Chapter 120 Xavier being Protective
Uncertain of how the situation would unfold now that the fifth male lead was confronting both the second female lead and the original female lead, Hera hesitated to involve herself further. However, a part of her was intrigued, eager to witness the outcome of this confrontation from the sidelines.
It’s not that she wanted to abandon Xavier after he stood up for her, she understood that she lacked the protective aura of a male lead like him. Unlike Xavier, who possessed the halo of the fifth male lead, Hera felt more like expendable fodder in this scenario, lacking any inherent protection against the influence of the other leads like Minerva and Alice. Therefore, her only recourse was to seek refuge behind the male lead and rely on their respective halos to navigate the situation.
Hera mulled over whether Xavier would succumb to the whims of the story’s narrative or be shielded by the privileges afforded by his male lead status. Despite her uncertainty about the consequences of continued clashes with the female lead, Hera resolved not to retreat as she had done in the past. Realizing she couldn’t evade her destiny, she steeled herself to confront challenges head-on, refusing to yield to intimidation or coercion.
"What’s going on?" Zen’s question cut through the heated atmosphere as he descended, his senses already tingling with the palpable tension before even glimpsing the expressions on everyone’s faces.
As Zen made his way past the other participants, his eyes fell upon Xavier cradling Hera in his arms. Initially, he entertained the idea of teasing them, assuming their usual flirtatious banter had drawn the attention of the group. However, the atmosphere was far from lighthearted; the tension hung thickly in the air, etching grave expressions onto the faces of those gathered around them.
By then, Zen sensed that something was amiss. Though he had missed the initial events, the protective stance Xavier had assumed with Hera spoke volumes. Without needing to ask for details, Zen could discern that someone had once again stirred up trouble for Hera.
Zen wasted no time in aligning himself with Hera and Xavier, showing unwavering support even before learning the full story. This unexpected display of solidarity left everyone surprised, not just by Xavier’s uncharacteristic tolerance towards Hera’s closeness, but also by Zen’s immediate choice to take sides without knowing the cause of the tension.
"Hera, I believe it’s time to put an end to this act," Alexi’s voice, usually reserved, broke the silence. Its calm and coaxing tone resembled someone speaking to their partner, gently advising them to stop being naughty.
Not only was Hera surprised, but even Minerva was taken aback. More than that, she was furious because Alexi had never used that tone with her, not even once.
But at that moment, Alexi couldn’t see anything except Hera in someone else’s arms, arms that didn’t belong to him. He wanted to break Xavier’s hold and pull Hera to his side. His mind ceased to function as anything but his desire to possess Hera consumed him, drowning out all other thoughts and reasons.
Not only did she attract too much attention, but she was also clinging to a man. He felt a surge of anger, wanting nothing more than to lock Hera away in his room, shielding her from the gaze of any other man.