And the moment they saw me smiling through my tears…
Something changed in their expressions.
Relief.
Real relief.
Like maybe, after years of guilt and grief, they could finally breathe again.
My father pulled back just enough to cup my face in both his hands—large, calloused palms trembling against my cheeks—as if he needed to memorize every detail of me.
"Let me look at you," he breathed.
His silver eyes moved over my face slowly, reverently. The same silver eyes Ryker had. The same ones I saw reflected in mirrors I'd spent years trying to find meaning in.
"You look just like her," he whispered. His voice fractured on the words.
"Like who?" I asked, though something in my chest already knew.
"Your mother."
The room went quiet.
His thumbs brushed the tears from beneath my eyes
