"That concerns me, how?" Rio questioned bluntly. The teenager was still squatting on the floor, petting her beloved dog.

Thinking about her family, she no longer had any interest for them, nor did she care. That decision was made years ago, when she decided to cut all contact from her family. Rio always believed they never cared for her, nor did she care for them in the end.

To this day it still hurts her heart but, the love that her heart holds for her grandparents and boyfriend overbears the pain that her biological parents gave her; she was lucky to have them.

"Kid, I understand that you are angry with them, heck I am too, I didn't raise my son to abandon his family. He is still your father, the one who gave you life."

The least you could do is visit him, then we can come straight home." Her Popo tried to reason with Rio but, she wouldn't listen to it.

Why should she visit someone who never bothered to visit her throughout her childhood in the first place?

They missed all her milestones in life, her first day of school, her riding a bike for the first time and her first visit from the tooth fairy.

They had no right to love her or need her, neither did she for them. They hadn't made the effort to support her unless it was the financial donations they made monthly to her bank account, she had been receiving since the mere age of eight years old.

There was a hefty amount in that account and she refused to touch it unless, it was for something important. She had managed to live on her own without their help for five years at that point she began to receive money.

She didn't need their help then, she certainly didn't need it now.

"The answer still remains the same, they wasn't there when I had my first trip to the dentist. Why should I give a toss about their life, when they didn't give a toss about mine?" The young lady hissed venomously.

It was truly remarkable how this once pure, innocent little girl had grown into something powerful, reasonable and strong.

Her cutting ties from her family would have either made or break her. Evidently, it made her the strong, resilient girl she is today.

"Rio, baby don't be like that." Her Nona sighed. "I understand that they hurt you in ways that no child should ever be hurt, but he is your father." She tried to reason with her but, Rio wouldn't listen to it.

"The answer remains the fucking same, it's a no!" The teenager spat not waiting for their reaction, she stood from her position and stormed out of the kitchen back into the training room.

In times like this, all she wanted was to relentlessly release the ache from her fists. Boxing was her freedom, heck it was her drug.

She went back to pounding her fists against the punching bag. She was angry, scrap that she was furious. How could they expect her to go back to the family that left in her time of need?

She was punching the bag so furiously that, she didn't realise she was screaming with each punch she threw. She must have been in there for another hour until a pair of familiar, muscular arms wrapped gently around her waist.

They pulled her away from the punching bag. Rio spun on her feet aggressively to be met with the loving sight of her boyfriend of two years, Carson James.

Carson James is what society would call a stud, he was very well-built for a seventeen year old. No doubt, from all the training and conditioning he puts his body through on the daily.

While some would call him dark, brooding and mysterious. In Rio's eyes he is a big softie; especially for those he loves the most.

Carson had features that could only be related to godlike. Most girls would say that he puts Vogue models to shame, Rio would singlehandedly agree with them.

He was the epitome of perfect in her eyes; as she was in his.

Carson and Rio were introduced to each other through the training programme that Rio's grandfather held. From the moment Carson laid his eyes on the young girl, he was a goner.

As much as Carson threw himself at Rio, she still nonetheless disliked everything about him. She especially didn't like his constant crude remarks, but that changed when he took a billet for her.

"Baby, you're going to burn yourself out." Carson's smooth, deep voice entered Rio's ears. He moved his hands soothingly around her waist, hoping it would calm her down.

"I'm fine." She grunted out and tried to pry his hands from her waist. As much as she loved Carson, she didn't want to hurt him when she was in her moods.

"Hm sure you are baby, the punching bag is dangling on its last chain." Carson's face lit up with amusement.

A confused Rio turned to look at the punching bag, and he was right it was barely dangling on one chain.

One more punch and she would need a new bag...again.

"Oh shit." Her eyes widened in realisation, that in fact her recently new punching bag was very, nearly broken. Carson chuckled at her reaction, causing Rio to let out a dramatic sigh.

"Forget about that, I'll buy you a new one." He waved his hand. "But, I can tell you're not fine." He mimicked in a high-pitched, girly voice.

"I don't sound like that." Rio tried to change the subject however, Carson wouldn't let this slide again. "Stop trying to change the subject babe, I can read you like a fucking book." He pulled her towards himself, bringing her in for a hug.

"I don't want to talk about it." Rio mumbled quietly into his shoulder, if it wasn't for Carson being partially deaf he would have heard her clearly.

"Pardon?" He raised one of his perfectly plucked eyebrows.

With a sigh, she repeated herself. "I don't want to talk about it." Carson nodded his head in understanding.

"I'm always here Riri, always." Carson cupped her face and kissed her lips gently.

😂😭