Them's The Breaks Novels & Stories

Because this time— I’m not the one breaking. They are. And they have no idea what they just lost control of.

A silence followed. Then Fabian looked at her carefully. “I’m trying to understand when I became this person.” Claire crossed her arms lightly against the cold breeze. “You didn’t become this person overnight.” Fabian’s jaw tightened. She was right. Neglect happened slowly. One ignored feeling at a time. One broken promise at a time. One moment of choosing someone else repeatedly until it became habit. Claire studied him quietly. For the first time since their separation— Fabian looked emotionally stripped bare.

I’m the prize. And they’re going to break me open to claim it.

Inside, the bond throbs with a new, dawning certainty. I’ve made a crack in their world. They’re going to try to break me for it.

I bit down hard on my lip and refused to let a single tear fall. Crying would only make them laugh harder. "Begin." Marco's voice held no emotion at all. A bodyguard lifted a soaked bullwhip, letting it slice through the air before it landed with a heavy crack against my back. Pain shot through me like molten fire, making me grunt involuntarily as my body shook violently. Blow after blow landed with ruthless precision. My back quickly turned into a bloody mess. I could hear the crowd whispering, jeering, and lamenting—all of it stabbing at my heart like a thousand needles.

I never imagined they'd end up being used against me. She even gave them the video where I'd promised the tracks were just for her. In the end, Maeve had no choice but to return them. "I don't mean anything by it, Xavier. I just wanted to remind you to be careful with copyright from now on, even with people you're close to. I heard you've been having a tough time lately. Don't worry about paying me back until you're in a better place." Maeve comforted me over the phone. I was already grateful she didn't demand compensation for the breach of contract.

Forbidden I repeat. It stares back at me, haunting, demeaning. Yet I cannot bring it in me to let it go. I will never kneel before a man, but why does this sketch speak otherwise? I throw my notepad into my box as if it burns, and zip the bag so quickly like anyone could come in any minute from now and see how far gone I have become.

**Broken Promises** The atmosphere in the Hayes household was tense and fraught with unresolved emotions. The revelation of the town council’s corruption had given Claire a fleeting sense of hope, but with the developers pulling out and Mr. Allen’s smug threats, it felt like the walls were closing in faster than ever. The video that Samuel had found was their last weapon, but without the backing of the developers, the lawsuit loomed over them like a dark cloud.

That's our law! "Break our law, and you're a dead man!"

She utters confidently with no evidence of remorse on her face "Why? Just give me a reason you want to break up with me, ok? Is it because of what happened? I'm going to fix it, I swear it. I will make it up to you, ok? I won't..." "Just stop it, ok? Just stop it! I don't want you anymore, and that is my final decision!" She yells at the top of her voice, and I stagger back. I gulp down the sudden lump that forms in my throat. My heart pumps heavily against my chest, my blood went cold, and my hands suddenly become sweaty as my whole body come trembling fearfully.