- 15 hours ago
Oops, the Hockey Captain Is Obsessed ENGSUB Contract Marriage Romance
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was born with heavy breasts and too many curves.
00:04My half-sister was afraid her boyfriend Jake would lose his mind over me.
00:09So she sold me to a dying man, Ryder Calloway.
00:14Sure, Ryder's injury means he can't get hard.
00:17But, at least you're spared the pain of having his children.
00:23Three months later, I was begging for mercy every single night.
00:28I desperately wanted to ask Claire exactly what she meant by can't get hard.
00:36Ryder Calloway.
00:38Northgate University's undefeated ice hockey captain and the most feared name in the collegiate league
00:45was carried off the ice in blood.
00:47The hit had come from behind, illegal, brutal.
00:51By the time they reached him, he'd lost consciousness.
00:54His mother, Diana, had already lost her husband years ago.
00:58Now, she stood at the edge of losing her son.
01:02Someone on the family's legal team suggested an emergency contract marriage.
01:06If Ryder were married to a healthy young woman, legal stability and medical next-of-kin status
01:12could help the family manage his care and keep the estate in order.
01:16Claire accepted it for me.
01:18If I refused, she would pull out my scholarship funding
01:21and have me transferred to work as an off-campus cleaner.
01:24I knew she hadn't forgiven me for my history with Jake.
01:29Please!
01:30I swear Jake and I are just friends!
01:33What good is a vow?
01:34Do you know how distracting your big boobs are?
01:36Tears came without permission.
01:38Walking around campus with that body?
01:40Which man here wouldn't lose it the moment they laid eyes on you?
01:43It's not that I don't trust you.
01:45It's that I don't trust men.
01:48Do you know who he is?
01:50A billionaire!
01:54If my mother and Diana weren't old friends,
01:58you wouldn't even be considered.
01:59Claire, I don't want to be anyone's emergency.
02:02Wife, please don't make...
02:06Eva, are you insane?
02:09Miss Claire, word from the Calumet house.
02:12Ryder has woken up.
02:13Claire dragged me straight to the Calloway house.
02:16I followed her through the entrance hall to a closed door.
02:20Through the gap, I caught a shape on the bed.
02:23The low sound of difficult breathing.
02:26Diana stood near the window, eyes red.
02:29She took Claire's hands.
02:31Claire, thank you for everything.
02:34He's pulled through.
02:36There's no need for the contract marriage.
02:39I won't ruin a girl's future over this.
02:42Claire's eyes moved fast.
02:44Mrs. Calloway, the arrangement should still go forward.
02:48Eva arrived the same day Ryder woke up.
02:50That has to mean something.
02:51Diana hesitated.
02:53She looked at me.
02:55Before she could speak,
02:56the family physician stepped out of the room,
02:58her expression flat.
03:00Ryder has regained consciousness,
03:02but the hit fractured his lower spine
03:04and struck deep into his inner,
03:05flint deep into his inner thigh.
03:07The nerve damage.
03:09He can't!
03:11He will not be able to get hard.
03:14Possibly ever.
03:15Diana's knees gave.
03:18Eva, knowing this,
03:21do you still want this?
03:23Of course she does.
03:25She's just a girl with no standing.
03:28She should be grateful.
03:30I didn't speak right away.
03:31My mother had been a gifted doctor.
03:34I learned my mother's healing techniques from her notes.
03:36Maybe I could take care of Ryder.
03:38Perhaps it was better to be the wife of a dead person
03:41than to be bullied by my stepsister for the rest of my life.
03:44I straightened and stood in front of Diana.
03:47Mrs. Calloway,
03:54Diana kept her word.
03:56She had a proper wedding outfit made.
03:59She treated it with full ceremony.
04:02On our wedding day,
04:03Claire said to me,
04:04Even though Ryder can't perform,
04:07at least you're spared the pain of having his children.
04:10Don't worry.
04:11A man who can't perform there
04:13is probably exceptional everywhere else.
04:15I told myself I was simply moving to a new house.
04:19Ryder was too weak to stand through the full wedding ceremony.
04:23I completed the signing beside his team jersey.
04:27The one hanging on the wall.
04:29Number seven.
04:31His number.
04:33Diana watched the whole thing with her eyes wet.
04:37When it was done,
04:39I was Ryder Calloway's wife.
04:41A wife of a billionaire ice hockey stars.
04:44His room was quiet when I pushed the door open.
04:47He was sitting up against the headboard.
04:49Pale.
04:50He turned when I walked in.
04:52Up close,
04:53he was strikingly good-looking.
04:56Strong jaw.
04:57Dark eyes that didn't waste any movement.
05:00I never intended to take a wife in the college.
05:03If you don't mind,
05:06we can treat this like a roommate arrangement.
05:09Tonight the bed is yours.
05:11I'll take that.
05:15Tomorrow you move to the guest room.
05:22All right.
05:23He had thought of everything.
05:26It wasn't what I'd expected.
05:28Before the ceremony,
05:30an older staff member pressed a prawn book for me.
05:33She'd whispered with a strange look,
05:38There are other ways between a husband and wife.
05:41You might find this useful.
05:44I hadn't understood her until I opened it.
05:47He'd moved through me just from the first page.
05:50Is it too warm in here?
05:52Ryder was watching me from bed.
05:55Eyes steady.
05:56Direct.
05:57The formal wear is heavy.
06:01I'm a little warm.
06:05Get ready for bed then.
06:09I set the book on the dresser.
06:12I unpinned my hair.
06:14Then I changed.
06:16Layered dress off piece by piece.
06:18Until I was standing in just a thin nightgown.
06:21I looked in the mirror.
06:23The fabric was not thick enough.
06:25Heavy breasts straining against the cloth.
06:28Waists narrow.
06:30Hips full.
06:30In a thin nightgown at midnight,
06:33there was nothing left to hide behind.
06:35I moved toward the lamp
06:36and walked straight into his gaze.
06:39He wasn't asleep.
06:40His chest rose hard.
06:42The tips of his ears went red.
06:44His throat worked as he swallowed.
06:46I grabbed my hoodie and pressed it against my chest.
06:50Ryder,
06:51I thought you were asleep.
06:53I can sleep later.
06:55My breath caught.
06:57He rose to his feet slowly.
07:00Tall.
07:01His shadow fell over me.
07:03Image from that book flooded back.
07:06What did he want to do?
07:09Then Ryder turned and walked to the door.
07:13The moment cold air rushed in from the hallway.
07:17I came back to myself.
07:18He was already gone.
07:21When he'd looked at me just now,
07:24the shock in his eyes.
07:28Had I actually rattled him?
07:31He came back sometime in the night.
07:34His hair was still damp from the shower.
07:39When I woke up in the morning,
07:41he was already gone.
07:42His side of the room was empty.
07:44His assistant, Sunny,
07:45came and shook on me.
07:47Ryder,
07:47why didn't you tell someone
07:48to run you a hot shower?
07:50The water in the rink showers
07:51is freezing this time of year.
07:52I'll make you ginger soup.
07:54You're going to catch something.
07:56Does Ryder, Ryder usually take cold showers?
07:58Not that I know of.
08:01I went to greet Diana that morning.
08:04Ryder was already sitting beside her.
08:08She smiled like spring had come early
08:10the moment she saw me.
08:12Her face only changed
08:13when Ryder coughed.
08:16Ryder,
08:16I need to talk to Eva privately.
08:19Go rest.
08:20He left without arguing.
08:22Diana waved me over
08:24to sit beside her.
08:26Eva,
08:27my sweet girl,
08:28my son waking up is a blessing.
08:31But I can't let that blessing
08:32become your burden.
08:35The doctor says
08:36the nerve damage is permanent.
08:38No one knows how much time he has.
08:41Some in the family suggested
08:43I name a different heir
08:44from another branch of the family.
08:45But that would mean trapping you
08:47in a life with no future.
08:49You came here to stand by him
08:50and I am already grateful for that.
08:52I can't ask you to give him
08:53the rest of your life, too.
08:55I've already thought it through.
08:56If the worst comes,
08:58I'll have him dissolve
08:59the marriage contract.
09:00You'll be free.
09:01I'll see to it that you have housing
09:02and enough to live on.
09:07I hadn't expected her
09:08to think this far ahead for me.
09:10It made me think of my mother.
09:12If she had lived,
09:15Diana laughed through tears.
09:16Look at me making you cry, too.
09:21Eva, call me mom.
09:23You might as well.
09:26And one more thing.
09:29Claire mentioned, you know,
09:30healing technique.
09:33Ryder's daily health.
09:35The food.
09:35The supplements.
09:37Could you take that on?
09:39I just want him around a little longer.
09:41That's my small selfishness.
09:47I went to the kitchen
09:48and started planning.
09:51I carried the meal tray
09:52down the hall to Ryder's room.
09:55He was at his desk
09:57giving instructions
09:57to a junior teammate.
09:59Something about defense coverage.
10:01Just leave the meal.
10:03I'll take it later.
10:07You should eat while it's warm.
10:09The supplements don't work right
10:11on an empty stomach.
10:12He glanced at the tray.
10:13Then at me.
10:14He sat down without another word.
10:18Going forward,
10:19have Sunny bring the meals.
10:21She knows the routine.
10:22I can do it.
10:24It's not necessary.
10:27It's the same either way.
10:33It isn't have Sunny do it.
10:38Let's go out and talk.
10:46That confirmed it.
10:48Ryder Calloway did not want me around.
10:50Was my curve really too exaggerated?
10:55I followed his instruction.
10:58After that,
10:59Sunny delivered every meal
11:00to his studies.
11:01A week later,
11:02at morning check-in with Diana,
11:04Dr. Mills came by
11:05for his routine check.
11:07She said his vitals
11:08are the most stable she's seen.
11:11Eva, that's your doing.
11:13Then back in my room,
11:15I added it to the small box
11:16I kept in the dresser.
11:17You never wear any of it.
11:23I will eventually.
11:27If I ever leave,
11:28it all converts
11:29to something useful.
11:31You'd sell the things
11:32Mom gave you?
11:33Not while I'm here.
11:34But if the marriage contract
11:35is dissolved one day?
11:37Yes.
11:38That's just practical.
11:42Ryder!
11:44Ryder,
11:45did you need something?
11:48I left some team footage
11:50in this room
11:51looking for it.
11:54I'll help you find it.
11:55What format?
11:57USB.
11:58Black case.
12:07Any idea where you left it?
12:10No.
12:24He was really handsome.
12:26Fair skin,
12:26sharp brows,
12:27dark eyes.
12:40My chest pressed against him
12:42and I could feel
12:43his hard dick.
12:52Your footage.
12:54Keep it.
12:56Oh no.
12:58Now he must have
12:58a worse impression of me.
13:03After that,
13:04I started actively
13:05avoiding Ryder.
13:06He was healing.
13:07He needed calm.
13:08I was apparently
13:09not conducive to calm.
13:10But a new problem
13:11landed in my inbox.
13:13Jake had been messaging me
13:14three times
13:15in the past week.
13:16I deleted them
13:17without responding
13:18and locked them
13:19in a folder.
13:20Eva.
13:22Eva.
13:24Someone's waiting
13:24at the side entrance.
13:26He says he won't leave
13:27until you come out.
13:28I already knew
13:29who it was.
13:33I walked out fast,
13:34already irritated.
13:36I pushed open
13:37the side door.
13:38Eva.
13:39You finally came.
13:44You can call me
13:45Mrs. Calloway
13:46or just don't
13:47call me anything.
13:48He leaned against the wall.
13:49I'm going to be promoted
13:50to senior team
13:51after next season.
13:53I just think
13:54that's the scene.
13:55I'm going to be promoted
13:56to senior team
13:57captain next season.
14:00When that happens,
14:02I won't need
14:03Claire's family
14:04connections anymore.
14:05Eva,
14:06come be with me.
14:08Ryder's finished.
14:09Everyone knows it.
14:11Almost dying.
14:13What kind of future
14:14is that?
14:15What kind of future
14:19he reached out
14:20toward me.
14:21I stepped back.
14:23You want me
14:24as a side piece?
14:25He nodded
14:26like it was reasonable.
14:27I laughed,
14:28actually laughed.
14:33Why would I give up
14:34being a Callowin wife
14:35to be your secret?
14:37I am standing.
14:38I have a name.
14:40I have a house
14:41that could fit
14:41your apartment
14:42twelve times over.
14:44The whole campus
14:45knows Ryder's washed up.
14:50Seems like a waste.
14:55My stomach turned.
14:56I stepped closer.
14:57My voice went quiet.
14:59You want to push this?
15:00I have every message
15:02you've sent me saved.
15:04I can have them
15:05on Claire's phone
15:06in ten minutes.
15:11How does your
15:12captainship look after that?
15:17His face went white.
15:18I turned and walked
15:19back through the door.
15:21Behind me,
15:22I heard him start
15:23to say something.
15:25I closed the door.
15:28I spun around
15:29and nearly walked
15:30into Ryder.
15:32He was standing
15:33less than two feet away
15:34in a dark team jacket.
15:37I hadn't heard him
15:38come up.
15:40Ryder, I...
15:41His eyes were level,
15:42not cold,
15:43something else.
15:44You just called yourself
15:45a Kalani.
15:47My face got warm.
15:49That was...
15:50I was making a point.
15:51I didn't mean to overstep.
15:55You told him I was
15:56the most celebrated
15:57athlete in the league.
16:00That's just true.
16:02Ryder tilted his head slightly.
16:04Something moved
16:05in his expression.
16:06A minute ago,
16:06you said you were my wife.
16:08Now you're back to Ryder.
16:15I...
16:16I'll go check on your
16:17afternoon supplement timing.
16:19I tried to step past him.
16:21His hand caught my arm,
16:22gentle but there.
16:25I stumbled sideways
16:26into his chest.
16:34I looked up at him
16:35from three inches away.
16:37His eyes were dark
16:38and very close.
16:40The things you said just now...
16:45were they true?
16:47I couldn't tell him
16:47the whole truth
16:48was just a bluff
16:48for Jake's benefit.
16:50So I looked up at him
16:51and said nothing.
16:53Ryder's eyes stayed on my face.
16:55The distance between us
16:56was wrong.
16:57Too close,
16:57his breath warm,
16:58his hand still around my arm.
17:00Eva.
17:02The supplement timing.
17:03I should go check.
17:05He let go.
17:07I walked away fast.
17:09Behind me, nothing.
17:10No footsteps.
17:11Just silence.
17:12That was the first time
17:14I'd seen colour
17:14in Ryder Calloway's face.
17:18My heart was going
17:19completely haywire.
17:23That night,
17:24I dreamed about him.
17:27Nothing specific.
17:29Just his voice in the dark,
17:30low and close.
17:31Eva.
17:31Saying my name
17:32in a way that made
17:33my chest ache.
17:34I woke up with my pulse
17:35pounding and the sheets twisted.
17:37Sunny knocked and came in.
17:38I asked her to bring cold water.
17:40It really is getting warmer.
17:44I pressed a handful
17:45of cold water against my face.
17:47Then,
17:48I thought about Ryder
17:49going to take that cold shower
17:51in the middle of the night.
17:52I shook the thought
17:53out of my head immediately.
17:54He had nerve damage.
17:55He was healing.
17:56This was absurd.
17:58Mrs. Calloway
17:59is having dinner
18:00in the courtyard tonight.
18:01She'd like you both there.
18:03Diana's housekeeper
18:04came to find me.
18:05I'd been finding reasons
18:06to avoid shared meals
18:08all week.
18:09Diana had noticed.
18:10I couldn't keep saying no.
18:12I walked out
18:13to the small yard
18:14behind the house.
18:15As the evening light
18:17came through the trees,
18:18the spread on the table
18:19was everything I liked.
18:21I stood there
18:21looking at it.
18:22Ryder remembered.
18:23He asked the kitchen
18:25this morning.
18:28My mother had died
18:29the night I was born.
18:32No one had ever made
18:33a point of the date.
18:35Something moved in my chest,
18:37small and uninvited.
18:39How did you know
18:39today was my birthday?
18:41I forgot myself.
18:43The marriage registration
18:44paperwork.
18:45It listed your date of birth.
18:49She says they did have to think
18:50and say it, I do that.
18:53This is a bottle
18:54I've been saving.
18:56Good apple cider.
18:57And it's O'ernot.
18:59I'm opening it for you tonight.
19:01Don't let either of you
19:02drink too much.
19:06Actually,
19:07the night air is too cold
19:08for my joints.
19:09I'll leave you two
19:10to enjoy it.
19:15She was gone
19:16before I could say anything.
19:17The yard went quiet.
19:19To avoid the silence,
19:20I poured a glass
19:21and drank it faster
19:22than I should have.
19:23It was sweet.
19:24It was also stronger
19:25than it tasted.
19:27I poured another,
19:28then another.
19:29The warmth spread up
19:30through my chest
19:31and behind my eyes.
19:33I reached toward
19:35the last small cake
19:36on the plate in the middle
19:37and found it empty.
19:38Where did the last one go?
19:40I ate it.
19:44I don't know where
19:45the nerve came from.
19:46I leaned toward him.
19:48Who said you could have
19:49the last one?
19:50Give it back.
19:50Ryder stared at me.
19:51Then he opened his mouth.
19:52You'll have to come
19:53find it yourself.
19:54I looked at his mouth,
19:55then back at his eyes,
19:56then back at his mouth.
19:57I leaned forward
19:58and kissed him.
19:59He went completely still.
20:01His breath stopped.
20:02Then his hand came up
20:03to the back of my head
20:04and the kiss went deeper,
20:06slower,
20:07like he'd been waiting for it.
20:08Footsteps on the gravel path.
20:10We broke apart.
20:11Ryder!
20:11Diana said it's getting cold.
20:13She wanted me to...
20:14She stopped,
20:15looked at us.
20:15I'll just leave these here.
20:17I stood up too fast.
20:19The yard tilted.
20:20My knees went the wrong way.
20:21Everything went dark.
20:23I woke up to the morning light
20:24and a headache like a fist
20:26behind my eyes.
20:27I sat up fast.
20:28Diana.
20:29The church visit.
20:30I'd promised I'd go with her
20:31this morning.
20:32Don't rush.
20:33Sunny appeared in the doorway.
20:34The car isn't ready yet.
20:35Did I...
20:36How did I get back here?
20:37Ryder carried you in.
20:39I looked at her.
20:40She nodded seriously.
20:41I didn't say anything strange,
20:43did I?
20:43You kept grabbing his sleeve
20:45and calling him baby.
20:46She pressed a hand over her mouth.
20:48Over and over.
20:49He turned so red.
20:51I thought he was gonna faint too.
20:53Sunny,
20:53if you tell anyone...
20:55She was already running.
20:56I found Diana at the front door.
20:58We drove out to the botanical gardens.
20:59She liked the greenhouse there
21:01on weekend mornings
21:02and said it was peaceful.
21:03I sat in the passenger seat
21:05staring out the window.
21:06Still half mortified,
21:07Diana glanced over.
21:09You're not thinking about
21:09what I think you're thinking about.
21:11I've...
21:12talked to about anything.
21:13Eva.
21:14She kept her eyes on the road,
21:15but she was smiling.
21:17I arranged this dinner on purpose.
21:19I'm not sorry about it.
21:21Ryder and I are not...
21:22I know, I know.
21:24She waved a hand.
21:25I just want you two to be able to talk.
21:27Even if it can't be more than that.
21:28I'd rather you were friends
21:30than strangers living in the same house.
21:31I was about to answer her.
21:33The car lurched.
21:34A sharp horn.
21:35Diana yanked the wheel.
21:37The car swerved hard onto the shoulder
21:38and the engine sputtered out.
21:40The brakes!
21:41She pressed the pedal again.
21:42Nothing.
21:43We were on the incline road above the park,
21:45still moving,
21:46getting faster.
21:47I looked ahead.
21:48A concrete barrier at the curve,
21:50maybe 300 meters.
21:52Diana, unbuckle.
21:53We have to get out now.
21:54Eva, that's too dangerous.
21:56Barrier is faster.
21:57Unbuckle.
21:58Hold on to me.
21:59We go on three.
22:00She was shaking,
22:01but she moved.
22:02I got my door open,
22:03locked my arm through hers,
22:05and the moment the car drifted
22:06toward the far shoulder,
22:07I pulled us both out
22:08and hit the slope hard.
22:10We rolled.
22:11I got my arms around her
22:12and took the ground on my side,
22:14my back,
22:15my elbow.
22:15The car struck the barrier
22:1720 meters ahead
22:18with a sound like a gunshot.
22:20Silence.
22:20Diana, are you hurt?
22:21Tell me about it.
22:22I was already checking her.
22:23Eva, you're bleeding.
22:25The gravel had opened up
22:26my forearm and one side of my face.
22:27I didn't feel it yet.
22:29Adrenaline.
22:29I'm fine.
22:30Are you hurt anywhere?
22:31Nothing serious.
22:33Eva, you covered me
22:35the entire way down.
22:36I helped her sit up
22:37against the slope.
22:38She was already crying.
22:39I'm fine.
22:40Sunny's car.
22:41She's always right behind us.
22:43She'll be calling for help.
22:44I heard my own voice
22:45as if from a distance.
22:46Steady, calm.
22:47While every nerve in my body
22:49screamed, a sound.
22:50Footsteps, fast,
22:52coming down the slope.
22:53I thought I was imagining
22:54it.
22:54Eva, don't move.
22:56I've got you.
22:57Ryder's voice.
22:58He came down the bank fast,
22:59pale, jaw set,
23:01eyes scanning me.
23:02He took my arm in both hands.
23:04How much blood is this?
23:05Where's the source?
23:06Surface.
23:07I'm fine.
23:08Stop saying that.
23:09He pulled off his jacket
23:10and pressed it to my forearm.
23:12You're not fine.
23:13He looked at his mother.
23:14She waved him back to me.
23:15I'm all right, Ryder.
23:16Take care of Eva.
23:18He tied the jacket around my arm
23:19and lifted me before I could protest.
23:21I was in his arms,
23:22off the ground.
23:23I could feel his chest
23:24rising too fast.
23:25He could have been killed.
23:26Like he was saying to himself.
23:28He carried me to the road.
23:29The whole way I kept telling him
23:30I could walk.
23:31He kept not listening.
23:32By the time the medics arrived,
23:34his face was still wrong.
23:35Too tight.
23:36Too pale.
23:36Diana told the medic everything.
23:38Eva pulled me out.
23:40She took all of it.
23:41Every impact.
23:42I walked away without a scratch
23:44because of her.
23:45Ryder stood at the edge of the group,
23:47hands in his pockets,
23:48looking at me.
23:49I looked back.
23:50You need to lie still.
23:51When they finished wrapping my arm.
23:53I know.
23:53We're going straight to the doctor.
23:55I know.
23:55He helped me get into the car.
23:57We drove in silence.
23:58His hand stayed on the back of my seat
24:00the hallway,
24:01not touching me,
24:02just there.
24:02At one point,
24:04I felt something hit my face.
24:05I looked up at the clear sky.
24:07Then,
24:07I realized it wasn't rain.
24:09I reached over
24:10and covered his hand with mine,
24:11just for a second.
24:12He turned it palm up
24:13without hesitation
24:14and held on.
24:15I didn't let go.
24:16Dr. Mills patched my arm
24:17and told me to stay in bed for a week.
24:19No fractures.
24:20Lots of bruising.
24:21A dislocated finger
24:22that she reset without ceremony.
24:24I lay there after she left
24:25and looked at the ceiling.
24:27Sunny came in with soup.
24:28She kept talking.
24:29The car had been tempered with.
24:30Something in the brake line.
24:31The private security team
24:33was already investigating
24:34who would go after Diana's car
24:36and why now.
24:37I was still turning it over
24:39when the door opened.
24:40Ryder.
24:41He stood in the doorway
24:42holding a small wooden box.
24:43He set it on the nightstand
24:45and sat down in the chair
24:46beside the bed.
24:47He didn't speak right away.
24:49The brake line was cut.
24:50It wasn't an accident.
24:51Do you know who?
24:52Working on it.
24:53He looked at my wrapped arm.
24:54His jaw moved.
24:55You kept my mother
24:56from going over that bank.
24:57She would have done the same for me.
24:59That's not the point.
25:00He was quiet again.
25:01Eva,
25:02I need to tell you something.
25:03He looked at the window.
25:05I've known for two months
25:06that I was going to have to
25:07dissolve the marriage contract.
25:09I asked Dr. Minz
25:10to start preparing the documentation.
25:11My chest went still.
25:13I knew you were waiting for it.
25:14The way you kept your distance.
25:15The box of things
25:16you were converting to cash
25:17and you were always going to leave.
25:19I told myself
25:20I was just getting ahead of it
25:21for you.
25:22He turned back to me.
25:23His eyes were flat
25:24and direct.
25:24The dissolution papers are ready.
25:26You can go whenever you want.
25:27I had Sonny prepare an account
25:29and a sum that will cover you
25:30for as long as you need.
25:31You don't wait for me to die.
25:33You don't have to keep pretending.
25:34I opened my mouth.
25:35Nothing came out.
25:36I know you've been counting the days.
25:38You don't have to do that anymore.
25:40Just go.
25:40He stood up and walked out.
25:42I sat there in the quiet
25:43after he left.
25:44In your mind
25:45that's who I am.
25:46My throat was burning.
25:47I couldn't find words for it.
25:49I just sat there
25:50with both hands in my lap
25:51staring at the door
25:52he'd closed behind him.
25:53By afternoon
25:54a formal notice appeared
25:55outside the university
25:56athletic office.
25:57His name on it.
25:58Claire came and found me
25:59before I could read it myself.
26:00She was pale.
26:01Eva.
26:02Ryder.
26:03He's been accused.
26:04An anonymous report
26:05submitted to the league.
26:06They're saying he deliberately
26:07threw the Westfield
26:08championship game two years ago.
26:09Fix the outcome.
26:11Share defensive plays
26:12with the other team.
26:13I read the notice twice.
26:14Ryder Calloway
26:15threw games.
26:16He had more championship trophies
26:18than any athlete
26:19in the league's history.
26:20He had nothing to gain
26:21and
26:22he had rushed
26:23to dissolve the contract
26:24before this broke.
26:25Sunny found me
26:26in the hole
26:27twisting her hands.
26:28He basically grew up
26:29on that ring.
26:30He would never.
26:32Eva.
26:32Is there anything?
26:33I sat down.
26:34I made myself think.
26:35My mother had treated
26:36a sports official years ago.
26:38A serious lung condition
26:40before I was born.
26:41He'd come to thank
26:42my father afterward.
26:43I'd overheard the conversation.
26:45He was still with
26:45the collegiate athletics board.
26:47I remembered his name.
26:48I spent the next hour
26:49finding his office number.
26:51He was harder to reach
26:52than I expected.
26:53Three calls.
26:54Two messages.
26:54The fourth time
26:55he picked up.
26:56I know this is unusual.
26:58I'm Eva Calloway.
26:59Dr. White treated my mother
27:00years ago
27:01before I was born.
27:02I know you remember him.
27:04I remember.
27:05My husband is being investigated.
27:08I believe the evidence
27:09was planted.
27:10I'm not asking you
27:10to interfere.
27:11I'm asking for the name
27:12of whoever submitted
27:13the report
27:14and ten minutes
27:15with whoever is reviewing it.
27:17Come to my office tomorrow.
27:19Eight in the morning.
27:20I was there at 7.45.
27:21It took two hours.
27:23He walked me
27:23through the documentation.
27:25I asked questions,
27:26took notes,
27:27and found three inconsistencies
27:28in the timeline
27:29that didn't line up
27:30with the away game schedule.
27:32When I came out,
27:32Ryder was standing
27:33against the wall
27:34outside the building.
27:35He looked at me
27:35with an expression
27:36I couldn't read.
27:37What are you doing here?
27:38I heard where you'd gone.
27:39He pushed off the wall.
27:41Eva,
27:41you don't have to do this.
27:42I know.
27:43I put my notes in my bag.
27:44I wanted to.
27:45He took one step toward me,
27:46then stopped.
27:47His voice was rough.
27:48Why?
27:49I looked at him straight.
27:50Because you're not guilty.
27:52Someone is trying
27:53to take you apart for it.
27:54He held my gaze
27:55for a long time.
27:56That's it?
27:57You saved my mother's life,
27:58and now this.
27:59She's my family too.
28:00I paused.
28:01Whether you dissolve
28:02the contract or not,
28:03that part doesn't change.
28:05Something shifted
28:05in his face.
28:06He crossed the remaining
28:07space between us
28:08and his arms came around me,
28:10careful,
28:10like he wasn't sure
28:11I'd allow it.
28:12I didn't move away.
28:13He held on.
28:14I could feel his breath
28:15unsteady against my hair.
28:17I know what you must think of me.
28:18Pushing you out?
28:19Telling you to leave.
28:20Eva, I...
28:21I know.
28:21I pressed my palm
28:22against his chest.
28:23His heart was going too fast.
28:25I know why you did it.
28:26We stood there
28:27on the pavement
28:28outside the athletics board building
28:30in the cold morning air,
28:31a long moment
28:31of nothing needed.
28:32On the way back,
28:34I told him about
28:34the timeline gaps.
28:35He listened without interrupting.
28:37When I finished,
28:38he was quiet for a moment.
28:40Then...
28:40The report was filed
28:41by someone
28:42on the Westfield side.
28:43A coach who lost
28:44his position after the game.
28:46He blamed me.
28:47Then we find the proof.
28:49We?
28:49I looked at him.
28:50We.
28:50The corner of his mouth
28:51moved.
28:52Small.
28:53Barely there.
28:53It was the first real smile
28:55I'd ever seen on him.
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