Semua Bab The CEO’s Obsession: Layla, You’re Not Allowed to Die: Bab 101 - Bab 110

“Why wouldn’t it work?” William responded quickly, without a hint of hesitation. Layla paused for a moment, surprised. Even William trusted her that much?Not wanting her to pick up on anything unusual, William quickly added, “When we went to that photography exhibition, Jenny Jasper seemed to really admire your work. She has a good eye. I doubt she’d be wrong.” “That’s just theory on paper.” Layla didn’t dwell on it. She curled up on the sofa, yawning as she mumbled, “Forget it. I already said yes, so I might as well give it a shot.” Noticing how tired she looked, William suggested, “If you’re sleepy, you should go lie down in your room.” “No need. I’ll just doze off here for a bit.” With that, she closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep. William grabbed a blanket and gently draped it over her. He stood by the sofa for a long time, his sharp, deep-set eyes lowered, his dark lashes casting faint shadows.On a stormy night eight years ago, a girl stood dr

“Got it!” Carter immediately rallied his team, getting everyone moving to change outfits and prepare for the next set of shots. For the remainder of the shoot, Layla pushed through sheer exhaustion, barely holding on. By the time they were wrapping up, her head felt light, and dizziness crept in. Carter and the team gathered around the computer, selecting photos, while Layla stood off to the side, carefully packing up her camera and lenses. She wiped down each lens with meticulous care, treasuring them like a general cherishing his sword. Given her condition, this could very well be the last photoshoot of her life. She was exhausted, but she had loved every moment of it. Thinking about it now, she was genuinely grateful to Carter for giving her this opportunity. Once she was done, Layla tried to stand up and let Carter know she was heading out. But the moment she rose to her feet, a wave of darkness washed over her, and she collapsed backward, completely drained

In elite circles, flaunting wealth outright was considered tacky. Instead, the truly influential pursued higher forms of sophistication, using culture and refinement to showcase their status. Collecting art had become their new battleground for social competition. A group of wealthy socialites gathered, animatedly discussing Jenny Jasper’s work, each offering their own "insightful" critique. Scarlett, though utterly uninterested, couldn’t let it show. She forced herself to recite, word for word, the art analysis she had memorized the night before. Faking it was exhausting, but hearing the other women praise her expertise? That, she enjoyed. “Oh, it’s nothing,” Scarlett said with a polite smile, though her expression betrayed a hint of smugness. “Once you’ve studied as much art as I have and immersed yourself in enough exhibitions, you’ll develop your own sharp eye.” Just then, one of the women tugged at her arm. “Isn’t that Layla over there?” Scarlett followed her

Layla froze in surprise. “How did you know?” Jenny smiled knowingly. “A photographer’s vision is reflected in their work. Besides, since you’re close with Mr. Lucas, it makes perfect sense that you’d be the one taking Carter’s photos.” Her eyes were filled with admiration. “Miss Xander, you have real talent. If you’re interested in going further, I can help you.” Those were words Layla had once dreamed of hearing. But fate was cruel. Now, she had no choice but to turn her down. “Miss Jasper, I really appreciate it, but photography is just a hobby for me. As long as I can take pictures here and there, that’s enough.” Jenny sighed, clearly disappointed, but she didn’t push. “I see. Everyone has their own path. I can’t force you to take this one.” Then, unable to hide her regret, she added, “It’s just… my instincts as a mentor are kicking in. It’s a shame to see talent go to waste.” Layla lowered her gaze slightly. “I’m sorry, Miss Jasper, for letting you down.”

Shane raised his voice. “She must be feeling smug right now, thinking she’s won.” “Enough.” Chris’s patience was wearing thin. He turned to Layla, his gaze firm. “Now that I’ve brought you back, I won’t let you leave again. Just focus on recovering.” “Let me go!” Layla repeated stubbornly, her eyes dark and filled with defiance. “Let you go so you can keep running around with other men and dragging the Xander family name through the mud?” Mr. Xander demanded, his voice cutting. “You may not care about your reputation, but we do!” His glare deepened as he spat out his next words. “I’m telling you now, you’re not walking out of this house today! You don’t want to die at home? Too bad—I won’t let you have your way!” At that moment, everything clicked for Layla. They never truly cared about her well-being. Bringing her home wasn’t about helping her recover—it was about saving face. It had nothing to do with her health, her future, or their so-called "family