Chapter 70 Summary and Analysis

⚠️ 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 the narrator reflecting on the decision to attempt a comeback with Heath, acknowledging the expected obstacles: stronger teams, biased officials, bad press, and the unresolved personal tensions among the three of them. However, they never anticipated being undone by something as trivial as sequins. In Moscow, the narrator meticulously inspects her costume and finds no missing sequins, yet discovers sequins on the ice that are subtly different—brighter and sharper-edged. Convinced of sabotage, she also knows that pressing the issue would only reinforce their reputation for courting drama. The gossip columnist Ellis Dean runs with the story, dubbing it “GlitterGate,” while reputable outlets treat it as a joke.

Back in Los Angeles, paparazzi swarm the narrator’s rental property, so she retreats to the Ice Palace, where Heath and Bella are living. Though Heath has insisted they sleep in separate bedrooms and behave like roommates, the narrator finds the arrangement strange—the three of them coexisting in a ten-thousand-square-foot house that still feels too small for their fraught triangle. Heath’s doctors are optimistic about his back healing in time for the U.S. National Championships in January, but he is on a strict regimen of rest, physical therapy, and approved pain medication. The narrator trains alone, running through choreography with her arms embracing empty space, like dancing with a ghost.

In December, they wake at half past midnight to watch the Grand Prix Final live from Fukuoka, Japan. The results are a shock: Gaskell and Kovalenko upset Volkova and Kipriyanov for gold, leaving the latter with silver. This makes Gaskell and Kovalenko the favorites for the Sochi Olympics, while Heath and the narrator’s own chances seem slim. The narrator struggles to sleep, haunted by images of Francesca Gaskell’s face and doubts about whether their comeback is a mistake—perhaps they are too old, too tired. She also notices Bella seems wrung out, with dark circles and little appetite.

That night, the narrator hears Heath’s door open and tracks his footsteps down the corridor, past her room, stopping at Bella’s. She hears the door open and shut, then silence. After ten minutes, she creeps across the hall to eavesdrop, bracing for an encore of what she interrupted in Vancouver, but she only hears low, familiar voices—too low to make out words. The ease between them makes her chest ache with envy. She returns to her room; Heath stays with Bella until morning.

A week before Christmas, Heath is cleared to return to the ice, though he cannot lift the narrator until the new year, just days before Nationals. Their first attempt at lifting, even off-ice with crash pads, is terrifying—his arms shake, his back spasms, his face contorts in agony—but he refuses to give up. By the time they fly to Boston, he can lift her without her heart leaping into her throat, and they are doing full program run-throughs. Their free dance still feels lackluster, but they have no time for significant changes. The narrator gets a new dress for the short dance: pleated purple with lime accents and, notably, no sequins.

At the U.S. National Championships in Boston, their Finnstep is far from perfect, but thanks to uncharacteristic errors from Gaskell and Kovalenko, they take the lead. Another national title is within reach. The narrator reflects that four years ago, gold felt like life or death, but now she knows failure won’t kill her—even a second-place finish would likely secure an Olympic berth. Still, she wants to win to prove that they cannot be written off.

Before the free dance, Ellis Dean has been granted a special backstage pass to record pre-skate interviews. The narrator tries to ignore him with headphones, but he persists. He congratulates her on the lead, then makes a backhanded comment about low expectations. She deflects, and he asks where Bella is. The narrator realizes she hasn’t seen Bella since they arrived—unusual, since Bella usually sticks close and gives pep talks. She recalls that Bella has been making herself scarce all weekend, sleeping through practice, skipping meals. The narrator goes to find her, checking bathrooms and then heading toward vending machines she remembers down a different hallway. There she finds Bella leaning against the wall, still in her winter coat. The narrator calls out, but Bella doesn’t respond. The narrator watches in horror as Bella slumps to the floor.

Key Events

The narrator discovers mismatched sequins on the ice in Moscow, concluding they were sabotaged but choosing not to pursue it.
The narrator moves into the Ice Palace with Heath and Bella, creating an awkward living situation.
Gaskell and Kovalenko win gold at the Grand Prix Final, upsetting Volkova and Kipriyanov and becoming Olympic favorites.
The narrator hears Heath enter Bella’s room at night and eavesdrops, hearing only low, intimate voices.
Heath returns to the ice before Christmas and regains lifting ability by the new year.
At U.S. Nationals, Heath and the narrator take the lead after the short dance.
Ellis Dean interviews the narrator before the free dance, prompting her to notice Bella’s absence.
The narrator finds Bella collapsed against a wall near vending machines and watches her fall to the floor.

Character Development

The Narrator: Her internal conflict deepens. She oscillates between determination and self-doubt, questioning whether the comeback is a mistake. Her jealousy over Heath and Bella’s closeness is palpable, yet she also shows resilience, training alone and refusing to give up. Her decision to ignore the sabotage reveals a pragmatic side, prioritizing their reputation over vindication.
Heath: His physical vulnerability is on full display—his back pain, his wincing, his refusal to quit. His late-night visit to Bella’s room suggests a deepening bond, though the narrator cannot discern its nature. His determination to lift again, despite agony, underscores his commitment to their shared goal.
Bella: She is increasingly withdrawn and unwell, with dark circles, poor appetite, and a tendency to disappear. Her collapse is a shocking culmination of her decline, hinting at a serious health issue that has been building throughout the chapter.
Ellis Dean: He remains a persistent media presence, using his access to needle the narrator and stir drama, embodying the media scrutiny the couple faces.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Sabotage and Paranoia: The sequin incident symbolizes the external forces working against the couple, but also their own suspicion and the difficulty of distinguishing real threats from imagined ones.
Media Scrutiny: Ellis Dean’s interview and the “GlitterGate” coverage highlight how the media can distort narratives and add pressure.
Rivalry and Jealousy: The Grand Prix Final results intensify the rivalry with Gaskell and Kovalenko, while the narrator’s envy of Heath and Bella’s ease reflects personal jealousy.
Perseverance and Physical Pain: Heath’s grueling recovery and the narrator’s solitary training emphasize the theme of pushing through physical and emotional pain.
Health Decline: Bella’s deterioration serves as a motif of hidden fragility, contrasting with the outward focus on athletic performance.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a pivotal turning point. It sets up the climax of the U.S. Nationals while introducing a major crisis—Bella’s collapse—that threatens to derail everything. The narrator’s internal doubts and the external pressures of competition and media are amplified, and the unresolved tension between the three characters reaches a breaking point. The chapter also reinforces the stakes: the Olympic berth is within reach, but personal and physical vulnerabilities could undo it. Bella’s collapse is a cliffhanger that forces the reader to question what will happen next, both for her and for the couple’s chances.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does the narrator decide not to pursue the sequin sabotage, and what does this reveal about her character?

The narrator is certain the sequins were planted, but she knows that pushing the issue would only reinforce their reputation for courting drama and scandal. This decision reveals her pragmatism and her awareness of how the media perceives them. It also shows a shift from her earlier, more impulsive tendencies—she is now willing to prioritize their long-term goals over immediate vindication.

2. How does the Grand Prix Final outcome affect the narrator’s mindset about their Olympic chances?

The upset victory by Gaskell and Kovalenko makes them the clear favorites for Sochi, while Volkova and Kipriyanov remain strong contenders. The narrator feels that Heath and she would be “lucky to make it to the Games at all,” which fuels her self-doubt and makes her question whether the comeback is a mistake. This moment crystallizes the external competition they face and heightens the pressure on their performance at Nationals.

3. What is the significance of the narrator’s eavesdropping on Heath and Bella’s conversation?

The narrator expects to hear something romantic or intimate, but instead hears only low, familiar voices that convey ease and comfort. This makes her feel envious and excluded, highlighting the emotional distance between her and Heath. It also suggests that Heath and Bella have a bond that transcends romance—perhaps a deep friendship or shared history—which complicates the narrator’s feelings and adds to the tension in their living arrangement.