Chapter 25 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with Sage sprinting through downtown Toronto in her ballet leotard, mortified by the stares she's drawing but focused on one goal: reaching the pharmacy before it closes so she can pay her brother Sean's medication invoice. She's already late on the payment, and the deductible has been higher than she expected. When she arrives, the technician delivers surprising news: Sean's prescription is already paid in full. His deductible is settled, and the remainder that insurance doesn't cover is also taken care of. The payment was made by Elias Westbrook.

Sage storms back to Elias's kitchen, where he's cooking alfredo pasta. She confronts him about paying for Sean's medication without telling her. Elias deflects at first, offering her a taste of his sauce, but she won't be distracted. He explains that he didn't think it was a big deal and that, as her girlfriend, she shouldn't see a problem with him helping.

Sage pushes back hard. She tells him she can't rely on something that isn't real—their fake relationship. Elias challenges her, pointing out that she's built her life around never having to rely on anyone, and asks why she can't let him do this one thing. Sage's response reveals the depth of her fears: people rely on her, and if she starts relying on someone else, everything will fall apart. She admits she's had enough of people making promises they can't keep.

Elias presses further, and Sage finally opens up. She confesses that Sean has been late on his meds multiple times because of her, that she didn't notice he was being bullied for months, and that her parents left because she reminded them of everything they wanted to escape. She calls herself a mess and says she ruins people. Elias refuses to accept that framing, telling her none of it is her fault and that her parents' choices aren't hers to carry. He tells her, You're my mess, and that all of her is safe with him.

Elias does admit he shouldn't have paid behind her back. Sage insists she'll pay him back, but he refuses. She tells him not to do it again; he says he can't promise that, but he'll tell her first next time. She grudgingly says thank you.

The tension breaks when Elias's mother video calls. Sage answers, nervous that his parents will see through the fake relationship. But Jane and Ian Westbrook are warm and enthusiastic, telling Sage they've been following her dancing videos and that she has fans at their country club in Connecticut. Jane asks if Sage will come home with Elias in the offseason. Sage stutters, aware that the arrangement will be over by then. Elias cuts the call short, claiming Sage is tired.

After the call, Sage asks Elias which parent he resembles. His response is curt: Neither. Sage leaves the kitchen, and the chapter ends with her closing the door to his room.

Key Events

Sage learns at the pharmacy that Elias secretly paid Sean's medication in full, including the deductible.
Sage confronts Elias in his kitchen about the payment.
Elias challenges Sage's self-reliance and asks why she can't accept help.
Sage confesses her fears about ruining people and her guilt over Sean and her parents.
Elias reassures her and admits he should have told her about the payment.
Elias's parents video call; they're warm and invite Sage to Connecticut.
Elias ends the call abruptly and gives a curt answer when asked which parent he resembles.

Character Development

Sage: This chapter strips away much of Sage's defensive exterior. Her frantic run to the pharmacy shows her sense of responsibility for Sean, but her reaction to Elias's generosity reveals something deeper: she genuinely believes she's a burden and that relying on anyone will lead to disaster. Her confession about her parents leaving and her guilt over Sean's bullying shows how much she's internalized blame that isn't hers. The fact that she says thank you at the end, even grudgingly, is a small but significant step.

Elias: Elias shows a more caring, protective side here. He's thought about Sage's resistance to help and has prepared a speech about it. His line about wanting to help for no other reason than wanting to help out suggests his feelings go beyond the fake arrangement. But his curt response about resembling neither parent hints at unresolved family issues of his own—a parallel to Sage's complicated family situation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Pride vs. accepting help: The central conflict of the chapter. Sage's pride and self-reliance clash with Elias's generosity. Her insistence that she can't rely on something that isn't even real ties her financial independence to the authenticity of their relationship.

Financial hardship and family responsibility: Sage's role as caretaker for Sean is a constant pressure. The pharmacy scene shows how precarious their situation is—she's late on payments, the medication price has increased, and the deductible is more than she expected.

The fake relationship as a barrier: Sage repeatedly uses the falseness of their arrangement as a reason to reject Elias's help. This creates dramatic irony, since Elias's actions suggest his feelings are becoming real.

Emotional walls: Both characters have walls. Sage's is built from fear of abandonment and failure; Elias's is hinted at through his refusal to discuss his parents.

Gift-giving and secret generosity: Elias's decision to pay the bill without telling Sage is a form of gift-giving that bypasses her defenses, but it also violates her trust by making decisions about her life without her knowledge.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the fake relationship. Elias's secret payment forces a confrontation that pushes Sage to reveal her deepest insecurities—something she's avoided throughout the book. His reassurance that she's safe with him, and his admission that he should have told her, show that his feelings are becoming genuine. At the same time, the video call with his parents introduces a new complication: the possibility of meeting them in person, which would extend the charade beyond its intended timeline. And Elias's curt response about his parents hints at a backstory that will likely be explored in future chapters.

Study Questions

1. Why does Sage react so strongly to Elias paying for Sean's medication?

Sage's reaction stems from her deep-seated belief that she must handle everything alone. She's built her life around being the reliable one—the person others depend on—and accepting help feels like admitting failure. More importantly, she can't accept help from Elias because their relationship is fake; taking his money would mean relying on something that isn't real. Her fear is that if she lets herself depend on someone, everything will fall apart, as it did with her parents.

2. What does Elias's response to the question about which parent he resembles reveal about him?

His curt Neither suggests unresolved tension with his parents. Despite their warm demeanor on the video call, Elias seems disconnected from them—he doesn't want to claim resemblance to either. This hints at a family dynamic that hasn't been explored yet and creates a parallel with Sage's own complicated relationship with her parents.

3. How does the video call with Elias's parents complicate the fake relationship?

The call introduces the possibility of Sage visiting Connecticut in the offseason, which would extend the fake relationship well beyond its intended scope. Sage's hesitation shows she's aware of this. The call also makes the deception more personal—his parents are genuinely warm and invested in Sage, which makes lying to them feel worse. And Elias's use of baby during the call, which startles both of them, suggests the line between performance and reality is blurring.