Chapter 190: Ours

Lena’s POV

I spent the first period staring at my phone instead of the television. Every vibration made my heart jump. Every minute without news felt longer than the one before it. Ryan sat beside me on the living room sofa with his sling resting against his side. He looked calm from the outside, and I knew better. His left foot had been tapping against the floor since the game began.

“You are wearing a hole in the rug,” I said.

He looked down and stopped moving. “I did not even notice.”

“I know,” I whispered.

He smiled faintly. “I always tell the guys to stay composed.”

“And now?” I asked.

“I am failing at my advice.” He said.

I reached for the remote and increased the volume. The broadcast showed the arena from high above; the building was full. Thousands of fans stood as the teams skated onto the ice. The camera found Coach Hartman behind the bench. He looked focused, but I noticed him glance toward the crowd several times. He was still thinking about Detective Harper’s warning.

“So am I,” Ryan said quietly.

I turned toward him. “You were reading my face.”

“I have had a lot of practice.” He said.

The puck dropped. For the first ten minutes, I barely followed the game. Instead, I watched the benches. I watched the tunnel, and I watched every person who walked behind the glass.

Ryan noticed. “You are looking for someone.”

“I cannot help it,” I muttered.

“I know.” His voice stayed gentle.

“If Detective Harper believed there was immediate danger, she would have stopped the game,” I said.

“I hope you are right.” He replied.

During the first intermission, my phone rang.

It was Detective Harper, and I answered before the first ring ended.

“What happened?” I asked.

“We located the suspect.” She said.

I stood immediately. “Where?”

“They never reached the team.” She said.

I closed my eyes in relief. “What?”

“The airport security team stopped the individual before the aircraft left the service area.” She said.

I looked at Ryan; he had already guessed from my expression.

“They are safe?” He asked.

I smiled for the first time all evening. “They are safe.”

Ryan let out a long breath. “I did not realise how tense I was.”

Detective Harper continued. “The suspect carried forged identification and had access to restricted areas.”

“Do they know why?” I asked.

“Not yet.” She paused. “There will be questions tomorrow.”

“I understand,” I replied.

After the call ended, I sat back down. Ryan leaned his head against the sofa. “I can finally watch hockey again.”

“So can I,” I whispered.

The second period felt completely different. The team played with confidence. Ethan scored first after stealing the puck at centre ice.

Ryan smiled proudly. “I told him he needed to shoot more.”

“You are taking credit already?” I whispered.

“I absolutely am.” He said.

I laughed. “He cannot hear you.”

“He will later.” He said.

The game remained close until the final minutes of the third period. The score was tied, three to three. The crowd stood as the clock dropped to below one minute.

Ryan leaned forward. “They are setting up the left side.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

Ethan kept looking toward the weak defender. He muttered.

I watched carefully. “You are right.”

Seconds later, Ethan made the exact pass Ryan predicted. Another teammate buried the puck into the top corner of the net. The arena exploded. Ryan stood before he realised what he had done, and a sharp pain crossed his face.

I quickly steadied him. “Easy.”

“I forgot.” He muttered.

“I know,” I replied.

He laughed while holding his shoulder still. “They scored.”

“They did,” I whispered.

“They actually did it.” He said.

The final horn sounded less than a minute later. The team had won the biggest road game of the season. Players rushed onto the ice to celebrate.

Ryan smiled with pride. “They earned that.”

The television cut to the post-game interviews, and the reporter walked over to Ethan.

“Congratulations on the win.” The reporter said.

“Thank you,” Ethan replied.

“What changed tonight?” The reporter asked.

Ethan smiled. “Our captain.”

The reporter looked surprised. “He was not even in the building.”

“He did not have to be.” Ethan looked directly into the camera. “He reminded us all week that leadership is not about who scores; it is about who refuses to quit.”

Ryan lowered his eyes.

The reporter nodded. “One more question.”

“If Ryan is watching, what would you like to tell him?”

Ethan laughed. “I would like to tell him we expect him back.”

The interview ended. A few moments later, the broadcast switched to the locker room. Coach Hartman stood beside the players. Then he smiled and held out his phone. The screen showed Ryan’s face on a live video call, and the entire locker room cheered.

“There he is!”

Ryan laughed. “I heard that game was all right.”

Ethan pointed toward the camera. “You predicted my pass.”

“I know,” Ryan whispered.

“You are annoying,” Ethan said.

“I know,” Ryan replied.

The room filled with laughter, and Coach Hartman raised a hand for silence.

“Our captain wants to say something.” He said.

Ryan looked around our living room before meeting the camera again. His smile softened. “I am proud of every one of you.”

The players listened quietly.

“You showed heart tonight, you trusted each other, and you never stopped believing.” He paused. “I also want to thank one person who is not wearing this jersey.”

I looked at him in surprise. He turned the camera slightly until I appeared beside him, and the locker room erupted again.

Ryan looked back at the phone. “I have received a lot of credit during my career.” His voice became steadier. “But the strongest person on my team has never stepped onto the ice.”

My eyes filled with tears.

He reached for my hand. “This woman carried me when I could not stand on my own.” He smiled at me before looking back at his teammates. “Tonight’s victory belongs to every player in that room.” He paused. “But my fight to get back here is hers.”

The locker room applauded. Several players wiped at their eyes.

Ethan grinned. “We already knew that, Captain.”

Ryan laughed. “I know.”

Then he looked at me with quiet certainty. His next words were not only for the team. They were for the whole world to watch.

“Every comeback I make from this moment forward…” He intertwined his fingers with mine. “…will never be mine alone.” He smiled. “It will always be ours.”

Before the broadcast ended, the reporter returned for one final announcement.

“We have breaking news.”

The celebration behind her quieted.

“The league has confirmed that an independent investigation into the hidden medical reports has officially begun.”

Ryan and I looked at each other. The game had ended, but the real fight was only beginning.