the thing about the end of TLG is that it isn't really about Shane losing everything he's worked for his entire adult life (although it maybe feels that way for a moment both for the reader and for Shane himself). what actually happens is that Shane looks at everything he's worked for his entire adult life and he goes "wait, this is it? this is what I wanted? damn, this kinda sucks. you're telling me I did alllll that and you're upset about me marrying the love of my life? for real? yeah, no, fuck this shit, I'm out āļø" and then he skates off into the sunset with his husband, whom he loves so fucking much that he was willing to give up everything he's worked for his entire life for him because he has realised that he wants Ilya more than he wants any of that