The crowd was gripped by terror, some clutching their heads and scattering in panic. Seeing themotion, the bodyguards fired two shots into the ceiling.


    Nelson, emboldened, began to struggle fiercely, and Leo started losing control of him.


    Despite his injuries, Leo gritted his teeth, snatched the gun from Nelson''s hand, and pressed it against the back of his head. Hemanded, "Tell them to put their guns down!" Nelson was shaken. "Put them down! Put the guns down..."


    The bodyguards exchanged nces beforeplying, but they still maintained a disciplined formation, closing in on Nelson.


    When force didn''t work, Nelson resorted to pleading. "Leo, is this how you treat me? I brought you back, gave you food and clothes, money and power-everything you wanted. Why must you go against me?" Seizing the moment of distraction, I ran toward Yasmine, pulling her behind me. "Don''t be scared!"


    "Ari..." Yasmine was still dazed, her gaze fixed on Leo. She asked me hesitantly, "Who... is he?"


    The man she had hated for days, pped countless times, and who had now shielded her from a bullet-who was he?


    Nichs caught up with us, scanning the surroundings cautiously. He exined sinctly, "Nelson''s activities have long been under higher-level scrutiny.


    "Leo was sent as an undercover agent. Neal couldn''t act earlier because another major crime task force was in charge of the operation.


    "Due to confidentiality, the mission was repeatedly dyed. I only found out about it yesterday."


    Tears welled up in Yasmine''s eyes. "So... he hasn''t turned bad, has he?"


    Leo''s words to Nelson seemed to answer her question: "Do you remember who my mother was?" "Of course I remember!" Nelson retorted.


    "Then do you remember how old she was when she was pregnant? Do you know how she died?"


    Leo pressed the gun firmly against Nelson''s head, his hatred palpable. He wished he could end him right then and there. No, even killing him wouldn''t quench the burning hatred in his heart!  en


    How had he be an orphan?


    Some men, despite fathering a child, didn''t deserve to be called fathers. Nelson was one of thempletely unworthy!


    Nichs lowered his voice and said, "I''ve already informed the police and arranged a n beforeing here, but it''ll take time to break through..."


    At that moment, the auction hall''s main door was kicked open. Special police burst in, and Nelson''s reign of terror came to an end.


    As the police began securing the scene, they took custody of Nelson from Leo. Thetter copsed straight to the ground.


    "Leo!" Yasmine darted toward him


    like an arrow released from its bow.


    She didn''t care about anything else- -her eyes were only on him. "Call an ambnce! An ambnce!"


    17.


    She cradled Leo in her arms, her hands pressing desperately against the blood gushing from his chest. However, Leo was still smiling. He struggled to reach into his pocket, as though trying to retrieve something.


    "Leo, don''t move! Please, don''t move!"


    Her palms were hot, slick with his blood. Every slight movement he made caused another surge of warmth to flow out.


    "This... is for you..."


    Leo finally pulled out something from his pocket and, with all his remaining strength, held it up to Yasmine''s eyes. "My... entire... fortune..." "It''s not much," he said faintly. "I... don''t need... it anymore..."


    Yasmine clutched his hand tightly, tears streaming down her face inrge drops. "You''ll be fine. You''ll definitely be fine."