Chapter 473

Before Aaron could say anything, Renee spotted a shadowy figure closing in fast.

Her face went pale. Without a second thought, she grabbed Aaron and started running.

"Quick, we gotta get outta here. It's not safe anymore. We need to leave now. Isabella set up a boat for us to escape. If we make it to the dock in time, we can get away from these assassins."

She pointed toward the nearby dock, pulling Aaron along at top speed.

Renee had planned everything down to the last detail, but the organization had caught wind of their escape and sent assassins at the last moment.

Just as they were about to reach the dock, a gun was suddenly aimed at Renee's back.

The gunshot rang out, and Aaron didn't have time to think. He threw himself over Renee, shielding her as they hit the ground.

A pained grunt escaped from above her head.

Renee looked up in shock to see Aaron's chest soaked in blood. The color drained from her face.

"Aaron!"

Renee's hands shook uncontrollably.

She instinctively pressed her hands against Aaron's wound, but no matter what she did, blood kept seeping through her fingers.

She couldn't lose Aaron.

Seeing him take a bullet for her, watching him bleed out right in front of her-it would break her completely.

"Renee."

He gripped her hand, his voice hoarse as he tried to calm her down.

"I'm fine, just go."

When Aaron saw the shadowy figure aiming at Renee, he didn't think twice. He knew he couldn't let anything happen to her.

In that moment, he remembered the despair she felt when she was being hunted by these people.

Back then, she had no friends or support in the country.

The only person she could trust and rely on was him.

But when she called him, hoping for salvation, there was no answer.

How much pain and despair must she have felt to give up hope, watching the assassins close in on her, powerless to stop them?

If it were him, he couldn't even bear to imagine it.

It was only now that he understood why Renee had broken up with him after Isabella saved her.

If he had entrusted his life to someone, only for them to disappear when he needed them most, he would be filled with resentment too.

Thankfully, Renee had given him another chance to be by her side, and they had the relationship they did now. Otherwise, he might have lost her forever.

His thoughts were interrupted by the pain in his body as Renee helped him to his feet, supporting him as they moved forward.

"Aaron, hang in there. The dock is just ahead. Our boat is waiting. Once we're on it, we'll be safe."

"Renee, I..."

With every step, Aaron felt like his body was being torn apart. The assassins were close behind, and if they realized they had no backup, they would charge at them.

He couldn't go on and risk dragging Renee down with him.

Blood dripped steadily onto the ground, and Aaron's face had turned as pale as a ghost.

He shook his head at Renee, urging her to go.

"Renee, leave me. Get to the boat."

"No way!"

Renee understood his intentions, but she wasn't about to leave him behind.

She clung to Aaron with one hand, desperately trying to stop the bleeding with the other. "Aaron, stop talking. We're leaving together. I'm not abandoning you."

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. If she had known Aaron would face this danger by coming with her, she would have insisted he stay behind.

Better that than him losing his life by her side.

"No, Renee, you have to listen to me this time."

Seeing the assassins closing in, Aaron found a burst of strength and pushed her away.

"Go! They're after you. If you stay, neither of us will make it. Please, listen!"

"Aaron, I don't want to go. I want you to be okay."

Renee's vision blurred with tears as she shook her head frantically. "Come with me. We'll leave together."

She tried to reach for Aaron again, but he pushed her away.

The bullet had lodged in his chest, and Aaron knew he couldn't hold on much longer. He had to ensure Renee's safety.

If she tried to take him with her, they would both die.

In his final moments, Aaron wanted to speak his heart. "Renee, I failed to protect you last time. This time, I can finally make it right. You mean everything to me, and I'd do anything for you. If you don't leave now, what was this all for?"

Aaron was desperate.

He pushed Renee away with all his remaining strength. "Go! Don't let my sacrifice be for nothing. Just promise me you'll live a good life."

Renee bit her lip, as if making a final decision.

She wouldn't leave.

Even if it meant dying, she wanted to be with Aaron.

The next second, a cold gun barrel was pressed against Renee's head.

Renee looked up to see the assassin who had been chasing them, his face obscured except for his eyes.

Seeing they had both stayed, the man sneered.

"If you love being a doomed couple so much, I'll grant your wish. Neither of you will escape today."

He tightened his finger on the trigger.

Renee felt a strange calm. If this was her fate, she accepted it.

In their final moments, Aaron and Renee held each other tightly, awaiting death.

"Bang!"

The gunshot was deafening, and Renee's heart nearly stopped.

But then she realized she was still alive.

The assassin had been right in front of her; he couldn't have missed.

She turned in Aaron's arms and saw where the shot had come from.

A short distance away, the assassin lay dead on the ground.

Someone had saved them.

But who?

Renee quickly scanned the area, following the direction of the shot.

She soon spotted the shooter.

On a nearby rooftop, a man in a black trench coat stood with a sniper rifle.

There was no doubt he had fired the shot.

And his silhouette seemed oddly familiar.