‘Obviously,’ she added, standing in her running gear, stretching and bouncing on her feet as she warmed up, ‘I’m setting the record straight with my clients in no uncertain terms that you and I have a business relationship only. Call it my own PR strategy.’

‘Well, I’m glad something good came out of it in the end. Did Zeke get to see his mom kick ass on TV?’

She laughed and playfully punched him on the shoulder. ‘He keeps replaying it over and over. And plenty of good has come out of it. You’re fighting fit and will be back on the ice right in time for the playoffs. Even better, the world loves you, I’m so happy for you.’

Kendrick’s sudden plummet from grace had truly led to a massive about-turn, with Ward now being placed on a pedestal and heralded as a Gallant Defender of Women on pretty much every media outlet. Even his mom had grudgingly admitted she was impressed, a first for sure.

And while he’d publicly emerged the victor and his image was completely transformed, like Hannah had always intended, it all felt empty and lacking. Because Ward didn’t have her to celebrate it with. All he had wanted when he first met her was to fix the knee and get back to playing – and he had all of that now and even more, but it felt hollow.

Shelley stopped stretching and crossed her arms over her chest, her smile fading. ‘She’s still not talking to you, is she?’

He glanced away, pretending to be interested in a dog walker wrangling a six-pack of pooches down the sidewalk, then shook his head.

‘Not returning my calls,’ he said. ‘Obviously thinks I’m the one responsible for destroying his career – even though the asshat did that to himself. And if she’s still with him after everything …’

Shelley pursed her lips. ‘You honestly think she’s still with him? Not a chance. She didn’t seem happy with him that night, and anyway, who would stay with a guy like that after what’s come out? Hannah’s not an idiot. And yeah, of course she was mad at you, who wouldn’t be? I was ready to kill you with my bare hands for putting me in that situation and in a goddamn Cinderella dress too. But controlling your image was Hannah’s job, so all the work she did went right down the drain. I don’t blame her for being upset,’ Shelley surmised. ‘Embarrassed too, I guess, though I get now that you were doing her a favour.’

Ward nodded and ran his hands through his hair – and the pair started on a light jog in the direction of Bethesda Terrace.