The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

Chapter 457

In a private room, Hector beamed. "Xena, I cleared my evening to celebrate with you. Where are you taking me to dinner?"

Looking at him, Xena felt nothing but gratitude. Without him as her mentor, she would not be where she was today. "Let me cook for you at my place. I can't think of a restaurant worthy of this occasion."

Though she was now Phoenix Warlord and was equal in rank to Hector, her respect for him remained unwavering,

"Sure. I'll try your cooking, then." Noticing her expression, Hector asked, "Is there something on your mind?"

After hesitating, Xena asked, "Lord Hector, did you have Leia bring Felix to my ceremony?"

He thought it was something more serious, so he laughed and said, "Yes. Is that a problem?

pressed on,

him for quite a while! He's treated me a few times. You probably know how amazing

revelation stunned Xena. Why had Felix never mentioned

you think Felix is a

vanished. "Xena, I can assure you Felix is a real man! Wasn't the orphanage incident proof enough? If he were a coward, he could have walked away from that situation, but he put himself on the line instead." His words struck like lightning to her. Combining with

right. Would a coward risk himself

to this, she found herself telling Hector everything about Sonny's kidnapping

shook his head. "You've been through a lot. I understand being worried about your

we can't prove Felix's innocence. But I believe he's not that kind of man. The rest

hand on her shoulder. "Trust me. Felix is an exceptional man. If you end up together, you're the lucky one,