In the fourth episode of Heated Rivalry, we are introduced to a juxtaposition of Shane and Ilya's lives, where their professional and personal worlds intertwine. Professionally, Shane is on top of his game, having won two championship cups consecutively, a feat that even Ilya is quick to acknowledge with genuine joy.
As their personal lives unfold, the duo continues to exchange messages, each settling into their respective corners of the globe: Shane returning to Canada in the summer's embrace, while Ilya indulges in the hustle and bustle of Russia. Their encounters, often fuelled by competitive games, become a regular occurrence at Shane's abode or in the fleeting embrace of hotel rooms.
On most evenings, Shane prefers the solace of a book over the hustle, while Ilya, when not tending to his father's needs, revels in the vibrant energy of parties.
Fast-forward to October 2016, where Hayden finds himself preparing for the arrival of his fourth child with his wife. He attempts to play matchmaker for Shane, only to find that his friend is uninterested.
Meanwhile, in Boston, Ilya finds himself glued to a show about Shane's humble abode in Quebec. Despite claiming it's boring, his rapt attention betrays his true interest. Later, Svetlana queries Ilya about his feelings towards Lily, and he assures her that it's all casual.
When Shane finally makes it to Boston, he deceitfully informs Hayden that he's meeting a friend for dinner. Hayden is overjoyed, believing his friend is about to indulge in some late-night merrymaking. Shane remains evasive and defensive under Hayden's teasing gaze.
For the first time, Shane finds himself in Ilya's abode, and they engage in a passionate encounter that sets the stage for a new dynamic between them. Afterwards, Ilya persuades Shane to stay, and they indulge in a post-coital nap before Ilya conjures up something to satiate their hunger.
As they feast on the couch, Ilya receives a call from his father, his tone laced with anger as he orders Alexei to check on their father. Shane overhears the conversation and probes Ilya about his dad's well-being, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their respective family dynamics.
Instead of answering the question, Ilya pulled Shane for a cuddle, and without realizing it, they were slowly becoming accustomed to each other's presence. Their lips met, and their hands explored each other's bodies. In the heat of the moment, Ilya addressed Shane by his first name for the first time. Shane echoed the same sentiment before suddenly coming to his senses. He immediately got up, apologized, and said, "I can't do this." Ilya tried to reason with him, but Shane bolted out of there.
For the following days, Shane acted grumpy even with his mom and dad. He became particularly upset when his mom suggested a trip to meet a Swedish princess. Later that evening, JJ invited him to a club to meet the famous cast of the X Squad movie.
At the club, Shane met Rose Landry, and the two clicked immediately, becoming the hottest couple in town. The news of Shane's relationship with Rose hit Ilya hard. He became jealous as he read the articles and watched the news about the new couple. In the next game against Shane's team, Ilya's team lost, and to forget the devastating loss, Ilya went clubbing with his teammate. Unfortunately, Shane was also there with his girlfriend, Rose, and her gay friend.
Rose begged Shane to dance, and they headed to the dance floor. There, Shane spotted Ilya's teammate and instinctively started looking out for Ilya. From the bar, Ilya spotted Rose's friend and started searching for Shane in the crowd. The world slowed down when they finally met each other's gazes. Out of jealousy, Ilya started seductively dancing with a random woman, while Shane decided to take Rose home and they had sex. In contrast, Ilya went home alone and masturbated in the bathroom as he thought of Shane.
