Page 48 of Unbreak Me

"I did it because I wanted us to consider all the options, Day. I want us to think together about what we can do. There are different people who could help us handle this matter so that Ferguson is punished. If not legally, then through public opinion."

Everything was swirling in my head. Over these two years, I had built up a massive resistance to the idea of takingany actionto punish Ferguson. The man was terrifying. On the other hand, deep inside me, the anger never went away—anger that I had never eventriedto fight. Did I let him get away with all of it? Was this my chance now? I wasn’t alone anymore—I had an ally, someone who could take on the burden of dealing with all the unpleasant details.

Speaking slowly, almost hesitantly, I started, "To be honest, I’m surprised you’re even interested in this matter. It happened two years ago, and Ferguson is a powerful, dangerous man. If it were easy to expose him, other people would have done it already. I strongly suspect he had dealings with other omegas I saw near him, but I never heard about any scandal surrounding him, no accusations of abuse. Logically, it would be best to let the matter go." I paused, then added cautiously, "But part of me… wants to know what you think we should do. What is your plan? That’s said, of course… if you found anything on those recordings."

Jan studied my face for a while, then he closed his eyes and whispered, "This sentence may sound logically contradictory, but ‘unfortunately’, yes, I did." He struggled with the next words. "I never wanted to watch something like that, but there were two cameras. Ferguson had exceptionally bad luck; you could say Fate did us a favor. That particular room had an additionalcamera because a few kids had broken into it before and stolen some furniture from the storage. Everything is recorded. You can see his face clearly; there’s no doubt who he is and what happened there. Everyone can see you trying to fight him, and him dragging you there." Jan’s voice was trembling. I could feel how much it cost him to speak about it.

Our eyes met and mine became treacherously wet, so I quickly raised my gaze to the ceiling as if seeking salvation from this topic. But again, seeing him suffer from it too was like a balm for my wounds:

He saw me. I was SEEN.

Someone knew about my tragedy. Someone felt anger on my behalf. Someone understood that something terrible had happened and didn’t downplay it.

This simple awareness meant so much to me!

"I… suffered," I whispered, my voice breaking.

Jan lowered his head, his jaw tightening. "I know, Day, and I hate him for it. That’s why I can’t just let it go. That’s the reason I asked Frank for help before telling you. Because there’s no doubt in my mind—your suffering has to be avenged. There’s no other option, no fucking way!"

"What do you want to do about it?" My voice was very quiet and trembling, almost inaudible.

"Well, the logical thing would be to go to the police, though they might be pressured or influenced—Ferguson probably has a lot of friends in high places. The second option is to call the Omega Red Line Agency, but that would take a lot of time, they are drowning in cases…" He winced. "It would also take away a certain power from the kind of personal revenge I have in mind: completely destroying him in the public eye."

My gaze darted to him for a second. Jan's face looked different now—grim, maybe even a little scary. His eyebrows were furrowed, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"The state election is very soon, in two weeks. These two means of punishing him would take months. And this man needs to be dealt with much more quickly, and decisively. His career needs to end."

Jan took a deep breath, his expression razor-focused.

"I want to do it threefold, Day. I’ll mirror what he did. That’s why I’m thinking ofthree strikesto hit him with—one for each time he hurt you."

My whole body was shaking. Inside me, two forces swirled: terror and admiration. And gratitude for what he said.

Someone wanted to pull me out of nothingness, out of ‘meaninglessness’. I could finally stop being nobody—I could be unerased. A small, little me would matter in the end.

"Tell… me… about it," I stammered, my tears streaming continuously.

"The first strike is sending this video to his company, to the board of directors, to have him removed from the CEO position. The second strike is sending this video to the election committee, with whom he wants to run for local elections. And the last one is sending it to his husband. Because I don’t believe it’s right for that omega to be with him—with such a beast who has no conscience."

I kept my eyes fixed on the ceiling, still intensely trembling, desperately needing his touch. Slowly, I reached out my hand beyond the edge of the nest. Jan immediately grabbed it, then leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on it.

Almost choking on my own tears, I whispered,

"I agree."

JAN

I spent that evening tossing and turning in bed, my whole body tense as if gearing up for a fight. And in a way, I was—preparing for battle. The adrenaline coursing through me made it impossible to relax or sleep.

My mind kept swirling with restless thoughts, doubting whether the plan I’d presented to Day had any real chance of success. I started obsessing over worst-case scenarios.

What if Ferguson’s company board ignored the footage? What if they dismissed it as a joke? What if the electoral committee ruled it a hoax—maybe something staged by Ferguson’s opponent at the last moment before the elections? What if Ferguson spun the same story to his husband?

By the time I was done spiraling, I’d convinced myself the plan had major flaws. I needed to prepare a fourth option, something potentially more effective than the three paths I’d already considered. But what?

The next morning, I made breakfast for Day. When he came downstairs and stood in the doorway, our eyes met. I noticed a change in him, as if some space inside him had opened up.

Wanting to do something I’d never done before, I slowly approached him. His eyes followed my every move.

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