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Chapter 71
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The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 72
After Layla’s second round of chemotherapy, she was in even worse shape than before. She looked as if a strong breeze could knock her over. She changed out of her hospital gown and stood alone by the window, watching birds circle in the sky. She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice William approaching from behind. “You’re being discharged.” “Okay.” Layla turned around, but before she could take a step, her vision blurred, and the next thing she knew, her body gave out, collapsing straight into William’s arms. “Sorry…I must’ve been standing too long…” Before she could finish her sentence, her feet suddenly left the ground. She gasped in surprise, instinctively clutching onto his suit as he effortlessly carried her out of the room. The moment they stepped into the hallway, heads turned. The sudden attention made Layla’s ears burn. She squirmed in his arms. “I can walk on my own, Mr. Lucas. Put me down.” “You’re a patient. You should be taken care
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 73
“I…” Shane opened his mouth but had nothing to say. They went to the same prestigious high school. Layla was in a lower grade, but she always ranked at the top. Compared to her, he looked like a complete slacker, and that pissed him off. That was why he had his guys find chances to pick on her. But Layla was tough. No matter what they did, she never made a sound. The more she resisted, the more frustrated he got. And the more he hated her. “I’ve been back in the Xander family for fourteen years. Haven’t I given enough chances? But did any of you ever care?” Layla clenched her fists, forcing down the emotions churning inside her. She kept her voice as steady as possible. Year after year, she had hoped, only to be let down. She had humbled herself to the point of nothing, yet she never got a shred of love in return. Now that it was right in front of her, she couldn’t even be bothered. The Xanders had been relentless these past few days, and she was sick of it.
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 74
In the consultation room, the doctor finished examining Xena and called in the family to explain the situation. “This young lady has signs of a threatened miscarriage. She also has a body type that makes it hard to conceive. If you want to keep this baby, you’ll need to be extremely careful.“She should stay in the hospital for observation for now. By the way, where’s the baby’s father?” “He…” Mrs. Xander’s expression stiffened. After a brief hesitation, she said, “He’s busy with work.” The doctor shook his head. “What could be more important than his child? Never mind, I’ll write up the admission slip. Go pay the fees and get her admitted.” Shane followed the doctor out, while the others stayed behind by Xena’s bedside. Xena’s face was deathly pale. She held her abdomen tightly but said nothing. Mrs. Xander placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Xena,” she said softly, “you saw it yourself… Sean didn’t even come after you. He’s made it clear—he doesn’t want t
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 75
Layla would never forgive her family. She was never coming back.The thought weighed heavily on Chris. He rubbed his temples and muttered, “I’m going for a walk.” *Carter and Mike arrived at the Luxe Villa in a separate car, ten minutes later than Layla. The moment he walked through the door, Carter made a beeline for her. “Sis! Right after you left, Xena ended up in the hospital. Looks pretty bad,” he said, his voice brimming with excitement. “Honestly, I gotta say—Sean’s a piece of work. But watching him nearly drive Xena up the wall? That was so satisfying.“She thought getting knocked up would guarantee her a spot in the Perry family. Joke’s on her—Sean doesn’t give a damn. Hell, he turned around and proposed to you!” The more Carter spoke, the more fired up he got—completely oblivious to the dark cloud settling in William’s eyes. “When Sean proposed, you didn’t say a word. I was this close to thinking you’d gone soft again…” He leaned in, eyes sparkling wi
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 76
“Why not?” Carter looked puzzled. “Don’t you love photography? Jenny Jasper is a huge name in street photography…” “I know.” Layla knew Jenny better than anyone. She was the dream Layla once chased. “You know her. You like her. So go.” William, casually picking up the tickets from her hand, added lightly, “I’ll go with you.” Layla froze. “That’s not—” “What’s wrong?” William’s gaze lowered slightly, his tone calm but cool. “You turning me down?” Layla was rendered speechless.Was this… an invitation? Why did it feel more like a threat? Layla sighed. There was no winning against him. Especially when he was the most powerful man in North City. “Well, since Mr. Lucas is interested,” she relented, “let’s go have a look.” Carter, watching from the side, rolled his eyes. Artistic sense? His uncle had none. A photography exhibit? Yeah, right. No way Uncle William actually cared about that. No… Carter’s gaze flicked between the two of them. Wh
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 77
Suddenly, Sean remembered that this photo was the one Layla had asked a friend to buy for her at a photography exhibit. When she first got it, she treated it like a treasure, staring at it every chance she had, as if she couldn’t admire it enough. She used to drag him over, excitedly explaining the composition and the techniques behind the shot. He had always brushed her off, irritated, thinking, “It’s just a photo—what’s there to analyze?” Even now, as he stared at the picture, he couldn’t understand why she loved it so much. Mrs. Lincoln rushed over, snatching the frame from his hands as if afraid he would break it in a fit of anger. “Miss Xander used to wipe this frame clean every single day. She cherished it more than anything,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “Really?” Sean’s voice came out low, laced with a sudden, hollow ache. How had he never known that? “Yeah,” Mrs. Lincoln said, carefully wiping the photo frame, “Miss Xander told me this was
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 78
The exhibit hall spanned two floors, showcasing thousands of Jenny's photographs. Layla guided William through the gallery, her voice filled with passion as she explained each piece in detail. Her eyes sparkled, and a satisfied, joyful smile lit up her face. William, though uninterested in the art itself, kept his attention firmly on Layla. He barely registered her words, but he never looked away from her. The soft indoor lighting cast a gentle glow on her face, bringing color to her cheeks and making her look more vibrant than he had seen in a long time. Since her illness, it had been rare to see her so full of life. It was clear that this was pure, genuine happiness. A subtle smile tugged at William’s lips. “That brat Carter actually did something right for once,” he thought.Midway through the exhibit, Layla stopped in front of a photograph and couldn’t seem to move on. Her almond-shaped eyes shone with fascination. Following her gaze, William saw the image: A
The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die Chapter 79
“Yes!” Layla agreed without hesitation, her heart leaping with excitement, as if she had just won the lottery. With smiles and laughter, Jenny and Layla walked ahead, chatting easily, while William trailed silently behind them. Before long, Jenny was thoroughly impressed by Layla’s insightful critiques. The more they talked, the more Jenny felt a growing sense of connection—like meeting a kindred spirit. Others could only comment on the technical aspects of her photographs, but Layla could see deeper. She grasped the emotions beneath the images and understood the stories Jenny sought to tell. When they finished their tour, Jenny held Layla’s hand, reluctant to part with her newfound companion. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation. “You must have your own portfolio, don’t you?” Jenny asked warmly. Layla nodded. “I do. I used to love photography and took a lot of pictures myself.” “That’s wonderful!” Jenny’s excitement was clear as she reached into he
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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
