The airport buzzed with life — the rolling of suitcases, the murmur of travelers, and the faint echo of boarding calls. Harper wheeled her luggage through the crowd, scanning the sea of faces with growing impatience.
"Don't tell me they actually forgot I was coming back today," she muttered under her breath, pouting slightly.
Just as she was about to fish her phone out of her bag, a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Do you really think we'd dare to forget you?"
That voice — smooth, teasing, and unmistakably familiar.
Harper turned, and her eyes lit up instantly.
There he was — Albert Brown, tall and striking in a crisp black suit, exuding confidence and quiet authority. To outsiders, he was the cold and composed CEO of Brown & Co., but to Harper, he was simply her big brother — the one who had always watched over her.
"Albert!" Harper squealed, abandoning her suitcase as she threw her arms around him.
He caught her easily, steadying her before she could trip. "Careful, little one," he said with a soft laugh. "Still clumsy as ever. How did you even survive two years on your own?"
"Excuse me?" she huffed, stepping back with mock offense. "I'm not clumsy anymore. I've grown up, you know."
Albert raised an eyebrow, amused. "Right. Because running into people at airports is such a mature entrance."
"Albert!" Harper swatted his arm, half-laughing, half-annoyed.
"Okay, okay," he surrendered, grinning as he reached into his pocket. "Here, peace offering."
He handed her a familiar bar of chocolate — her favorite brand since childhood.
Harper's eyes softened instantly. "You remembered."
"Of course," he said. "You're hard to forget."
She tore open the wrapper and took a bite, her face brightening. "Still tastes like home."
Albert smiled, watching her. "You really missed it, didn't you?"
"I missed everything," she said softly. "The mansion, the garden, Mom's food, Grandpa's stories — even Stanley's pranks."
"Then you'll fit right back in," Albert replied, guiding her toward the exit.
As they stepped out of the terminal, the sunlight bathed them in gold. Harper tilted her face upward, smiling.
Finally, she thought, I'm home.
They walked toward the waiting car, their laughter echoing behind them — unaware that the perfect world they were returning to was already starting to crack.