บท 19: Chapter 19. No Matter What

After what seemed like forever, Harper spotted the familiar face she had been hoping to meet. Dylan, her eldest sister, was standing among the crowded passengers at the departure gate. Harper felt a rush of relief and delight as she rushed her pace, her gaze focusing on Dylan's.

Dylan's expression switched from distraction to recognition as she laid eyes on her little sister. A warm smile spread across her face, the years of separation melting away in an instant. Without hesitation, Harper rushed forward and engulfed Dylan in a tight embrace, the sisterly bond rekindling with a strong depth.

"Harper," Dylan breathed, her voice laced with a mix of disbelief and awe. "Look at you, all grown up." She pulled back slightly, her gaze sweeping over Harper's features, taking in the transformation from the young girl she had once known to the confident young woman standing before her. She left a little girl and found a young woman.

But before she could utter a word, Dylan's expression shifted, her brow furrowing slightly as she detected a faint aroma wafting from her sister. "Did you... drink alcohol?" Dylan asked, her tone laced with a touch of concern.

Harper's eyes widened momentarily, and she instinctively brought her hand to her face, as if to hide the telltale signs. "I, um, I did," she admitted, her voice small and slightly sheepish. "Does it really smell that strong?"

Dylan's lips parted, a mixture of surprise and worry etched on her features. "How much did you have, Harper?" she pressed, her protective instincts as the older sister kicking in. As far as she heard from the two younger siblings at home, Harper was never the one who resorted to drinking or doing drugs after whatever their father did to her.

Harper hesitated for a moment, contemplating how much to reveal. "Well, I had a glass when the plane took off," she began, her gaze drifting downward. "And then... I had another one, about fifteen minutes before landing. I needed to sleep."

Dylan's eyebrows shot up. "Two glasses?" she asked. "Harper, something happened to you? Or did dad do something to you again?"

Harper's shoulders slumped, the weight of the day's events suddenly crashing down upon her. "I... I don't know, Dylan," she murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. "It's been a terrible day, and I just needed something to help me cope."

Her older sister's expression softened, her protective instincts overriding her initial shock. Reaching out, she gently placed a hand on Harper's arm, her touch imbued with warmth and understanding. "Oh, Lord, okay," she sighed, her gaze conveying the depth of her concern. "Come on, let's get you something to eat. We can talk about it over a proper meal."

"Okay," Harper replied, and pulling the handles of her big suitcase and small carry-on, she fell into steps behind her sister, quietly following behind.

As they walked through the crowded airport, a steady rattle of rolling luggage accompanied their steps. Harper couldn't help but notice the tiny changes in their heights: she was now somewhat taller than Dylan, a result of both time and her own physical development.

"I'll need to do some laundry after this," Harper casually stated, her gaze running over the pile of stuff she had brought with her.

Dylan looked back, a warm smile growing across her face. "Yeah, we can handle that at my place later. There's also someone I'd like to introduce you to," she said, her voice filled with passion.

Harper arched her brow in interest, a wicked twinkle in her gaze. "You married in secret, Dy?" she teased, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Dylan's laughter rang out—a melodious sound that lifted Harper's spirits. "Oh, you wish," she replied, her eyes sparkling with delight.

The sisters continued their lighthearted banter as they walked the crowded terminal. Harper couldn't help but feel a form of calmness flood over her, happy for the usual warmth and camaraderie she had found in her big sister's company.

Dylan led Harper to a sleek, black SUV as they neared the parking lot, its powerful appearance dominating attention. Harper couldn't help but let out a low whistle, as she was astounded by the car's sheer size and sophistication.

"This is yours?" she asked, her eyes widening with a mixture of wonder and admiration.

Dylan chuckled. "Yeah, it's been a bit of a game changer, that's for sure," she said, unlocking the car and motioning for Harper to load her baggage into the large trunk.

After securing Harper's belongings, the sisters hopped inside the SUV, where the luxurious leather seats enveloped them in comfort. Harper couldn't help but slide back onto the cushions, her muscles gradually relaxing.

As Dylan started the engine and guided the car out of the parking lot, Harper turned to her sister with a curious expression on her face. "So, who is this person you want to introduce me to?" she asked, her mind already racing with possibilities.

Dylan twisted his lips into a mysterious smile. "You'll just have to wait and see," she said, her eyes twinkling with naughty glee.

Dylan's expression shifted in an instant, a storm of anger and wrath sweeping across her features. "He said what?" she asked.

Harper's gaze faltered, her eyes downcast as she tried to find the words. "You know?" she asked softly, a feeble attempt at a smile flitting across her lips.

Dylan took a long breath, clenching her teeth as the weight of the situation sank in. She was the eldest sister, and there was a ten-year age difference between them, but it didn't hinder their closeness. Dylan had been harboring a gnawing suspicion for years, hinting at the dark truths that had plagued Harper's existence.

She remembered the nights she was nine years old when she overheard their parents' furious conflicts. Dylan was haunted by the image of her mother, tears flowing down her cheeks, pleading with her father for forgiveness. And then came the fateful words that stung like a knife: her father's vitriolic statement about the kid in her mother's womb, whom he had labeled 'filthy' and 'not his blood'. Despite her parents' attempts, they were unsuccessful in freeing themselves of the unwanted child in her mother's womb, and Harper was born a year later.

Dylan's heart sank as the knowledge hit her. Harper had been carrying the heavy burden of everything all along without knowing the truth, forced to bear the pain of her father's rejection as well as the silent truth that had cast a shadow over her entire life. Only for their father to drop the bomb a few moments before her flight to Berlin.

"Dylan! Why didn't you answer me?" Harper's voice cut through the pregnant silence, her eyes filled with a mix of desperation and heartbreak. "You know? That I'm not my father's daughter? He's not my father? That's why he hates me so much? Right?"

Seeing the deep hurt etched on her sister's face, she felt her chest hurt from many emotions. She reached out, grasping Harper's hands in her own and holding them tightly. "Harper, listen to me," she began. "I'm your sister, no matter what. Noah and Chloe are your siblings. Nothing, not even this twisted truth, can change that. No matter that, the moron we called Father told you. We're still your siblings! We're still tied by blood!"

"Even when we share a different father?" Harper cries.

Tears brimmed in Dylan's eyes as she spoke, her heart breaking for the pain her little sister had endured. "You're not alone, Harper, and yes, even when we have different fathers! You're still my sister!" she continued, her grip tightening. "You've never been alone. We're your family, and we love you, no matter what."