another motive?Why her studio, of all places?“Miss Xander, should we start?” her assistant asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.Layla blinked, nodded lightly, and shuffled the papers back into place. “Yes. Bring in the first candidate.”The interviews began.One résumé after another passed through her hands, and one candidate after another came and went. Unfortunately, none of them stood out.Her expectations were high. With the studio just getting off the grou
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 328
“The best way to shatter the illusion,” Carly said, looking Layla straight in the eye, “is to own it. That’s why I’m here—to apply for the job.”Her gaze was steady, clear, and unwavering.Ever since discovering that her favorite photographer, Begonia, was actually Layla, Carly had locked herself in her room, staring at her collection of Begonia’s work, spiraling into deep self-doubt.She had adored Begonia’s photography but she couldn’t stand Layla.How could those two feelings coexist in the same person?The contradiction had tormented her for days. Then she saw the job listing for Layla Studio. After thinking it through, she sent in her résumé.She had told herself that maybe, once she worked under Layla, she would see Begonia for who she really was. Maybe even realize she wasn’t all that special. And when that moment came, she could finally move on.But now, standing in front of Layla, Carly wasn’t so sure.She had barged in boldly, yet Layla had responded with patience and
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 329
“You like it, that’s all that matters.” Gwen noticed Carly had makeup on and was dressed rather formally, so she asked curiously, “Did you have an interview today?”“You could tell?” Carly looked a little surprised.“I overheard Mrs. Lucas mention that you graduated last year and started job hunting this year,” Gwen said with a warm smile, sounding every bit like a thoughtful older sister. “How did it go? Was it smooth?”“Yeah, I got the job. I start at the end of the month.”“Oh?” Gwen’s face lit up. “And which lucky company landed someone as talented as you?”Carly went quiet.She had zero plans to tell anyone—especially not Gwen—that she was going to work at Layla Studio. If her grandfather found out, he would probably lock her at home.Gwen assumed it was just a little secret and didn’t push. “Well, no matter where you’re working, I know you’ll do amazing things. When the time comes, you owe me a celebratory dinner.”Carly was grateful for Gwen’s thoughtfulness and smile
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 330
“Gwen, you grew up with William. You know exactly what he wants.“Love is fleeting. Sure, she has him now—but feelings come and go. One day she holds on tight, the next he’s gone. But interests—mutual benefits—those are solid. That’s what lasts.“In families like ours, marriages are built on alliances. It may not be all romance and passion, but it’s solid and unshakable. When two people are tied together by responsibility, by what they stand to gain or lose—they go farther. They hold on.“You’re not kids anymore. It’s time to think about your families. Miss this chance, and there won’t be another one.”That day, Mr. Lucas Sr. spoke at length over the phone, his voice heavy with meaning.At some point, Gwen had stopped hearing the words clearly. Instead, a quiet voice echoed from deep within her.“Try. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ll have tried.”So, she came home to give her years of silent love a proper ending.“Gwen?” Carly called softly.Gwen snapped out of her
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 331
“Pfft.” Wilson rolled his eyes. “Privacy, my ass. And I wasn’t snooping. I was looking fair and square.” He leaned in, eyeing Ivan with mock suspicion. “Look at you now, acting all supportive of Layla and William. Didn’t you get kicked back to North City three years ago because you tried to mess with them? Weren’t you the one dead set against them being together?” He handed Ivan a glass of whiskey, clearly settling in to hear the story. “So what gives? Why the sudden change of heart?” Ivan waved him off. “Don’t ask. Let’s just say... I regret it.”He raised his glass but didn’t drink right away, lost for a moment in the memory. William had punched him like a lion in a blind rage. Back then, Ivan had been pissed that William was throwing away friendship over a woman. But thinking back on it now—if a woman could drive William to that kind of fury, she had to mean everything to him. And him, as the so-called friend? He hadn’t supported William at all. Hell, he had alm
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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.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 457
After waiting for five minutes and seeing that no one else stood up to leave, Layla finally spoke up in a clear, steady voice.“Thank you, everyone, for trusting me. Now, let’s get down to business and discuss how we’re going to move forward with the new operating plan.”*Meanwhile, Mike was reporting everything his team had found straight to William.William frowned. “Why is Eason Lopez looking for her at a time like this?”“I’m guessing he heard about Miss Xander’s studio running into trouble and went to check in on her,” Mike offered cautiously.“When did they get to know each other?” William asked coldly.Mike scratched the back of his head, a little unsure. “Eason came by with a gift when Miss Xander’s studio first opened. But… before that, I don’t think they had any real connection.”“Don’t think?” Catching the cold look in William’s eyes, Mike immediately lowered his head. “I’ll arrange for someone to look into it thoroughly.”At that moment, Mr. Perry Sr., who had
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 456
The atmosphere inside the conference room felt heavy.The studio had just been established, and now it was facing a massive wave of cancellations. Losing money was bad enough but the damage to morale was far worse.Gone was the excitement and drive from just a few weeks ago. Now, everyone sat around the table looking discouraged, their energy completely deflated.It wasn’t until Layla and her assistant walked into the room that everyone straightened up a little and greeted her in unison, though their voices lacked their usual enthusiasm.“Miss Xander.”Layla walked to the head of the table and bowed slightly. “I’m truly sorry,” she said slowly. “It was my personal matters that ended up affecting the studio. I’ve dragged all of you into this with me, and for that, I owe you an apology.”“Miss Xander, don’t say that! We all believe in you. This can’t possibly be your fault!” “No matter what happens, we’re willing to stick with you and get through this together!”“That’s righ
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 455
Layla looked completely serious. “Once I get the chance to set him straight, I’ll make sure he apologizes to you in person.”“Good,” Eason replied lazily. “That way, I can finally find out who the photographer was that re-shot his portfolio back then.”His tone was casual, almost indifferent, but his words made Layla’s heart skip a beat.So he was here for her.“Or…” Eason added casually, narrowing his eyes, “do you happen to know who it was?”“I—How would I know?” Layla instinctively denied it, a little too quickly. She was terrified Eason would start questioning her on the spot, and then their senior-junior relationship would be over before she knew it.If it had just been a simple technical disagreement, that would have been one thing. But given the situation back then, Layla had deliberately stepped in to shoot Carter’s photos. In the photography world, that was basically slapping Eason’s reputation in the face.Anyone would hold a grudge over something like that. No wond
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
