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Chapter 6

Author: Eli Sole
“Just doing the right thing,” Carter chimed in from the driver’s seat, casually inserting himself into the conversation.

“I recognized you the moment I saw you. Uncle William heard me out and decided to help. That’s just how he is—he can’t stand owing anyone.

“Am I right, Uncle William?” Carter asked.

William remained silent.

Taking his uncle’s silence as confirmation, Carter raised an eyebrow smugly. “They say blessings and misfortunes go hand in hand. I’ve seen it firsthand today. Sis, you might’ve been rear-ended by us, but I’d say your good fortune is just getting started!”

“And now you’re acting like it’s a good thing you drive recklessly?” William’s deep voice cut in, sharp and disapproving.

Carter chuckled sheepishly. “I was just trying to cheer her up. After everything she’s been through, her mood must be awful, right?”

“I’m fine,” Layla said with a faint smile. “And you’re not wrong.”

Blessings and misfortunes go hand in hand.

She had fallen ill, but in doing so, she had gained clarity about the people and events around her.

For the first time in years, she felt truly free. Today, she was no longer Sean’s fiancée or the Xander family’s daughter. She was simply herself.

The only regret was that the time she had left for herself was limited.

Layla took a deep breath, letting it go. “One day at a time. That’s enough,” she muttered to herself.

When they arrived at her apartment building, Layla offered them a sincere thanks. “Thank you for driving me home. It was just an accident and I wasn’t seriously hurt. You don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

With that, she stepped out of the car and walked away.

Watching her retreating figure, Carter let out a heavy sigh. “She seems like such a good person. How did she end up with a terminal illness?”

He glanced over at William. “Uncle William, do you think she’s letting everything go because she knows she doesn’t have much time left?”

Carter’s mind wandered back to the engagement banquet, and he slammed the steering wheel in frustration. “Those people are unbelievable. They’re supposed to be family, yet they care more about saving face than someone’s life!”

For a long moment, William stared silently out the window, his expression unreadable as the shadows obscured his eyes.

“Uncle William, are we really just going to leave her like this?” Carter asked, his naturally warm-hearted nature making it impossible to let go of Layla’s situation.

“I overheard the doctor say her brain tumor doesn’t look good.” Carter added, his voice trailing off, worry etched across his face.

“Give me her medical report,” William interrupted, finally turning his attention back. He leaned into his seat and closed his eyes, signaling he wasn’t in the mood to discuss further.

Carter gaped at him in shock. “Uncle William, are you actually getting involved? Wow, I didn’t see that coming!”

“Shut up,” William growled, his tone low and irritated.

Carter swallowed hard and immediately went quiet. But inwardly, he couldn’t stop thinking, “Something’s off. Uncle William’s acting really strange,” he thought.

The next morning, Layla woke up feeling refreshed after a rare good night’s sleep. She got ready for the day, popped on her headphones, and headed downstairs to grab breakfast. Humming softly to herself, she felt completely at ease.

Suddenly, a hand gripped her shoulder with such force that it yanked her backward a step, nearly causing her to stumble.

Sean’s angry face came into view, instantly shattering her good mood.

“What’s your deal now?” he snapped. I’ve been calling you, and now you’re pretending not to hear me?”

Layla calmly removed her headphones. “The noise-canceling works so well, I couldn’t even hear the sound of dog barking.”

“You…” Sean faltered, his expression shifting. He suspected she was insulting him but couldn’t believe that the woman who had once doted on him would do such a thing.

Remembering why he was there, Sean swallowed his anger and forced a more measured tone. “Oh, you had headphones on. I guess I got ahead of myself and let my tone get out of hand.

“Layla, let’s not dwell on yesterday’s engagement banquet. I won’t hold it against you. As long as you’re happy, you can do whatever you want. Just stop being mad at me, okay?”

As he spoke, Sean reached out to take her hand, but Layla sidestepped him, leaving his hand hanging awkwardly in the air.

Stepping back, her gaze shifted to Xena standing behind him. “Sean, we’re over. Stop pretending otherwise.”

“Layla, stop saying things you don’t mean.” Sean’s patience was wearing thin. “You’ve taken it too far this time.”

“Sean’s been looking for you all night, Sis,” Xena chimed in, her voice dripping with concern. “He was so worried about you.”

Her tone softened even further as she added, “He loves you so much. How can you bear to put him through this?”

“So, the two of you were together all night?” Layla asked nonchalantly, catching the key detail in Xena’s words.

Caught off guard, Xena’s face turned pale. “I… I only stayed with him to help find you and apologize. There’s really nothing improper between me and Sean. If you don’t trust me, fine, but you should trust Sean, shouldn’t you?

“You’ve known him for so many years. Don’t you know what kind of person he is?” Xena glanced at Sean, her eyes welling up with tears. “Yesterday, Mr. Lucas humiliated him so much just to defend you. Do you know how awful it was for him?”

Sean’s expression darkened at the mention of William. Turning to Layla, he demanded coldly, “Where did you go with William last night? Layla, you’re good at keeping secrets. How long have you known him?

“He stood up for you at the engagement banquet. Was that all part of your plan? Did you deliberately ruin the engagement and throw dirt on me and Xena just to make it look like this was my fault?”

Layla let out a bitter laugh, unable to believe what she was hearing.

With Sean’s limited imagination, there was no way he came up with these suspicions on his own. It was almost certain that Xena had subtly planted the idea during their conversation last night.

All the years Layla had devoted to Sean couldn’t compare to a few manipulative words from Xena, which were enough to make him doubt her loyalty and suspect an affair with William.

How utterly ridiculous.

“What’s so funny?” Sean’s expression darkened as he spoke. “I’m saying this for your own good. If you stop now, it’s not too late. I won’t dig into it further. Do you even know who William is? You’re no match for him.”

“So, you believe her, don’t you?” Layla asked, pointing directly at Xena, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.

Sean froze, caught off guard.

“Layla, I didn’t…” Xena stammered, quickly waving her hands as if to deny the accusation.

“If you have nothing to hide, then you shouldn’t care what others are saying behind your back.”

Sean instinctively stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Xena, making his allegiance painfully clear.

Layla clenched her fists tightly. If she held back any longer, she might win a medal for patience.

“Fine.” Taking a deep breath, Layla raised her voice and began. “Let me spell it out for you all—just how ‘innocent’ you two really are.

“Sean, where were you last year on our anniversary? You were at Xena’s wrap party.

“I spent weeks planning a surprise for you. When I called, you told me you were working late and forgot about the date. But guess what? I saw you in Xena’s social media photos that very night.

“And last month, when my headache was so unbearable it felt like I was dying, I tried calling you repeatedly, but your phone was off. I passed out and was rushed to the hospital. You showed up only on the next day.

“Where were you that night? Oh, right—you were with Xena, because she had cramps and needed someone to keep her company.”

Her voice was calm and steady, but Layla’s heart ached with every word. Sean had abandoned her so many times. It was only fair for her to do the same now.

“Sean, we should’ve ended a long time ago.”

“I…” Sean’s voice cracked, and just as he opened his mouth to defend himself, his eyes caught a figure approaching from the distance. His expression shifted, his gaze darkening ever so slightly.
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  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 7

    “Xena is your sister, and I’m her future brother-in-law. Is it wrong for me to take care of her?” Sean’s gaze moved past Layla, landing on William. “And what about you and Mr. Lucas? What’s your relationship? Why is he helping you?” Following Sean’s line of sight, Layla saw William approaching. Dressed sharply in a tailored suit, he walked with an aura so commanding it felt as though the world bowed at his feet under the golden sunlight. Sean’s question seemed aimed at both of them. Ignoring Sean’s hostility, William strode directly to Layla’s side. “Miss Xander, is there anything I can help you with?” Layla snapped out of her thoughts. “Mr. Lucas, why are you…” “After the accident, I’ve been thinking about your injury. I won’t feel at ease until I know you’ve fully recovered,” William said, handing her a bag of breakfast. “Carter asked me to bring this to you.” Accident? Sean’s expression shifted as he recalled Layla mentioning the rear-end collision when she firs

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 8

    In just one week, Layla had received all kinds of deliveries, and without exception, every single one ended up in the trash. Today’s delivery was right on schedule: a large bouquet of vibrant yellow roses in full bloom. The delivery guy struggled to carry it to her door, sweating profusely. “Hi, your delivery is here.” Before he could finish, the door opened. Layla glanced briefly at the card’s signature. “Could you please throw it in the trash downstairs?” “What?” The delivery guy was stunned. “But these flowers are beautiful.” “They take up too much space.” Layla smiled politely before closing the door. She used to treasure the two bouquets she would receive every year—one for her birthday and one for her anniversary. She would carefully dry them and save them as keepsakes. But now, with flowers arriving daily, even a single glance made her feel like she was about to develop a pollen allergy. If nothing else, this ordeal had taught her something new. Sean a

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 9

    After some thought, Sean concluded that his repeated attempts to appease Layla had only emboldened her. “Women shouldn’t be spoiled,” he told himself. For an entire week, Sean ignored Layla completely. That day, the company held a shareholder meeting. Sean sat confidently at the head of the table, listening as employees presented the third-quarter performance reports.Suddenly, the conference room doors burst open. Layla entered first, followed by a group of reporters with cameras in tow. Sean shot to his feet. “Layla, what the hell are you doing!” “Nothing much,” Layla replied with a lazy smile. “I just thought the shareholders deserved to know the truth. Oh, and leaking it to the press earns me a little extra cash. The money you offered me isn’t even enough for pocket change.” Sean’s face contorted with rage. “You’ve lost your mind!” “Sure, I’m crazy,” Layla sneered. “You drove me to it.” She turned to the bewildered shareholders. “I have some documents I’

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 10

    “Of course,” William replied. “Then… can I move into your place?” Layla asked tentatively. William: “?” Even Mike, the usually stoic bodyguard trailing behind William, couldn’t hide the flicker of surprise on his face. He shot Layla a glance, clearly amazed at her audacity. This was William Lucas she was addressing—someone who valued peace and quiet so much that even his household staff had to avoid him during his hours at home. “Yes, you can.”Hearing William's response, Mike’s expression faltered completely. He stared at William in disbelief. “Did those words really just come out of Mr. Lucas’s mouth?” he questioned himself.“You don’t need to worry. I won’t stay for free,” Layla quickly offered. She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and held it up for him. “Add my contact info. You can name your price, and I’ll treat it like I’m renting a room. I promise to keep a low profile. You can pretend I’m not even there if you like.” “That won’t be ne

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 11

    When Sean escorted Xena back to the Xander residence, the family immediately swarmed around them with questions. “Sean, is everything they’re saying online true?” “What’s going on with your company? Are you really giving Layla her shares?” “Enough!” Xena interrupted, frustration evident in her voice. “Sean’s already dealing with enough. Stop adding to the stress.” It was only then that Mrs. Xander noticed Xena clutching her arm. “What happened to your arm?” “It’s nothing, just a little bruise,” Xena replied awkwardly, trying to hide it. But Sean grabbed her arm gently and pulled it closer, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a sizable bruise on her fair skin. His brows furrowed. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” “It’s fine,” Xena reassured him with a faint smile. “As long as the injury didn’t land on you, I’m happy.” Sean’s grip tightened as guilt flickered in his eyes, his focus remaining on her arm. “What happened?” Mr. Xander asked, his tone sharp. “It’s

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 12

    The next morning, Layla finally noticed the buzz online. Lost in thought, she didn’t realize her other hand was still holding the kettle, pouring water until a firm hand gripped her wrist. Startled, she looked up to meet William's calm, steady gaze.“What’s got you so distracted?” he asked. Snapping out of it, Layla quickly pulled her hand back and placed the kettle on the counter. “I was just checking my phone…” she said, hesitating for a moment before turning the screen toward him. “I went out with Carter yesterday and didn’t expect someone to take pictures. It seems like it’s causing a lot of trouble for him. Should I talk to him and help clear things up?”Layla wasn’t familiar with entertainment news and had no idea Carter was preparing to debut as a celebrity. If she had known, she would have been more cautious.“No need,” William replied just as his phone buzzed with a call from Carter.As soon as he answered, Carter’s anxious voice came through. “Uncle William, is Layl

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 13

    Sean hadn’t managed to hear a word from Layla before Xena suddenly dropped to her knees, pleading desperately.“Sis, please, let Sean go,” Xena’s voice was choked with sobs. “You love him, don’t you? How can you bear to let him suffer like this? If Grandpa Perry keeps going, Sean might really get hurt!”Susan quickly joined in, raising her voice. “Layla, do you want my son dead before you’re satisfied?”Layla calmly set down her teacup, her gaze shifting to Xena with an air of indifference. “First of all, whether or not I love him is none of your business. And second, whether or not he’s hurting, you’re in no position to feel sorry for him.“He betrayed me. He deserves this.”Hearing this, Susan raised her voice in protest. “What has Sean ever done to wrong you? You’ve been his only girlfriend, his only fiancée, from the very beginning!“My son is outstanding! He’s already treated you better than most would. What more do you want?”Layla curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Th

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 14

    That evening, Carter arrived on time to pick up Layla. When they reached their destination, Layla hesitated as she looked at the bright, flashy bar sign. “Are you sure this is the right place? It doesn’t really seem like my scene.” “What’s not to like?” Carter didn’t give her a chance to back out, pulling her out of the car. “My friends are already inside waiting for us!” Left with no choice, Layla followed him inside. The thumping bass of the music hit her like a wave, mingling with the overpowering scent of perfume. They maneuvered through the bustling crowd until they reached a VIP booth. Before Layla could process her surroundings, Carter tugged her into a seat beside him and started introducing her to his friends. The swirling lights made it hard for Layla to focus, and she could barely make out anyone’s face. Forcing a polite smile, she nodded along, trying to keep up. “So, this is the girl you rear-ended? She’s gorgeous! Don’t tell me you did it on purpose j

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  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 344

    “Sean, did you hear? Felix is going to be your assistant!”Susan’s voice practically trembled with excitement as she clutched her son’s arm. She and Kiera had returned late and missed the fireworks firsthand but the housekeeper had already filled them in.“You’ve finally made it!” she beamed. “After the way Felix screwed up today, there's no way your grandpa will warm back up to him anytime soon. All we have to do now is stay in his good graces, and the Perry heir title is as good as yours!”Unfortunately, her triumphant words fell right into Wilfred’s ears. He had just come back in from the courtyard after making a call. Felix’s phone was still off, so he had no choice but to send bodyguards out to look for him—just in case he did something stupid again.Already frustrated, hearing that just added fuel to the fire.Wilfred’s expression darkened. “Keep dreaming.”His sudden voice made Susan jump.Sean met his father’s icy stare, not even bothering with a greeting. He just watc

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 343

    Mr. Perry Sr. looked utterly disappointed. “Felix, I’ve always known life hasn’t been easy for you. That’s why I never interfered when your father spoiled you.“But I never imagined he’d go so far, raising you into someone who’s arrogant, reckless, and completely without respect for rules or decency.”“Grandpa, I really—”“That’s enough.”Wilfred raised a hand to stop Felix. He had already seen where this was headed.If they didn’t give the girl a proper resolution today, Mr. Perry Sr. would have no problem sacrificing Felix to protect the Perry family’s reputation.Wilfred looked Mr. Perry Sr. in the eye and said solemnly, “Dad, however you decide to deal with Felix, I won’t object.”“Dad!” Felix’s face paled as he looked between them, but one sharp warning glance from Wilfred shut him up instantly.The room fell into heavy silence.Mr. Perry Sr.’s voice was raspy as he spoke slowly, “Young lady, the Perry family will make this right—we’ll compensate you… and this little brat

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 342

    Hearing Felix shout with such confidence, the girl trembled even harder, tears falling like a broken string of pearls.“You… how can you twist the truth like that…” She bit down hard on her lip, her red-rimmed eyes locked on him.“How am I twisting anything?” Felix shot back, unshaken. “You got close to me just to secure a full-time position. You’re young, but so calculating—I really fell for it! I thought you were sweet and innocent, but turns out you’re the most ambitious one of all.“You came here today to throw around wild accusations. Was it all for money?“Oh wait, that’s right! Your mom’s in the hospital, right? If you needed money, you could’ve just asked me! But no—you had to pull this stunt to extort me. You want to play this game? Fine. I’ll call the police. I’ll have you arrested for slander.”“Fine!”The girl shouted, throwing her arms in the air, her stance full of defiance—ready to go down with the ship if she had to.“Go ahead! Call the police! Have them dra

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 341

    Half an hour ago, a young woman had shown up at the Perry estate gates, shouting through a megaphone, accusing Felix of getting her drunk at a party and trying to assault her.Felix’s father, Wilfred, had quickly shown up with security. They confiscated the megaphone, dispersed the gathering neighbors, and managed to restore some order to the estate.But the damage had been done. Mr. Perry Sr. had heard everything loud and clear. Now, he sat in his room, chest heaving with rage.“Where’s that bastard?” he growled through clenched teeth.“Mr. Felix is on his way,” the butler replied. “Mr. Wilfred asked him to come home and face the girl directly. The truth needs to come out, one way or another.”“What truth is left to uncover?!” Mr. Perry Sr. slammed his hand on the edge of the bed several times. “No girl would lie about something like this. Clearly, she was pushed to the brink!“I think Wilfred is still trying to cover for that little bastard!”Worked up, Mr. Perry Sr. was sudde

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 340

    Half an hour later, Sean stepped into the cafe and immediately spotted Susan waving him over in a flustered panic.He walked up, brow slightly furrowed. “What’s so urgent?”Susan grabbed his arm and practically dragged him into the booth. “I went to the hospital with Kiera this morning. Guess who we saw?”Sean’s heart skipped a beat. “Who?”“Xena Xander! She’s pregnant!”Susan clenched her teeth, practically spitting out the words. “That woman is something else. She’s done everything she can to get pregnant with a Perry baby. She’s determined to marry into this family.“She’s been with Felix for ages and never got pregnant. I honestly thought Felix was the problem…”“How do you even know it’s Felix’s—”Sean caught himself mid-sentence, realizing too late how it sounded. He quickly corrected, “I mean, how did you find out Xena’s pregnant?”“I asked the doctor.”Susan looked more annoyed by the second. “If I hadn’t run into her, we wouldn’t have known until she started showing.

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 339

    Layla looked away and muttered, “We’ll see.”That feeling of being completely seen through—it still rubbed her the wrong way.No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to slip out from under William’s control. He was always one step ahead. Even the nursing home idea, he had predicted her move before she made it.To him, she was an open book.But him? Layla still couldn’t figure him out.*The next day, Susan accompanied Kiera to the women’s hospital for her check-up.Kiera took the VIP route into the exam room, while Susan stayed behind in the waiting area.She was bored, glancing around aimlessly, when a familiar figure exiting a room across the hall caught her eye.Just as the person was about to turn a corner, Susan quickly ducked behind a pillar. She watched the figure disappear down the hallway, eyes narrowing. “What’s Xena doing in the OB-GYN department?” she wondered.Her curiosity piqued, Susan’s mind started turning. An idea hit her.She rushed into the e

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 338

    At the sound of the voice, Layla turned to see Susan standing not far away with her arms crossed. Kiera was right beside her.Her gaze cooled instantly. She knew coming to the Perry estate meant there was always a chance she would run into someone unpleasant but that didn’t make it any less annoying when it happened.“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Lucas,” Susan chirped the moment she saw William, her voice turning suddenly sweet. “How thoughtful of you to visit Mr. Perry Sr. so often. He’s truly blessed to have someone like you around.”William didn’t even bother responding. He turned to Layla and asked quietly, “Want to head back?”“Yeah,” she nodded. She planned to talk with him later about the nursing home plan anyway. Once Mr. Perry Sr. was settled, she could finally draw a clear line between herself and William.“Mr. Lucas,” Susan’s voice rang out again, louder this time. “I heard you’re getting engaged to Miss Harris. What a happy occasion! Be sure to send me an invitation. I’ll bri

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 337

    Layla let out a slow breath, not even sure where the sudden wave of frustration came from.*That afternoon, after wrapping up work, she grabbed her car keys and headed toward the Perry family estate.As her car pulled into the driveway, she spotted a familiar Maybach parked near the entrance. It was too late to turn back now.The butler came over to open the car door for her, smiling warmly. “It’s lively here today. Mr. Perry Sr. will be thrilled. Mr. Lucas is already inside.”Layla nodded, inwardly resigned. If she had known William would be here too, she might have waited a day.“These past few years, Mr. Lucas has been visiting often,” the butler continued. “Mr. Perry Sr. always jokes he sees him more than his own grandkids.”He glanced at her with a knowing smile. “Mr. Perry Sr.’s favorite younger generation has always been the two of you. If you ever ended up together, I bet he’d throw in a very generous gift.”Layla forced a polite chuckle. “You’re teasing me, sir.”She

  • The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die   Chapter 336

    Layla stepped into her office and turned to her assistant. “You can go. I need a minute.”“Of course.”As the assistant opened the door to leave, she froze in surprise. “M-Mr. Lucas?”Layla looked up. “Why are you here?”“I told you I needed to talk. Why’d you run?” William stepped past the assistant without hesitation. The assistant, catching the mood, quietly stepped out and shut the door behind her.As he approached, Layla frowned. “You just left Miss Harris out there?”“She’ll wait,” William said matter-of-factly, then shifted topics. “I want to talk about the Perry family.”Layla blinked. “You actually remembered that?”“Of course. It’s not a small matter.”His serious tone made her uneasy. “There’s more to it?”William nodded. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Xena.”He paused before continuing, “Three years ago, after your accident, I tried to use Mr. Perry Sr.’s ‘gift’ as bait to draw out whoever was backing Xena. Does that ring a bell?”He could have brou

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