**Chapter 1: An Unannounced Visit**

As I stepped out of my car and onto the driveway, a mix of nostalgia and excitement washed over me. It had been a while since I'd visited my brother, Alex, at his home in the suburbs. I was a junior in college, and with finals just around the corner, I had managed to score a few days off from classes. I decided it would be a great opportunity to surprise Alex, who was a senior in high school. We had always been close, despite our occasional sibling rivalry, and I was looking forward to catching up with him. As I walked towards the house, I noticed that the curtains in his room were drawn, which was unusual. Alex was not one to keep his curtains closed during the day. I shrugged it off, thinking maybe he was just trying to sleep in or watch a movie. I grabbed my backpack from the trunk and made my way to the front door. As I entered the house, I called out to Alex, "Hey, bro! I'm home!" There was no response. I walked through the living room and into the hallway, noticing that the door to Alex's room was slightly ajar. I pushed it open slowly, not wanting to startle him if he was indeed sleeping or engaged in something. What I saw next made my heart skip a beat. Alex was sitting on his bed, and his English teacher, Ms. Johnson, was sitting beside him. Her blouse was unbuttoned, and her bra was visible. Alex's eyes were fixed on her, and they both looked caught off guard. Ms. Johnson quickly composed herself, while Alex's face turned bright red. "Ah, uh, hi," Alex stuttered, trying to play it cool. Ms. Johnson stood up, smoothing out her blouse. "Alex, I think we were just, uh, discussing his literature project," she explained, trying to sound convincing. I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of the situation. Something didn't add up. Alex and Ms. Johnson were alone in his room, with her partially undressed. I felt a surge of anger and protectiveness towards my brother. What was going on here? "Hey, Ms. Johnson," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. "I didn't know you were over. I can come back another time if you guys are in the middle of something." Ms. Johnson forced a smile. "No, no, it's fine. I was just helping Alex with his project. Why don't you join us?" I looked at Alex, who seemed hesitant. I could tell he didn't want me there. But I wasn't leaving. Not yet. I had a feeling that something was off, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.