After Everything (2023), the supposed final installment of the wildly popular After franchise, wraps up the turbulent love story of Hardin Scott and Tessa Young—two characters who have captured the hearts of millions worldwide. With each film, audiences have watched them fall in love, fall apart, and try to rebuild their bond through heartbreak, betrayal, and longing. Now, with After Everything, the central question on every fan’s mind is: do Hardin and Tessa end up together? The movie starts on a somber note, following the events of After Ever Happy. Tessa has distanced herself from Hardin after discovering that he published a novel based on their relationship, a move she saw as exploitative and deeply hurtful. In response, Hardin is alone, lost in a spiral of regret, guilt, and the weight of his past actions. What makes After Everything stand out from the previous films is its unexpected focus. Instead of plunging straight back into the dramatic emotional push and pull between the two leads, the film zooms in on Hardin’s personal growth. He travels to Lisbon, Portugal, not to find Tessa but to apologize to a woman named Nathalie from his past, someone he wronged long before Tessa came into his life. This journey becomes symbolic—a physical and emotional path toward redemption. It’s a move that immediately shifts the narrative tone. This isn’t about winning Tessa back with grand gestures. It’s about becoming a better man, with or without her.
As Hardin attempts to make amends with Nathalie, we see a version of him we haven’t quite seen before—quiet, vulnerable, reflective. Gone is the hot-headed, impulsive young man we met in the earlier films. In his place stands someone who’s trying to take responsibility and understand the consequences of his actions. This transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s authentic. His time in Lisbon includes therapy sessions, writing, and introspective solitude. Meanwhile, Tessa is almost entirely absent. Josephine Langford only appears in flashbacks or brief memories for the majority of the runtime, which may come as a shock to long-time fans. But this narrative choice underlines a powerful message: Hardin’s healing cannot depend on Tessa. For so long, their relationship was a toxic cycle of dependency. By removing her from the picture, the film allows Hardin to grow on his own. He must stop defining himself through Tessa’s forgiveness or presence and start finding value in himself.
Eventually, as the film approaches its final act, we jump forward in time. Hardin, now a published and more grounded version of himself, attends his mother’s wedding. It’s here, after years of separation, that Tessa finally reappears in the story—not through flashback or fantasy, but in the flesh. She walks into the wedding, composed and confident, and the moment they lock eyes, it becomes clear that something has shifted. There’s no dramatic monologue, no tearful confrontation. Instead, there’s a quiet understanding, a subtle warmth. It is perhaps the most mature interaction between the two characters in the entire franchise.
The film doesn’t give us a traditional reconciliation scene. Instead, we get an epilogue that takes us even further into the future. Hardin and Tessa are now older, sitting together on a park bench. Their child plays nearby. It’s serene, even poetic. This isn’t the volatile love that once defined them—it’s the result of time, healing, and mutual growth. By showing this moment instead of the messy road that likely led there, the film leaves room for interpretation. It suggests that love doesn’t have to be loud or chaotic. Sometimes, it’s just two people who have finally figured themselves out, quietly choosing each other again.
So yes, Hardin and Tessa do end up together. But what’s revolutionary about After Everything is how little fanfare the film gives to their reunion. In a series built on passion and drama, this last chapter is surprisingly restrained. It focuses less on the spectacle of love and more on the foundation—honesty, accountability, and inner peace. This approach might frustrate viewers who expected one last emotionally charged Tessa-Hardin love battle. But in many ways, this quiet ending is the most fitting conclusion the series could offer. It signals real change. Not just in Hardin, but in the story’s values. The message is clear: true love isn’t about rescuing someone or being rescued. It’s about doing the hard work—alone—and then finding your way back to each other, not out of desperation, but because you’ve grown strong enough to love the right way.
