My Jealous Stepbrother
GOODBYE FREEDOM

Aware that this situation would lead me into serious trouble, I felt a shiver run through my body. If I couldn't get him to erase that compromising photo, I would be forced to hide my face at every outing. My God, this was so scary! I dressed in simple clothes and quickly prepared for the encounter. My only hope lay in Zack's help, I was confident he could stop all this chaos.

Maybe.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I texted Zack to meet me in a nearby park. It was the best option, since it was close to both of us.

I grabbed my purse and my phone, making sure not to leave them forgotten again. For some reason, I felt an unusual connection with my phone. I hurried out of the house, closing the door behind me. The rain had stopped early in the morning, leaving only a slight dampness in the air. I walked quickly, feeling the urgency in every step.

Again, my phone rang with an ominous tone. A shiver ran through my body as I realized a new photo had been sent. My hand trembled as I tried to unlock the phone, failing twice before finally confronting the disturbing image sent by the stranger. My heart raced and a cold sweat broke out on my back. I appeared semi-naked, captured at the precise moment I was changing my clothes. I looked around frantically, but there was no one but a few songbirds. The day was shining with an intensity that seemed to mock my anguish. I hated the sun at that very moment.

My legs seemed to have a life of their own as they propelled me forward, as if I were running for my own survival. As I approached the park, I could make out Zack's shining golden hair in the distance. I was a little irritated that I had arrived before the appointed time, as it seemed my internal clock was ahead of schedule and I was twenty minutes early. Once at his side, I took a moment to catch my breath, my lungs were burning and I felt like I was going to die from the sudden physical exertion I had exerted, adding to my already poor physical condition. Exercise was definitely not my thing.

Zack looked at me with concern, his blue eyes reflecting surprise at seeing me arrive so agitated. He extended his hand toward me, offering support and balance. "Are you okay? You look like you've run a marathon," he said with a gentle smile but a hint of concern in his voice.

I nodded haltingly, trying to catch my breath enough to speak. "Yeah, just...I needed to get there fast...something urgent has happened."

Zack frowned, catching the seriousness in my words. "What's wrong, what happened?"

I took a deep breath and decided not to waste any more time stalling. I knew I could trust him. "They sent me a compromising picture, Zack! A picture of me half naked! It's awful, I don't know who did it or why, I just...just..."

"Take it easy, Sam. Calm down for a minute." Zack's face reflected a mixture of indignation and determination. He grasped my hand firmly and his gaze became determined. "We'll work it out, don't worry. We're going to replace out who's doing this."

We sat on a secluded bench, surrounded by the quiet of the park. I told Zack what I had agreed with Emily, revealing only the main details: someone was stalking me and I had received disturbing photos. However, when he suggested viewing the images, I flatly refused. I was not willing to let anyone see them, least of all Zack, to whom I had not yet revealed the whole story.

Zack frowned, showing his bewilderment. "I understand that you want to protect yourself, but if we work together, I need to know everything," he insisted.

"You sure you don't just want to see me in my underwear?" I joked.

A knot formed in my stomach as I struggled with the decision. On the one hand, I feared exposing myself completely and unleashing a firestorm of emotions. On the other hand, I recognized that I needed his support and that the truth would bring us closer together.

I took a deep breath, letting courage take over. "It's okay, Zack," I whispered in a shaky voice. "I trust you. I'll show you the pictures and tell you everything that's been going on." My trembling hand reached for the phone, ready to face the reality that had infiltrated my life.

We planned to set a trap for the stalker. Zack, with his computer expertise, assured me it would be a simple process. All I had to do was hand him my phone, but I didn't feel entirely confident about it. Although I understood that it was in my best interest, I was afraid that the stalker would be enraged if I didn't receive a response as expected. What could happen if a message came in while I didn't have my phone? Plus, I was terrified of the thought of more photos arriving and Zack seeing them.

"I understand, take some time to think about it, but I don't see any other option. It's going to be complicated if you don't cooperate, Sam," Zack said with a tone of frustration.

My eyes landed on my phone once again, and just as I was about to hand it to him, my pupils locked onto the time. Damn it! If I didn't leave right then, I'd be in big trouble. "Gotta go!" I exclaimed.

But Zack, confused, looked at me with concern. "But why, what's going on?" he asked.

"Ryan! That's what's going on," I replied with a hint of distress in my voice. "It's very late and he must be about to get home. If I don't leave now, he won't replace me and it could mean the end of my freedom for the rest of my life."

Perhaps I sounded a bit dramatic, but the gravity of the situation brooked no other approach. The irony was in my voice as I made it clear that I was aware of the intensity of my words.

Zack quickly rose from his seat, showing his determination. "I'll go with you," he declared, leaving no room for objection.

"It's not necessary," I tried to argue, but his eyes burned with fierce determination.

"I'm not going to let you go alone," he stated flatly. "I can't risk the stalker lurking around and something happening to you."

At the moment when I was about to stress that it wasn't necessary and that I could go alone my phone vibrated in my hand, my heart stopped for a moment, I knew who it was and at the same time I also knew what he had sent me. Would it be okay to accept Zack's proposal?