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Chapter 480
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 481
Still, Ryan’s pride wasn’t about to let him back down that easily. He lifted his chin, stubborn as ever. “That’s only because you caught me off guard. Next time, I won’t let you catch me.”William barely reacted. “Is that so? Then you’d better keep practicing.”“You—!” Ryan glared at him, practically fuming.Layla couldn’t help but laugh quietly, her eyes lingering on William a little longer than they should.She had noticed the change in him ever since he cut ties with the Lucas family. But it wasn’t until now that she finally figured out what it was.He felt different. He was somehow softer and more human.He was not that cold, distant man who always seemed out of reach but someone real and present.Fabian’s voice cut in, breaking the moment. “Honestly, tonight wouldn’t have gone half as smoothly without Mr. Lucas.”He turned to Layla, adding with a grin, “He’s the one who told me to track down those four kids. With their side of the story, Paul had no choice but to tell the
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 482
Once Layla’s crew arrived in town, the promo shoot finally started moving forward step by step.Layla was so busy she barely had time to catch her breath, let alone chat with William. Most nights, the moment her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.As for William, he spent his days quietly hanging around the edge of the filming site, keeping his presence as low-key as possible.But even so, that didn’t stop her crew from whispering among themselves.“Hey, do you think Mr. Lucas and Miss Xander are a thing?”“Who knows? But I gotta say, look at Mr. Lucas showing up here every single day. That level of dedication? Tell me that’s not romantic.”“Pfft. That’s such a double standard. If he’s handsome, it’s romantic. If he’s ugly, it’s creepy.”“True, true.”Bits and pieces of gossip drifted into Layla’s ears, but with so much work to juggle and such a tight deadline, she really didn’t have the energy to care.Besides, deep down, she knew perfectly well that she was already gettin
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 483
These kids had spent their whole lives being overlooked. But now, for the first time, being part of this video shoot made them feel needed. Every single one of them threw themselves into it with everything they had.And Ryan noticed it all.He didn’t say much, but deep down, he had already accepted Layla and William. Maybe even liked them a little. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered coming over and striking up conversation like this.“Got it,” Ryan replied casually. Then he glanced at William and added, “I’m gonna head over. If you get bored, come hang out with us.”With that, he ran off with the other little boy, disappearing into the distance.William watched them go, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The caller ID showed it was Mike.William pressed the phone to his ear. “What is it?”“Mr. Lucas, Felix showed up at the nursing home today. He wants to see Mr. Perry Sr.,” Mike reported. “He says he’s got good news. A
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 484
At the Perry estate, Felix stormed back from the nursing home, still fuming with anger. Wilfred, who had heard enough of his ranting over the years, was already growing impatient.“Alright, enough already. If you’ve got the guts, go yell at William Lucas instead,” Wilfred said flatly.“Dad, don’t think I won’t!” Felix snapped, still riding his temper. “William’s not even the president of Lucas Corporation anymore! For all we know, the Lucas family might’ve already cut him off. To me, he’s nothing now!“I’m gonna find out exactly where he’s hiding, and I’ll go confront him myself! Who does he think he is, locking up Grandpa like that? Refusing to let us see him? That’s illegal!”Wilfred shot him an unimpressed look. “Did you forget Grandpa left with him willingly? If you go kicking up a fuss and Grandpa ends up defending him, aren’t you just making a fool of yourself?”Felix snorted, completely unconvinced. “This time’s different! I’ve got something big to tell Grandpa. He’s going
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 485
Sean didn’t even spare Felix a glance. Instead, he shot Kiera an irritated look. “Since you love chatting so much, go right ahead.”With that, Sean turned and walked off, clearly fuming. Watching his retreating back, Kiera only felt an overwhelming emptiness settle over her heart.Felix, however, wasn’t done running his mouth. “What’s the matter, Sean? Leaving already? Not even gonna congratulate me?”He deliberately raised his voice, calling after Sean, “Getting mad won’t change anything. What matters is having kids!”“That’s enough.” Wilfred finally cut in, his tone sharp. Then, turning to Kiera, he softened a little. “You must be tired after the long flight. Go get some rest.”“Okay.” Kiera nodded politely before heading upstairs.But before she even reached the room, she could already hear Susan’s voice behind the closed door.“Did you see him? Felix is practically glowing with pride. If Xena really has that baby, there won’t be a place left for us in this family.”“Mom, ke
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 486
At the Xander estate, Xena stared at her phone, almost able to picture Sean fuming on the other end of the line. The faint curve of her lips betrayed her satisfaction.“Xena, stop staring at your phone. It’s not good for the baby,” Mrs. Xander said, her eyes glued to Xena’s belly like it was the most precious thing in the world. She looked both thrilled and content.Earlier today, it was Felix who had personally driven Xena back to the Xander estate. Even before heading to the nursing home, he had reminded her over and over to take good care of herself. The way he fussed over her was something Mrs. Xander had never seen before.Clearly, that baby meant everything to Felix. And with that child, Xena marrying into the Perry family was practically guaranteed.“Mom, the radiation from a phone is not going to hurt the baby. Don’t overthink it,” Xena replied with a soft chuckle.“Still, you need to take better care of yourself. A healthy baby means a happy relationship with Felic, remem
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 487
“After I found out I was pregnant, I really thought maybe I’d get to have you back,” Xena whispered. “But look at you… you’ve been dragging your feet about the divorce this whole time. Sure, you can wait for the perfect timing, wait for the right excuse to leave her…“But me? I can’t wait. My belly’s getting bigger every day. Sooner or later, people are going to notice. And when that happens, what am I supposed to do?”She sniffled quietly, sounding fragile and heartbroken but her eyes were completely dry, filled with nothing but calculation.Sean sat there, only hearing the tears in her voice, guilt instantly softening his tone. “Xena, I told you… I’m not going to let you down again. I’m just waiting for Kiera to come back.”“And once she’s back, you’ll divorce her?” Xena pressed.“I will. I swear I will,” Sean replied, hesitating just a little. “But divorce takes time. It’s not something I can just snap my fingers and do overnight, you know that.”“Fine then.” Xena let out a
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 488
After hearing what Felix said, Mr. Xander’s expression darkened.Ever since Layla had come back alive, their family had never gone out of their way to mess with her. But her very existence kept getting in their way. And now, she was even standing in the way of Xena’s marriage.Seeing Mr. Xander hesitate, Felix quickly pressed his advantage. “Mr. Xander, you are Layla’s father. Maybe... you could talk to her? Maybe she’d give you some face and agree to let me see my grandpa.“If Grandpa gives us his blessing, I promise I’ll marry Xena properly right away. She won’t have to wait any longer.”That kind of promise was hard for Mr. Xander to resist.After a long pause, he finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”Felix beamed. “Great! I’ll wait for your good news then, Mr. Xander.”Mrs. Xander had been sitting nearby, watching this whole exchange. Once Felix left, she quickly walked over to Mr. Xander’s side. “Are you really planning to go see her?”“Chris and Shane tried l
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 496
After a long wait, William seemed to realize he might have come off a little strong. He lowered his gaze and added casually, “That compliment you wanted.”Watching him lower his head again to sip the ginger tea, Layla couldn’t help but smile. “Alright,” she said gently. “Whatever you feel like having from now on, I’ll make it for you.”He paused just before taking another sip. A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.The night was quiet and soft, the warm evening breeze drifting lazily into the kitchen, stirring up something subtle and tender between them.Neither of them said anything else, but there was a silent understanding in the air.After their time in the small town, something between them had changed—unspoken, but undeniable. It felt like there was just a thin veil left between them, one that could be lifted with the lightest touch.*Eventually, the day came when they had to leave the town.Surprisingly, none of the kids cried. Instead, they all beamed with smil
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 495
There was really no getting out of this now. Even if she swore on a stack of Bibles, no one would believe her.Layla shot William a sharp glare, furious he had blurted out the truth for absolutely no reason.William caught the look she gave him and just smiled. His eyes were slightly hazy from the drinks, his lazy smirk pure mischief. He looked exactly like a troublemaker who had just gotten away with it.And just like that, his smile lit up in her mind like fireworks — bright, reckless, and impossible to look away from.She could hear the wind.And she could hear her own heartbeat, quickening without warning.That blurry, half-buried memory slowly sharpened — the dimly lit bathroom, the way he leaned in close and that teasing smile tugging at his lips.And for the first time, it hit her.Her boldness that night hadn’t just come from the effects of the drug.More than anything, it had come from sheer desire.Because she liked William.*The celebration lasted late into the
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 494
”Do more good, and maybe you’ll get into heaven,” William said lazily, his voice drifting on the night breeze.The man on the other end of the line snorted. “If you’re going, I’m definitely not. Dealing with you in this life is bad enough. Why would I wanna be stuck with you in the afterlife too? Sounds like pure torture.”But his joking tone faded as he got serious again. “I’ve already arranged for the donation to the town. Roads, bridges, infrastructure — it’s all in motion.“When Miss Xander’s promo video goes live, we’ll coordinate on the marketing side too. It should get pretty good results.”He paused, then added, “And hey, the first quarter’s almost over. Our contract with the Lucas Corporation is about to expire. If you’re planning to walk away, they’re definitely going to send someone. When are you planning to show your face?”“No rush.”William heard cheers and laughter behind him. When he turned around, he saw Layla in the center of the crowd, tilting her head back as
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 493
Ryan didn’t answer him. Instead, he pulled out his lollipop and took a big bite of the sausage. To his surprise, it actually tasted pretty good.Paul swallowed hard, eyeing him nervously. “So... does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”Ryan glanced sideways at him, still chewing. “You gonna keep bringing me stuff?”The meaning was clear. If forgiveness came with snacks, maybe he was willing to consider it.Paul caught on right away and nodded like crazy. “Of course! I’ll bring you whatever you want! My mom said I have to make friends with you. If I don’t, she’s gonna make me stand in the corner for half an hour when I get home...”He looked at Ryan like he was his lifesaver. “Finally... I don’t have to stand in the corner tonight.”Ryan gave a small, satisfied hum as he bit into his sausage again. For the first time, this chubby little kid didn’t seem quite so annoying.“I’m gonna go tell my mom right now!” Paul shouted as he ran off happily.Ryan watched him go, then turned back to
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 492
Before Ryan could respond, William had already sat down on another stone nearby.“You think we’re just here to lie to you, don’t you?” William asked casually.“No.” Ryan blurted it out without even thinking, his voice edged with defiance.“You guys aren’t from around here. Sooner or later, you’re all gonna leave. I get that.”He looked out at the other kids running around the courtyard, his expression unreadable.“They get it too. Their parents used to come back sometimes. And every time they left again, they’d tell them the same thing. Study hard. Be good. Wait for Mom and Dad to come home.“But while they were waiting, life didn’t wait. Their grandparents got sick. They couldn’t reach their parents. And they had to drop out of school just to take care of the old folks at home. Feeding animals, splitting wood, running errands—whatever it took to survive.“Then their grandparents passed away. And after all that, school just didn’t matter anymore. What was the point?”Ryan bi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 491
“It's because of all of you that this town’s getting attention,” Layla said with a smile. “From now on, no one’s going to dare bully little heroes like you.”“Really?” The little girl blinked up at her, wide-eyed.“Really.” Layla nodded seriously. “Fabian already promised me he’ll take good care of you. He’ll make sure you go to school, have enough to eat, and stay warm. And one day, when you’re ready, you’ll be able to go wherever you want.”She paused for a second, then smiled even brighter. “Your payment from this project is going straight to your school fees. The more you study, the more you’ll earn. I want to see which one of you can make it to college, alright?”The kids' eyes lit up. Suddenly, their sadness about saying goodbye was replaced with determination.“I’m going to college!” one shouted.“Me too!” another chimed in.One after another, they all joined in, unwilling to lose to each other.Everyone, except Ryan, who sat quietly, staring at Layla with that stubborn
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 490
It had been over a month since William left the Lucas estate.During that time, Mr. Lucas Sr. never once mentioned his name. It was as if, by refusing to speak of him, he could pretend that son of his didn’t exist at all.But everyone in the house could tell Mr. Lucas Sr. wasn’t doing well. He seemed irritable every day, constantly nitpicking and losing his temper over the smallest things.The staff couldn’t help but miss the days when William was still living at home. Back then, Mr. Lucas Sr. had always been in good spirits, smiling often and treating them kindly.Of course, Lucien noticed Mr. Lucas Sr.’s bad mood too. No matter how busy he was, he always made time to keep Mr. Lucas Sr. company, playing chess and casually bringing up company matters while he was at it.With William gone, Lucien had been working overtime to win his father over. He figured that as long as he put in enough effort, one day, he might just take William’s place in his father’s heart.Until one afternoo
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 489
Nearly a month had passed. Today, Shane heard that Carly was finally attending a class reunion, and he wasted no time getting himself cleaned up and ready to see her.Following the tip from a friend, he quickly found the private room where Carly was.With his usual bright, confident grin, Shane pushed open the door. “Hey, everyone!”For years now, everyone knew Shane had been chasing after Carly. His arrival instantly set off a round of playful teasing.“Well, well, here comes Shane looking for Carly again! Who spilled the beans to you this time?”“Guess that means we’re drinking on Shane’s tab tonight!”Laughter broke out around the room.Shane was completely unfazed. He laughed heartily. “No problem! Tonight, it’s all on me!”“Thanks, Shane!”Amid all the laughter and cheers, Shane made his way straight toward Carly.The moment he sat down beside her, Carly abruptly stood up. Shane quickly grabbed her wrist.Shane tightened his grip, his tone turning a little pleading. “Co
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 488
After hearing what Felix said, Mr. Xander’s expression darkened.Ever since Layla had come back alive, their family had never gone out of their way to mess with her. But her very existence kept getting in their way. And now, she was even standing in the way of Xena’s marriage.Seeing Mr. Xander hesitate, Felix quickly pressed his advantage. “Mr. Xander, you are Layla’s father. Maybe... you could talk to her? Maybe she’d give you some face and agree to let me see my grandpa.“If Grandpa gives us his blessing, I promise I’ll marry Xena properly right away. She won’t have to wait any longer.”That kind of promise was hard for Mr. Xander to resist.After a long pause, he finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do.”Felix beamed. “Great! I’ll wait for your good news then, Mr. Xander.”Mrs. Xander had been sitting nearby, watching this whole exchange. Once Felix left, she quickly walked over to Mr. Xander’s side. “Are you really planning to go see her?”“Chris and Shane tried l
