Page 20 of Wrestling With Love

She hit the bag harder.

“Enough.”

The voice cut through the fog of her exhaustion.

Vincent.

She barely registered his presence before he grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-swing.

“What the hell are you doing?” His voice was sharp, but underneath, there was something else.

Concern.

Diamond tried to pull away, but he held firm.

“I said, enough.”

She scowled. “Mind your own business.”

“This is my business,” he snapped. “You’re my fighter. And I don’t train fighters who are trying to break themselves.”

She glared at him, but he didn’t back down.

After a long pause, she exhaled shakily.

Vincent sighed, releasing her wrist. “Sit.”

She didn’t argue. She just sank onto the bench, her entire body screaming in protest.

He handed her a water bottle. “Drink.”

She took it.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Vincent sat beside her.

“You can break down all you want, Diamond,” he said quietly. “But don’t break yourself.”

Her grip tightened on the bottle.

“You think you’re the only one who’s been through hell?” he continued. “You’re not. But you keep fighting. That’s what matters.”

She swallowed hard.

“Pain isn't a weakness, Diamond. It just means you’re still fighting.”

Something inside her cracked.

She didn’t say anything. But she drank the damn water.

And for the first time in a long time, she let herself breathe.

Diamond was not okay.

Lena noticed.

She didn’t ask. Didn’t push. Just kept walking beside her as they stepped out of the gym, tugging lightly on Diamond’s wrist. “One drink. No excuses.”

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