The sun was dipping low, casting golden streaks across the Sydney tarmac. Three girls—Bella, Navya, and Mia—stood at the private jet terminal, the anticipation practically radiating from them. They had been waiting for Abby and Julian, arriving all the way from London, and every minute had stretched like an eternity.
Navya huffed, crossing her arms.
"We've been standing here for thirty minutes! Are they flying or strolling?!" Her voice trembled with equal parts irritation and excitement.
Mia, sipping her coke, rolled her eyes so hard it was audible.
"Oh my God, Julian is going to pay for this. He said 4 PM sharp. Now it's 4:35. Honestly, I might just storm the jet and drag him out myself."
Bella didn't even glance up from her phone, speaking in her trademark deadpan.
"Mia, you can't storm a jet. Besides… he's your brother. Last I checked, we don't murder family."
Mia spun around, giving Bella a look like she was an alien from another planet.
"Excuse me? You sound like you've never survived a Whitmore prank in your life. I've got rights to threaten him a little!"
Bella smirked without looking up.
"Threaten. Sure. Just don't call it murder. There's a fine line."
Navya burst out laughing while Bella high-fived her, leaving Mia in an exaggerated dramatic huff.
"Yeah, laugh it up, aliens. You'll see when I actually kidnap him from the tarmac."
Suddenly, Mia's eyes widened.
"They're here!" she squealed, all frustration melting into joy.
The girls spun toward the runway as the sleek private jet came to a stop. Abby and Julian stepped down, grinning like no time had passed at all.
Bella didn't even think—she ran straight into Abby's arms. He caught her effortlessly, holding her close, feeling her warmth, the familiar scent of home wrapping around him.
"Brother! I missed you so much! Finally, you're here after two years!" Bella's voice trembled with a mix of relief and happiness.
Abby hugged her tightly, eyes softening. "I missed you too, Sister. Every single day."
Meanwhile, Mia barreled toward Julian, throwing her arms around him.
"Finally! You can't just leave me hanging for five years, Julian! I've been surviving on memories and sarcasm!"
Julian laughed, lifting her effortlessly and spinning her in a circle.
"And you survived perfectly, didn't you?"
Navya joined the chaos, while Bella whispered to Abby, her voice full of playful exasperation.
"You better not make me regret missing you for two whole years, or I'll never let you live it down."
Abby chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Regret? Impossible. We're here now. Nothing else matters."
Mia flopped into Julian's arms, teasing with wide-eyed faux horror.
"And just so you know, I've got a list of pranks ready for you. Consider yourself warned."
Julian smirk as telling huh lets see and then He made a dramatic, fake sad face as he watched Bella still hugging Abby, completely ignoring him. Navya, standing beside them, was grinning from ear to ear, enjoying the scene. Julian, pretending to wipe fake tears, said in an exaggerated voice,
"No one missed me, right? Fine, I'm going back then!"
Bella finally pulled away from Abby and spun around, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She leapt onto Julian without a second thought and hugged him tightly.
"I missed you so much during college, Julian! Every single second felt empty without you. And now… finally, you're back, Dr. Julian!" Her voice trembled with unshed tears, and he felt his chest tighten seeing her so emotional.
Julian, trying to maintain his playful tone, wiped a pretend tear and said,
"Senorita, I only came back because I couldn't stand a world where you weren't around. So… why don't you just become my girlfriend already?"
Bella playfully punched his shoulder, laughing through her tears.
"No way! There's no way I'm making a boyfriend out of your ridiculous monkey face!"
Everyone burst out laughing, except Julian, who pouted, feigning indignation.
Meanwhile, Abby's eyes were fixed on Mia. She could feel his gaze burning into her, and though she tried to ignore it, her face flushed a deep pink.
Navya extended her hand to shake Julian's, but he grinned mischievously and pulled her into a hug. As his chest brushed against hers, a spark shot through both of them. Navya pulled back with a small, knowing smile, leaving Julian momentarily lost in her gaze.
The moment was broken by Bella's bright, commanding voice:
"Alright, guys! Let's go! Hurry up! Everyone's waiting at the farmhouse tonight for the pool party!"
The group laughed and teased each other as they climbed into their cars, their chatter and excitement filling the air. The long-awaited reunion had begun, and the farmhouse weekend promised to be unforgettable.
At the Harrison and Whitmore mansions, the elders were sitting comfortably in the hall, sipping tea and chatting, enjoying their own leisurely time. The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the loud honk of arriving cars.
The younger generation burst into the hall, laughing and teasing each other, their energy filling the room. The elders watched them with fond smiles, quietly admiring the strong bond and carefree camaraderie among the children.
Abby and Julian greeted everyone warmly before heading to their rooms to rest after the long journey. Exhausted from the flight, they needed a quick recharge. Bella, Mia, and Navya also retreated to their rooms, eager to freshen up before tonight's much-anticipated pool party.
Meanwhile, in London, Sebastian was buried in work at his sleek, modern office when there was a soft knock at the door.
"Come in," he called without looking up.
His PA entered, holding a folder in one hand.
"Sir, Mr. Sharma's meeting has been postponed to next month. He's attending his daughter's wedding, so there's nothing scheduled for you tomorrow."
Sebastian leaned back in his chair, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. "I see. So… no work left for me?"
"Yes, sir. You're free."
A spark of excitement flashed in Sebastian's eyes. "Perfect. Then I'm flying to Sydney tomorrow. Make all necessary arrangements—the car, the private flight, everything. And keep this strictly between us. I want it to be a surprise."
His PA nodded, already used to Sebastian's meticulous planning.
He moved around the apartment, checking his suitcase, his laptop, and documents, but his mind kept drifting to the people he was about to surprise. He imagined the looks on their faces, the joy, the chaos, the teasing—it made him smile more than he expected.
Unable to contain it, he picked up his phone and tried calling Julian, but there was no answer. With a smirk, he left a message:
"Julian, my meeting got canceled. I'll be in Sydney tomorrow afternoon. Don't tell anyone—I want it to be a surprise. Send the car." Seb sends a message to Abby to inform about his arrival.
Sebastian stood and stretched, his mind racing with ideas. He thought of the family—and a rare warmth filled his chest. .Sebastian sat by the window with a cup of coffee, staring at the busy London streets below, letting a rare sense of anticipation wash over him.
For the first time in years, he wasn't thinking about deals, profits, or deadlines. He was thinking about them—the family, the laughter, the bonds—and most of all, that one girl whose memory had haunted him for years. This trip wasn't just a visit. It was a mission, a chance to make up for lost time and to give them a day they would never forget.For years, he had kept his distance, focused solely on building his empire, but now he wanted to be there, to see them, to make them happy