Page 19 of Wrestling With Love

Silence.

Then, laughter.

Cold. Mocking.

Her father leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief. "You?" His lips curled in disgust. "You’re not strong enough. Not smart enough. You can’t even pass a damn chemistry exam, and you think you can fight?"

Diamond’s stomach twisted, but she held her ground.

"I will fight."

Her mother’s lips thinned. "And what happens when you fail at that, too?"

"I won’t."

Her father stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "That’s enough. You’re going to medical school. End of discussion."

Her chest burned. "You can’t force me."

His expression turned cold. "You live under my roof, you follow my rules."

Diamond's nails dug into her palms.

They would never understand.

She turned on her heel, storming toward the front door.

Her father’s voice followed her.

"You’ll regret this."

She slammed the door on their expectations.

CHAPTER FIVE

Diamond blinked, the memory fading, but the ache in her chest remained.

Her father had been right about one thing—she wasn’t strong enough. Not then.

But now?

Now, she had fought her way into this life, and she wasn’t going to let fear take it from her.

Her hands curled into fists.

She wasn’t that scared little girl anymore.

She wouldn’t be.

She stood, shaking off the weight of the past, and faced the punching bag again.

Punch after punch, kick after kick—until her knuckles bled, until her arms trembled, until she drowned out every voice in her head.

She wasn’t that scared little girl anymore.

She wasn’t.

The past didn’t get to win.

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