Spiral by Bal Khabra Summary, Characters and Themes

Spiral by Bal Khabra is a contemporary romance that explores the intersection of fame, identity, emotional trauma, and healing through the lives of two seemingly different individuals—Elias Westbrook, a rookie NHL player burdened by media scrutiny, and Sage Beaumont, a dedicated ballerina fighting for her dreams in a world obsessed with superficiality.  Their worlds collide at a charity auction, sparking a chain of emotionally charged events that unravel their defenses and allow them to confront painful pasts.

Through honesty, vulnerability, and shared struggles, their fake relationship turns into a profound connection, making this a story of love, resilience, and rediscovery.

Summary

Elias Westbrook, a rookie professional hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, finds himself under the relentless spotlight of the media.  Labeled the “golden boy turned playboy” after a viral video, he’s mocked not for his athletic talent but for his supposed off-ice persona.

With mounting pressure to perform and avoid negative press, Elias’s future hangs in the balance.  Things come to a head during a charity auction where he’s nearly bid on by an overzealous fan.

To his surprise, a mysterious woman steps in and wins the date: Sage Beaumont, a struggling ballerina with financial and emotional stress of her own.  She’s there as a last-minute performer thanks to her uncle, a staff member on Elias’s team.

Sage has her own demons—she’s constantly overlooked for major roles due to her lack of social media clout and is weighed down by financial instability and responsibility for her diabetic younger brother, Sean.  Her past includes emotional scars from a toxic ex who reduced her to a prop for his ambitions.

Despite her low expectations of athletes, Elias’s quiet and reserved demeanor surprises her.  She ends up going on the auction date as a favor for Elias’s friend, Aiden, and the two quickly clash when Elias accidentally gives her his agent’s number instead of his own.

Her bold confrontation in the locker room sparks both tension and intrigue.

Determined to make up for the misunderstanding, Elias takes Sage out on a proper date.  Their evening reveals deeper emotional truths: Sage’s unstable childhood and Elias’s quiet insecurities.

A lakeside moment shared in the aftermath solidifies a fragile bond between them, with a mix of flirtation and unguarded honesty.  However, their connection becomes complicated when media attention spins out of control.

A photo from their date labels Sage as Elias’s girlfriend, and Sage proposes a fake relationship to control the narrative.  Elias initially refuses, unintentionally triggering Sage’s fears of rejection.

Her younger brother later supports the lie, pretending Elias is her boyfriend to keep her ex at bay.

Elias, realizing the media’s intrusion has real consequences, impulsively declares Sage his girlfriend during a press conference to protect her reputation.  Though Sage is caught off guard and deeply hurt by his earlier rejection, she’s forced to navigate the fallout.

After an awkward date with another man, Elias arrives and announces his decision to pursue the fake relationship, much to her surprise.  They agree on a set of ground rules: no real emotions, no PDA unless necessary, and absolute honesty.

Yet their bond continues to grow through shared moments—cooking meals together, applying face masks, and supporting each other’s vulnerabilities.

As their emotional connection strengthens, Elias opens up about his adoption and complex relationship with his biological father.  Sage shares how ballet was her only escape from a childhood of emotional neglect.

For the first time, they both feel seen.  Elias surprises Sage with a birthday celebration at an abandoned drive-in, baking her a cake and screening her favorite movie, Dirty Dancing.

The tenderness of the gesture allows Sage, who is used to being the caretaker, to feel loved and celebrated.

Tensions rise when Elias scores his first NHL goal and learns that Sage once dated Owen, a new teammate.  Jealousy and insecurity flare, further complicated by Elias’s unresolved trauma involving his biological father and a blackmail scandal.

These moments of vulnerability are marked by closeness, but Elias hesitates to fully embrace physical intimacy.  Sage respects his boundaries but remains emotionally invested.

A drunken comment from Owen during a team dinner reignites Elias’s jealousy.  Although Sage reassures him of her feelings, Elias’s internal battle continues.

They share intense, near-intimate moments, but Elias’s past trauma keeps him from crossing the line.  Their relationship deepens, not in spite of this restraint but because of the emotional trust they build.

Sage finds comfort in Elias’s consistency, and Elias begins to believe in his own worth through her faith in him.

As the narrative progresses, both Sage and Elias face defining moments in their personal arcs.  For Sage, it’s her performance in Swan Lake.

Despite sabotage attempts from envious peers like Adam and Ashley, and physical challenges during rehearsal, she pushes forward.  After a pep talk from her director, she delivers a stunning performance as the Swan Queen.

The triumph marks her evolution—from a self-doubting dancer to a woman who finally claims her worth.  Elias shows his support with a symbolic pink peony thrown onto the stage, reminding her she’s not alone.

Meanwhile, Elias takes steps to sever ties with his blackmailing father.  By delivering a final payment and publicly confronting the issue, he liberates himself from the weight of secrecy and shame.

When his father retaliates through the media, Elias refuses to stoop to his level, relying instead on the strength of the support system he’s built with Sage, Sean, and his close friends.

As the couple grows closer, their relationship moves from contractual to committed.  Elias tattoos Sage’s name on his body, signaling permanence.

Their day-to-day life is filled with warmth and humor—burnt late-night meals, affectionate teasing, and shared emotional labor.  Sage is embraced by Elias’s family, and Sean flourishes with the stability they’ve all created.

In the epilogue, three years later, Sage and Elias are still together, now raising Nina, a once-abandoned girl from Sage’s dance class whom they have taken in as their daughter.  Sage has stepped back from full-time dancing to purchase a studio and invest in future generations of dancers.

Sean is preparing to attend Dalton, having grown into a confident young man.

The story ends at a beach bonfire with friends, laughter, and a reaffirmation of their shared life.  Their rules have evolved—no longer about emotional limits but about protecting a love they’ve both fought to build.

Sage declares she’s finally done running, and Elias stands beside her as her partner, her home, and her chosen family.  Through struggle and healing, Spiral becomes a testament to emotional survival, hard-earned love, and the kind of bond that grows not from perfection but from persistence, honesty, and mutual care.

Characters

Elias Westbrook

Elias Westbrook is a deeply introspective and emotionally complex character whose journey in Spiral is defined by his struggle with identity, expectation, and vulnerability.  As a rookie NHL player for the Toronto Thunder, Elias is thrust into the spotlight, not for his skills, but for his perceived image—a “golden boy turned playboy”—a label he neither invites nor recognizes.

The viral attention stemming from a seemingly benign daily routine video fractures the boundary between his public persona and private self, causing emotional dissonance.  Elias becomes trapped under the weight of performance pressures and intrusive media narratives, which exacerbate his imposter syndrome and emotional isolation.

His inability to score his first goal serves as a symbol of his internal conflict: gifted but disconnected from his own success due to external noise.

Elias’s relationship with Sage becomes the turning point in his emotional arc.  Initially guarded and evasive, even mistakenly giving Sage his agent’s number, he evolves into a man willing to confront his own fears and take emotional risks.

His internalized trauma—rooted in a manipulative biological father and an adoption that complicates his identity—manifests in moments of emotional withdrawal, particularly when intimacy becomes overwhelming.  Yet, Elias is not static.

He actively chooses growth, whether by orchestrating a deeply personal birthday celebration for Sage or standing up to his father, symbolically cutting ties with a toxic legacy.  Elias finds grounding in Sage’s presence, and their fake relationship becomes the safe space where he allows himself to be seen, cared for, and eventually loved.

By the novel’s conclusion, Elias has undergone a profound transformation—redefining manhood not by athletic prowess or public image, but by emotional honesty, vulnerability, and a fierce commitment to chosen love and family.

Sage Beaumont

Sage Beaumont is a character carved from both resilience and fragility, embodying the tension between ambition and emotional survival.  A gifted ballerina, Sage confronts an industry that increasingly prioritizes performative popularity over authentic artistry.

Her struggle to maintain her identity amidst repeated rejections and financial precarity is compounded by a past riddled with emotional neglect, the weight of raising her diabetic younger brother Sean, and a haunting relationship with an emotionally abusive ex.  These burdens instill in her a self-protective armor of wit and impulsive boldness, seen most notably when she crashes Elias’s locker room to confront him, or when she challenges his initial rejection of a fake relationship with both pride and humor.

Sage’s evolution throughout Spiral is marked by her growing willingness to accept love and redefine her own value.  Initially resistant to vulnerability—unaccustomed to receiving care—Sage is stunned by Elias’s attentiveness and warmth, such as his surprise movie night and emotional support during her pivotal Swan Lake performance.

For a woman used to carrying everyone else, the experience of being held, emotionally and literally, becomes a revelation.  Her triumph as the Swan Queen is not just artistic—it is a declaration of self-worth, proof that she can rise beyond the toxic voices of her past and the dismissiveness of her present industry.

Sage’s transformation also extends into her role as a nurturer in a broader sense.  Her later decision to adopt Nina, a young girl from her dance class, mirrors her past with Sean and signals a shift from survival to stability.

By the end, Sage is no longer simply fighting for space in a world that often tries to shrink her.  She reclaims power by defining what success, family, and fulfillment mean on her own terms.

Her love with Elias becomes not just romantic but restorative—a reclamation of agency, belonging, and joy.

Sean Beaumont

Sean Beaumont, though secondary in screen time, plays a critical emotional role in shaping Sage’s character and grounding the themes of familial love and responsibility in Spiral.  As Sage’s younger brother, Sean represents both a source of pressure and a reason to persevere.

Growing up in a chaotic household with emotionally absent parents, Sean becomes the person Sage feels most responsible for, and in many ways, raising him becomes her first act of sacrificial love.  Despite their circumstances, Sean grows into a fiercely loyal, sharp-witted young man who isn’t afraid to speak up or defend his sister, whether by confronting her ex or lying to protect her image.

Sean’s development into a Dalton-bound graduate—celebrated and stable—is not only a testament to Sage’s efforts, but also a narrative victory for both siblings.  He symbolizes hope, the possibility that love, even in dysfunctional environments, can yield something enduring and strong.

His transition into adulthood and the pride he feels for his sister, especially during her performance and professional breakthroughs, further emphasizes the central theme of chosen family.  In the epilogue, his presence during the beach bonfire scene is emblematic of how far the characters have come, from fractured beginnings to collective joy.

Owen

Owen, Sage’s ex-boyfriend and Elias’s new teammate, functions as a foil to both protagonists.  His presence injects tension and triggers old wounds, especially for Sage, who was once emotionally diminished in his presence.

A representation of toxic masculinity and emotional manipulation, Owen treated Sage as a performance doll, emphasizing control over partnership.  For Elias, Owen becomes an external embodiment of jealousy and insecurity, especially when past relationships and personal doubts intersect during crucial moments like games or social events.

Despite his limited presence, Owen’s character highlights the emotional stakes of the main romance.  He brings to light the differences between what Sage once accepted as love and what she eventually receives from Elias—partnership rooted in respect, safety, and genuine care.

Owen is ultimately forgettable in terms of narrative arc but necessary as a trigger for growth and boundary-setting for both Sage and Elias.

Aiden

Aiden, Elias’s best friend, occupies the role of comedic relief and emotional grounding.  Loyal and good-natured, Aiden offers support without judgment, serving as a steady presence in Elias’s chaotic world.

He is one of the few people Elias trusts implicitly, and his orchestrations behind the scenes—such as nudging Sage and Elias together or helping navigate social dynamics—make him an essential figure in maintaining the story’s warmth and balance.

Aiden also subtly represents healthy masculinity.  He encourages emotional openness in Elias, shows respect for Sage, and never tries to dominate or control situations for his benefit.

Though not deeply explored, his consistent, lighthearted demeanor makes him an anchor of normalcy amidst the whirlwind of fame, trauma, and emotional entanglement.

Elias’s Biological Father

Elias’s biological father is a looming, corrosive presence in his life—representing betrayal, manipulation, and the dark underbelly of familial obligation.  He uses Elias’s fame as a tool for blackmail and emotional leverage, and his efforts to publicly shame Elias after being financially cut off expose the extent of his toxicity.

Yet, Elias’s confrontation and eventual severance of ties with him marks one of the most important moments in the novel.  It is not just a symbolic act of maturity and independence, but also a declaration of self-respect and emotional autonomy.

This character’s limited but potent presence enhances the emotional tension and illuminates Elias’s psychological barriers to intimacy and trust.  His removal from Elias’s life represents a cleansing—a necessary step for Elias to build a healthier future free from inherited pain.

Nina

Nina enters the story late but becomes a poignant symbol of healing and second chances.  Abandoned and unsure, she mirrors elements of Sage’s own childhood—neglect, lack of nurturing, and uncertainty.

By adopting her, Sage and Elias extend the theme of chosen family into a new dimension, breaking cycles of abandonment and offering a tangible future of love and stability.  Nina becomes the physical embodiment of Sage and Elias’s growth—from wounded individuals to caretakers capable of unconditional love.

Through Nina, Spiral offers its final, redemptive message: that healing is not only possible, but worth pursuing, especially when it allows someone else to feel safe, seen, and home.

Themes

Identity and Public Perception

Elias’s struggle with identity is framed through the conflict between who he is and how the media chooses to represent him.  As a rookie NHL player, his daily routine—meant to provide structure and sanity—becomes a viral spectacle, miscasting him as a superficial playboy rather than the focused athlete he truly is.

This public misperception erodes his sense of agency.  His value is no longer defined by performance or skill, but by media narratives and public assumptions, which begin to dictate his actions both on and off the ice.

The theme is mirrored in Sage’s experiences as well.  Despite her technical talent and years of training, ballet institutions overlook her in favor of dancers with social media influence, reducing merit to visibility.

For both Elias and Sage, identity becomes something externally shaped rather than internally owned.  Their relationship challenges this imposed identity, offering each a mirror that reflects their truer selves.

In each other’s presence, they begin to reclaim their sense of worth, pushing back against reductive labels and rediscovering what it means to be seen for who they are—not who the world insists they should be.

Ambition and the Cost of Excellence

Both Sage and Elias are characters consumed by the drive to succeed, yet they exist within institutions that demand sacrifice while offering little compassion.  Elias’s ambition to thrive in professional hockey is burdened by immense external pressure and internal fear of failure.

His lack of a goal becomes symbolic of a deeper uncertainty—about his place in the team, his legacy, and his very right to be on the ice.  His dream is haunted by the ghosts of manipulation and betrayal, particularly stemming from his biological father’s blackmail.

For Sage, the world of ballet is equally unforgiving.  Years of dedication have not translated into stability or recognition.

Instead, she finds herself auditioning for roles that now prioritize marketability over artistry.  Her every movement is under scrutiny, not just by artistic directors, but by a society that values spectacle over sincerity.

The theme underscores how ambition, while noble, can become corrosive when success is measured not by effort or integrity but by optics, status, and influence.  The cost is not just exhaustion—it’s a slow erosion of confidence, clarity, and self-love.

Emotional Guardedness and the Risk of Vulnerability

Elias and Sage carry emotional armor built over years of betrayal, loss, and disillusionment.  Elias is guarded because of a life marked by abandonment and manipulation.

Even his name—Eli—is a conscious attempt to distance himself from a father who tried to control him through threats.  Sage, similarly, has learned to guard her heart, having grown up in a home marred by addiction and instability.

Her ex-boyfriend Owen only compounded this emotional damage, reducing her to a vessel for his ambition while withholding the affection she craved.  The narrative constantly circles the edges of vulnerability: moments when Elias opens up about his adoption, or when Sage confesses her feelings of unworthiness.

Each act of emotional transparency feels fraught with risk.  Yet, it is precisely these moments that deepen their connection.

Vulnerability is not portrayed as weakness but as an act of profound courage.  The story insists that intimacy—emotional, not just physical—requires the willingness to be seen in all one’s rawness.

The tension lies in the fear of that exposure and the slow, cautious dismantling of their respective walls.

Love as Healing and Sanctuary

The relationship between Elias and Sage evolves from necessity to comfort to genuine connection, ultimately becoming a sanctuary for both.  Elias, pressured by public scrutiny and haunted by familial trauma, finds peace not in fame or achievement but in the quiet, nonjudgmental presence of Sage.

Her boldness and empathy draw him out of his shell, allowing him to imagine a world where he doesn’t have to perform or pretend.  Sage, in turn, is used to carrying burdens—raising her younger brother, navigating financial hardship, and chasing validation from an unforgiving ballet world.

Elias’s gestures, from baking her a birthday cake to holding space for her pain, offer her something she’s rarely experienced: unconditional emotional support.  Their relationship is not built on grand romantic declarations but on moments of mutual recognition, quiet understanding, and shared strength.

Love, in this narrative, is not an endpoint but a process—a choice made daily to show up for another person, to listen, to hold space, and to believe in their worth.  It becomes a form of emotional restoration, allowing both characters to breathe more freely in a world that has often suffocated them.

Found Family and the Rejection of Biological Obligation

Throughout the story, both characters confront the limitations and failures of biological family.  Elias is emotionally distanced from a father who used his identity as leverage, choosing instead to forge meaningful bonds with teammates and friends who respect his boundaries.

His ultimate act of severing ties with his father is not framed as loss but as liberation—a necessary step toward healing.  Sage, meanwhile, has taken on a maternal role for her younger brother Sean, a dynamic born from necessity rather than choice.

Her parents’ neglect forced her into early adulthood, shaping her cautious, protective nature.  What emerges from both arcs is the idea that family is not defined by blood but by loyalty, empathy, and love freely given.

Elias’s growing bond with Sean, his embrace of Sage’s past, and the couple’s decision to adopt Nina reflect this rejection of traditional definitions.  The people they choose to keep close are the ones who nourish and ground them.

Found family offers both safety and celebration, allowing the characters to rewrite the rules of what family can and should be.

Reclamation of Power and Worth

Sage’s performance in Swan Lake is a symbolic culmination of this theme.  After being doubted, dismissed, and undermined, she chooses to reclaim her narrative—not through revenge or spectacle, but through excellence and self-belief.

Her confrontation with Adam, her composure in the face of sabotage, and her final triumphant performance reflect a woman no longer willing to shrink herself for anyone’s comfort.  Similarly, Elias’s press conference and his quiet resolve in the face of his father’s threats mark a pivotal moment of self-ownership.

He no longer reacts out of fear or shame but stands firm in the life he’s built—a life defined by integrity, love, and personal growth.  This theme extends beyond public victories.

It’s present in the everyday choices: Sage buying the Brunswick studio, Elias tattooing her name, Sean stepping into adulthood.  These are acts of self-affirmation, of reclaiming space in a world that once tried to make them feel small.

The story insists that power is not something granted by others; it is something internal, cultivated through resilience, compassion, and the courage to believe in one’s inherent value.