Hearing the words, Artemis couldn't believe that Gregory had loved her from the very beginning. No matter how broken she felt right now, his love confession ignited a flicker of hope within her dying heart. A rush of intoxicating affection surged through her veins, blinding her to reason. Without thinking, she took a tentative step forward, her breath hitching as she closed the distance between them.
Then, driven by a hunger that had simmered for a thousand years, she pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was both desperate and tender. It was as if she had waited forever to affirm that their feelings were real—that they both felt the same, despite all the doubts and pain. In that moment, the world seemed to pause, holding its breath as two souls finally bridged the gap that had kept them apart for so long.
