Destiny's POV
When Red mentioned my father, I felt my chest tighten, the kind of ache that makes it hard to breathe. The truth was, I missed him more than words could ever explain. I wanted to cry right there, to let the tears spill out, but I bit them back. Alongside the longing was the heavy weight of guilt. I hadn't told him about me. I never called. I never texted to say I was alive, to reassure him I was fine. Instead, I disappeared, convincing myself it was better this way. If I left my past behind, maybe they could finally move on.
But I never expected Red—the love of my life—to come looking for me.
Even now, I don't understand how he sees me. On the outside, I know what I've become. The acid scars on my face are impossible to hide, and sometimes when I look in the mirror, I see only a monster staring back. Yet when he looks at me, he doesn't flinch. He doesn't see the ruin. Somehow, he lets me see the beauty I thought I lost forever.
