Page 130 of Hate To Love You

Real life isn’t a romance novel. It’s not love songs and perfection. Real life is raw, broken. It’s imperfections and desperation.

I knew it had to be out there somewhere. That passionate, exciting, obsessive kind of love. The happily ever afters.

And I finally found it, with Ryker Steele.

“I love you,” I whisper, and then, his lips are on mine again.

Epilogue

Ryker

The stands are full of proud parents, grandparents, and faculty, here to watch their students walk the stage for their college graduation.

The front lawn is packed with hundreds of chairs for the graduating students. I sit close to the back since my name starts with S, and the only good thing about that is that Gwen’s does too, so she’s only a row in front of me. Pat’s in the same row as Gwen, with his last name being Samuelson.

She looks back at me, shooting me that drop dead gorgeous grin of hers that makes my chest squeeze. No one could have convinced me this would be my life by the end of my college career. Being the newly appointed CEO of The Steele corporation, having my brothers by my side, and being completely, head over heels in love with the most perfect woman on this planet.

The only thing that could make this day better is if our whole group was graduating today. Lainey, Ellie, Holland, and Logan still have a year to go, but I don’t think it’ll make much a difference since I know Gwen will be dragging me back here constantly to visit.

She was ecstatic for me when I told her the guys and I got our fathers to step down and hand over their titles to us. When I told her I’d have to travel to the city, she insisted we just move there together so we’d never have to be apart. I put a downpayment on a nice place in the Upper East Side the next day.

Logan and my mother were less than thrilled that I kept them in the dark about the takeover, but after the initial shock wore off, my mother was extremely thankful for what I did for her. She now has full control of The Steele Estate and will continue to get money from my father for the rest of her life. Logan told me he would have helped me with our plan, but it was better to keep him out of it. Now our father will only hate me, and not him.

The announcer’s voice catches my attention when they call Gwen’s name.

“Guinevere Lane Sharpe, Education Major.”

My little Rebel walks up the stairs to the stage, her smile widening when Dean Ashby hands her her diploma.

Screams erupt behind me, and I know it’s Lainey, Ellie, Haley, and her mother. Her father came up with some excuse not to come, but I think she expected that, so she wasn’t too upset.

Gwen laughs and waves the diploma over her head before stepping off the stage.

I feel a sense of pride knowing that she’s mine, and no one will ever have her again. No one can take her from me, and I will kill anyone who tries. I’m not losing her again.

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As we stand around the big courtyard talking and laughing with our friends, I can’t help but be thankful for everything I have. My life was a shitshow before I met Gwen, and now it’s better than I could have ever imagined. And it’s all due to her.

This feisty, strong, determined, resilient woman standing next to me, looking at me like I’m her whole world.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Lainey sobs into Gwen’s shoulder. Gwen giggles. That sound has quickly become my favorite sound from her, other than her moaning my name.

“Lain, you live like thirty minutes away. And I’ll be visiting Ellington as often as I can,” she assures her.

“I know, but the house won’t be the same without you,” she whines. Ellie and Haley nod in agreement.

“Seriously, who am I going to complain to about Lainey’s shitty cooking or Ellie’s obsessive need to clean literally everything?” Haley teases. Lainey shoots her a glare.

“You said you liked my cooking,” she says, looking offended. Gwen laughs again.

“You guys will be fine. And we’ll talk every day. It’ll be like nothing changed.”

“I know it’s impossible, but don’t forget about me,” Damian chimes in, Allie Moore by his side. According to Gwen, they hit it off at the end of semester party and have been together ever since.

Lainey rolls her eyes. “I’m going to try my hardest to forget about you,” she teases before giving him a hug. I don’t get their relationship.

“Hey, Barkley. You ready to spend another year with me?” Holland winks. Lainey’s eyes narrow, shooting daggers at Holland’s head no doubt.

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