Page 1 of Forever After All

Prologue 1

Alice - Age 20

My hand flies up to cup my cheek, a bruise already threatening to form on my cheekbone. The ringing in my ear gives me a stark reminder of what's to come if I stay.

Today is the first time my boyfriend punched me.

Things were great for a year. He was so loving. A littletooloving, looking back on it. Knowing what I know now, I think the term is“love bombing”but I didn't really know what that meant at the time.

The teasing started shortly after. From everything to my height, weight, and hobbies, even about my friends. Sometimes there would be a pinch or shove.

He once tripped me up in front of his best friend. Of course, his friend did nothing to help me. I was carrying a tray of drinks at the time and I fell, causing beer to crash over me like a tidal wave. Considering it was Danny who was the abuser, in that moment I just remember feeling pity for any woman in his bestfriend's life. If his best friend could witness something like that with his own eyes and act like nothing happened, who would stand up for the womenheloves? Because it clearly wouldn’t be him.

I suffered nothing but embarrassment and beer-soaked clothes that day, but all I could think about were those poor women. Danny’s mother, little sister, even his female colleagues. Who would stand up for them? Who would protect them?

I've tried to pretend this is normal, but I have been living in a tortuous hell, struggling to know what is real, and what isn't. Did he really shove me, hit me, pinch me, or trip me? Or was it in my head, like he'd try to have me believe? I began to question my own sanity. It's hard to see a way out, when the pit you're in keeps getting deeper.

I haven't told a soul. Not my parents and not my best friend, Autumn. We share everything, but God knows that she has enough to deal with now that her parents have died.

I unfurl myself and stand from the crumpled heap on the floor. I will not let this be what happens to me. I will not allow this escalate any further.

Alice Barretta will not end up in an early grave because of a twenty-five-year-old man—if you can call him that—called Danny. This is not going to be my story.

A lone tear rolls down my cheek. Fury emanates from everypore on my body as adrenaline forces its way to every square inch of me. Through a shaky breath, I say, "I am done. You don't get to do this to me anymore."

"Alice, baby. I'm sorry—I won't do it again. You just made mesoangry." He puffs the words out on his whisky-laced breath and crunches his knuckles.

His apology means fuck all. His stare is so menacing. I can see the monster he is, even if he can't. He recycles the same apology every time.

You’re boring me now. At least think of a new way to fake saying sorry.

"Your lack of self-control isnotmy fucking problem. Get some help, Danny. Get some fucking help." I tremble with venom as I pick up my bag that's hanging from the back of the chair and swing it over my shoulder, trying to steady my shaky breaths as I do. I would hate for him to see the effect he has on me.

"Come back here, you fucking bitch. You'll never get away from me. You hear me? Never," he shouts as he attempts to stand from his chair, but sways, falling back and cracking the back of his head against the wall as he stumbles backwards. His hand rubs the back of his skull and he winces.

Good. I hope that hurt. You fucking prick.

The irony of him being the one in a heap on the floor now, isnot lost on me.

"I'm going to find you, Alice. I'll always find you, you little cunt."

For once, I believe him.

Prologue 2

Alice - Age 31

The buffet table! My favourite place to be at a wedding.

The bride and groom are in the full swing, mingling with wedding guests as the music draws people in to dance. Everyone is either drunk, or on the way to being drunk, and I am trying to soak up the champagne swirling in my stomach, otherwise I know I’ll have the mother of all hangovers in the morning.

I prop myself up against the wall and take a moment to look around the room. I see Sawyer's brother doing his own version of people watching and he looks back at me grinning before filling his mouth with pasta. Carter has taken his tie off, rolled up his sleeves, and undone a couple of the buttons on his shirt. He looks as ready for bed as I feel.

I give Carter a little wave. Well, less of a wave and more of a tip of my champagne glass. I hold up the plate in my other hand to show I've admitted defeat. I then turn my attention back tothe selection of food in front of me.

I have been trying to avoid the attention of Sawyer's family friend, Matt, for the entire wedding day. He's old enough to be my dad. Not that I mind a silver fox. In fact, I like an older man, but he's less silver fox, and more…weasel. He's also so fucking frustrating. This is my best friend's wedding day; I shouldn’t have to ward off unwanted attention, and men happen to be the last thing on my mind right now. Unfortunately for me, my love of food has led to me being in one place for too long.

"Hey there! I've been trying to talk to you all day!" a cocky voice cuts through my periphery as a body presses against my side. Well, shit. I knew that my love of pastry would be my downfall one day.

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