My Jealous Stepbrother
CHAOTIC REUNION

My tears continued to fall uncontrollably throughout the night, breakfast had lost its flavor and my eyes were too puffy, not sleeping at all and crying non-stop was not the best thing for anyone. I looked in the mirror and barely recognized the forlorn girl looking back at me. My life had become complete chaos, how could it be that Zack, is my stalker? And how could Emily betray me like that?

Anger, hurt, and confusion mixed in a whirlwind inside me. I also didn't know how I would confront my father after learning what had been going on. How would I explain everything to him?

I sank into my room, feeling the overwhelming weight of circumstances. My mind was exhausted and filled with uncertainty, not knowing what to do. Everything I thought I knew vanished, I found myself lost and completely alone. Emily's messages kept coming one after another, full of despair and regret. She tried to explain herself, sought my understanding and begged for my forgiveness. But at this moment, what I had done was simply unforgivable, I trusted telling her everything as my best friend and ended up using it against me.

Every message I received only fueled my pain and anger. I'm not ready to forgive her, not after all the damage she had caused me, if it wasn't for her fault the stalker wouldn't have been able to get those pictures or wouldn't have had the knowledge about what was going on with my love entanglement. Her words of remorse sounded empty compared to the suffering I had been experiencing these days.

I made the decision not to respond to her messages. I am not ready to face her.

I heard the unmistakable sound of keys in the front door, I rushed out of my room, full of hope that it was Ryan who had arrived, with some excuse that his phone had run out of battery and that's why he hadn't responded to my desperate messages. But I was wrong, it was my father, along with my entire family. My stepmother and my two brothers looked at me with a mixture of concern and disappointment in their eyes. It was obvious they knew what was going on.

I stood frozen in the doorway, not knowing what to say or do. I felt exposed, vulnerable and embarrassed in front of my family. Was it possible they would accept my feelings for Ryan? I didn't think so.

My father broke the silence, his voice full of what sounded like concern put me on alert. "We need to talk," he said in a serious but understanding tone.

I nodded, unable to replace the right words to excuse myself and run off to hide.

Silence fell in the room as my father looked at me with a hard, disappointed look. He didn't utter a single word, and his attitude made me feel even more guilty and ashamed. I didn't know what was going through his mind at that moment, but I mentally prepared myself to face his scolding.

I would try to break the ice, to somehow start a conversation. "How was your flight, Dad?" I asked timidly, hoping that might soften the tension in the air a little.

My father sighed deeply, avoiding my gaze. "That doesn't matter right now, Samantha. What matters is what's going on here," he replied coldly, making it clear to me that my current situation with my stepbrother was his main concern.

I felt a lump in my throat, fighting back the tears that threatened to well up. Maybe I did deserve his disappointment, but that didn't make it any easier to face him.

My stepmother tried to intervene, trying to smooth over the situation. "Edward, maybe we should listen to Sam and understand his perspective before we judge," she suggested in a calm voice. For some reason that made me angry. My father shot her a hard look, silencing her immediately. It was clear he didn't want to hear any defense on my behalf. I felt a knot in my stomach, a mixture of sadness and frustration. "Sam, we need to have a serious talk about this," my father said in a firm voice. "I can't believe you allowed things to get to this point. I've failed to protect you, I also expected more from Ryan."

His words echoed in my mind, sinking me further into guilt and shame until I realized his words better. Did he say he expected more from Ryan? Confusion washed over me as I listened to my father's words.

"What do you mean by expecting more from Ryan?", I asked in a shaky voice, hoping for an explanation that would shed light on the situation.

My father sighed, and I could see the concern in his eyes. "Sam, it has come to my attention that Ryan has been engaging in some questionable behavior. I can't believe I left him in charge of you while we were gone," he replied cautiously, choosing his words carefully.

My heart raced and my mind began to imagine the worst possibilities.

"By questionable you mean..."

"I mean Ryan overstepped with you, I know all about it. I can't believe I expected so much from that boy and he let me down like this. how could he go overboard with you when we weren't around." Huh?

"But Dad, Ryan didn't..."

"I gave him the important task of taking care of you and yet-", I couldn't stand to hear him talk about Ryan like that anymore. he had to explain it properly.

"Dad, I think there's a misunderstanding," I interrupted, "Ryan didn't overstep with me. There's been a mistake, I swear."

My father looked at me with disbelief and some disappointment in his eyes. "Sam, I understand you want to defend him, but the evidence is compelling," he replied, his voice laden with disappointment.

"What evidence?", I asked in a halting voice, desperately hoping he would give me a chance to clarify the situation.

"I found messages and photographs that leave no room for doubt," my father said, his tone hardened. "I can't believe I trusted him and he failed me like this."

The knot in my stomach grew tighter. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How was it possible that there was evidence incriminating Ryan? What had really happened?

"Dad, you have to believe me," I pleaded. "There is an explanation for all of this, I promise you. Ryan is not who you think he is."

My father sighed, seeming to consider my words for a moment. "Sam, I know you and I want to believe you, but I need proof that I'm wrong," he said, his voice laden with anguish.

At that moment, I realized there was only one way to prove Ryan's innocence. I had to replace the truth for myself, discover who was behind this conspiracy and unravel the deception that had jeopardized our relationship.

"Dad, listen to me! I was the one who kissed him first, I'm not covering it up," I exclaimed, trying to make him understand the truth.

The words escaped my mouth with a mixture of desperation and determination. My father stared at me in disbelief, unable to process what I was saying.

"You can't be serious, Samantha. You can't do that with your brother," my father replied, a disappointed expression on his face.

"He's not my brother!", I yelled in frustration.

Why doesn't he understand me? Am I the only one who doesn't see him as my brother?