After Everything summary and ending explained
In After Everything, Hardin spends a vacation in Portugal to move on from Tessa and come up with ideas for his second novel. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
Hardin has been having a hard time since Tessa broke up with him for not telling her about After. The world read their story without Tessa’s permission.
Hardin keeps texting Tessa, who decides to make herself clear. She lets Hardin know that she has moved on, and he should too.
Hardin was able to write After because he had Tessa by his side. Now that he doesn’t have her, he doesn’t know what he is going to write about.
Hardin has turned to drinking and has spent a lot of time holed in. Hardin’s publisher has been pressuring him to come up with a second novel so he doesn’t lose the momentum he has right now.
Hardin, on his side, has been nearly a year behind in delivering his manuscripts. He keeps struggling and seeing Tessa everywhere he goes and in anyone he gets close to.
Taking the advice of Trish, Hardin looks for a change of scenery and goes to Lisbon, Portugal, to move forward.
Hearing that Natalie, an ex-girlfriend of his, is in Lisbon encourages Hardin to go there. He finds Natalie, hoping to make amends.
In the past, when Hardin and his friends first saw Natalie, Hardin made Natalie fall in love with him as part of a bet.
As proof, he recorded a video of him with Natalie and sent it to his friends, who ended up circulating it online. The intimate video ruined Natalie’s life back then.
Natalie is forgiving. She no longer holds anything against Hardin, who claims that he is trying to be a better person. They instantly get along again.
Hardin also meets Natalie’s friends. However, not everyone is friendly with him. Sebastian, in particular, doesn’t like that Hardin is here and is hostile towards him.
Despite all of that, spending time with Natalie gives Hardin some ideas. He also texts Tessa again, saying that he is working on himself for them.
Sebastian eventually confronts Hardin, who learns how long it took Natalie to move on from what happened between them.
Sebastian lets him know that he would have sent him to jail for what he did with Natalie if it were up to him.
Tessa’s text, telling Hardin they are done and to just move on, further ruins Hardin’s mood. He makes a move on one of Natalie’s friends, leading Sebastian to come at him.
Sebastian and his friends beat Hardin up. Christian Vance has to fly to Lisbon to release Hardin from jail.
Hardin learns to move forward
Christian puts some sense into Hardin. He explains that he can hold a space for Tessa in his heart forever and can heal slowly.
With that, his capacity for love will grow exponentially. He will be able to have space for Tessa in his heart, his family, his children, and whoever comes into his life.
Christian also assures Hardin that if he and Tessa are meant to end up together, they will find their way back to each other.
Hardin not only agrees, but he also admits that Christian is good at dad stuff.
Hardin moves on for real. He receives a letter from his stepbrother, Landon, who has been trying to contact him all this time.
The letter is a wedding invitation to his and Nora’s wedding. Landon claims that he needs his brother by his side.
Hardin gets rid of his drinks and finally starts writing. Natalie drops by with gifts. The two apologize to each other. Natalie tells him that he has changed.
The two have a moment, but Hardin doesn’t kiss her. He lets Natalie know that he is still in love with Tessa.
Before leaving, Hardin hands Natalie his next book. He wants her to read it first because it mentions her in it, and he requires her permission before sending it to his publisher.
The book is called Before. Natalie not only permits him to publish it after reading it, but she also calls the book beautiful and wishes Hardin good luck with Tessa. Hardin also seemingly gifts Natalie the dream house she told him about.
Hardin’s and Tessa’s fate
Hardin and Tessa cross paths again during Landon and Nora’s wedding. The two indulge in conversations.
Hardin also apologizes to her for publishing After without her permission during a dance. Tessa lets him know that she is proud of him.
However, Hardin keeps suspecting that she is with someone until he is told that she is not. Hardin communicates how he is feeling during his speech to Landon and Nora.
Tessa leaves, followed by Hardin. While they are in a room together, they apologize and reconcile with each other.
Hardin proposes marriage to Tessa, who says they are inevitable and yes to marriage.
In a scene from the future, Hardin and Tessa are still together. They have a daughter and another child on the way.
