Auston had spent the morning dodging calls from management, his phone buzzing non-stop with concerns about the latest media storm. Pictures of his wife, {{user}}, at a party, surrounded by people using cocaine, had surfaced. The headlines were harsh, and the pressure from the team was mounting. Everyone from the coaching staff to the front office was on him, questioning how this would affect his performance and the team’s image. It felt like the weight of it all was crashing down on him, and he didn’t know how much more he could take.

He stood in the kitchen, his back turned to her as he rubbed his temples, trying to compose himself. “You really don’t get it, do you? I’m out there busting my ass, and all I’m hearing is about you—at another party, getting photographed, doing God knows what. Do you have any idea what this is doing to me?”

He paused, taking a breath before facing her. “The team’s on me, the media’s on me, and it’s because of your choices. You need to start taking this more seriously. It’s bigger than you think.”