Artemis’s POV
The courthouse hallway was colder than I expected. Not just in temperature—but in atmosphere, in silence, in the way time seemed to hold its breath.
I sat on the hard bench, elbows on knees, watching the courtroom doors.
I should be in Vienna right now. I should be standing on that stage, holding the trophy that I won by one damn point.
But instead, I was here. Back in this city. At her request.
Luna.
The moment I stepped off the stage after receiving that message, I knew it would cost me everything. And it did. Because when I arrived at her apartment that night, she was on the floor, bruised and shaking, mascara streaking down her face like she hadn't stopped crying in hours.
And Marcus… Marcus was nowhere to be found.
She had covered the bruises with makeup for the
