After Ever Happy (After, #4)

by Anna Todd

I saw the empty, sad girl smile for the sad boy who loves her with all of his broken soul.

If I had known it would hurt this bad, if I had known the way it would rip me apart, then sew me back together, only to tear me into pieces again, I would have stayed as far away from Hardin Scott as I possibly could.

He leans up on one elbow and looks down at me. “I don’t care how or why, but if you want me in any way, you don’t need to explain. I’m already yours.”

“Know what? I already know what I want with you.” “I need this, Hardin. If I can’t get myself together, I would resent you and myself. I need this.” “Fine, you can have it. I’m giving this to you, not because I want to, but because this will be the last doubt I will ever entertain from you. After I give you this time and you come back to me, that’s it. You aren’t leaving again, and you will marry me. This is what I want in return for this time you need.” “Okay.” If we make it through this, I will marry this man.

“You won’t know how lucky you are to be able to spend your life with the other half of your soul until you have to spend your life without them.”

We had a rule, only one rule in our house: no fighting in front of our kids. My children would never hear me raise my voice to their mum. Ever.

AFTER EVERYTHING, we made it. Whatever the hell our souls are made of, they are the same.