The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection
With Husband 649

Chapter 649

After a long moment of hesitation, Xena clicked play on the video. The first thing she saw was Felix talking with an elderly woman, and as their conversation continued, Xena's brows furrowed in concern. "So, that's Madam Spring?" she whispered to herself.

After months of investigation without even knowing what Sarah looked like, this should have been a welcome discovery. However, as the video continued, Xena's expression darkened, and her eyes turned ice-cold. By the end, her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles turned white as she snapped through gritted teeth, "Felix!"

After sunset, Felix finished preparing a feast and called Xena, who should have arrived half an hour ago according to their plans. When she did not answer after several rings, he tried

not to worry.

However, 40 more minutes had passed, and he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Even if Xena were delayed, she would have let him know.

Finally, he called Alistair directly. "Alistair, is something keeping Xena busy?"

"No, Mr. Zeller. She left work at her usual time. Is something wrong?"

Alistair's response only deepened Felix's concern, and his next call to Xena went straight to voicemail.

Thunder rolled overhead as a heavy downpour began, and time crawled by until nearly 11:00 pm when the doorbell finally rang. Felix rushed to answer and found Xena standing there, but something was terribly wrong. Felix asked concernedly, "Xena, why are you walking in this rain without an umbrella? Why didn't you drive over?"

Xena stood in the doorway, her hair dripping wet. It was obvious that she had been in the rain for hours. Yet, she did not respond, walking into the villa like a zombie.

Felix grabbed a towel and began drying her hair, his heart aching at seeing her this way.

Finally, Xena looked up at him with a blank stare. "Felix, do you love me? Or rather, did you ever really love me?"

Felix froze, confused by the question. Everything had been perfect last night, and their relationship had grown so much stronger. He asked gently, "Of course I love you. Xena, what's going on?"

Chapter 649

Xena let out a bitter laugh and turned to watch the rain through the window. "Do you really love me, or are you just trying to save your own life?"

"Save my life? I don't understand what you're saying," Felix replied, genuinely confused.

Xena shoved him hard, her voice rising. "Stop lying! Felix, I never imagined you'd be the one to hurt me so deeply over and over. Why?"

As Felix sat stunned on the couch, still trying to make sense of her words, Xena scoffed and said, "Still pretending? Fine. Let me remind you-Madam Spring."

Those two words finally made everything click, and Felix blurted out, "Madam Spring contacted you?"

Xena's fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly. "Feeling guilty now? I know what Madam Spring put inside you-something that could only be removed by being intimate with me." She asked, "Is that why you pursued me? Why did you claim you love me?"

Felix felt like he'd been struck by lightning as he finally understood Sarah's true cruelty. It had never been about his life-it had always been about this moment.

"I admit it! I did fall into Madam Spring's trap. She was too powerful for me to fight back," he confessed.

When Xena turned to leave, Felix grabbed her hand and continued earnestly, "But my feelings for you are real. They have been since the orphanage incident!

"We were only separated because of the kidnapping. Yes! I pursued you again partly because of Madam Spring's scheme, but it's also mostly because I truly love you."