I’m Just the Shopkeeper—But I Won’t Let Her Break / Chapter 5: Rescue in the Alley
I’m Just the Shopkeeper—But I Won’t Let Her Break

I’m Just the Shopkeeper—But I Won’t Let Her Break

Author: Gregory Marquez

Chapter 5: Rescue in the Alley

← Prev
Next →

Then I heard a commotion in a back alley.

“You got a screw loose, girl? Since when can you return something you already bought?”

A girl was shoved out from behind a rolling door, landing right in a puddle of dirty water that splashed up her jeans.

“You’re the one lying!” she yelled, scrambling up, voice shaking with tears. “It doesn’t even fit! You tricked me!”

Under the dim streetlight, I recognized the back of that uneven haircut—it was Lexi.

She looked so small, standing there with her jeans soaked and her hands balled into fists. The man at the door sneered, arms crossed, towering over her. Anger flared up inside me—no one should treat a kid like that.

After fighting with her mom, Lexi realized the bra wasn’t what she wanted after all, so she’d tracked down the stall owner to return it. The boss just laughed her off, leering in a way that made my skin crawl:

“What do you mean it doesn’t fit? Put it on and let me take a look.”

I rushed over and pulled Lexi behind me, blocking the man’s view.

“Taking money from a kid—seriously? You should be ashamed.”

My voice was sharp, all business. I glared at him until he backed off, muttering curses. Lexi clung to my arm, shaking. I led her away, my heart pounding with adrenaline and fury. No way was I letting her walk home alone after that.

It was way too late for her to be out, and the streets just weren’t safe. I decided to take Lexi home myself.

We walked in silence, our footsteps echoing on the cracked pavement. I handed her a tissue, and she wiped her face, sniffling quietly. “Thank you,” she whispered, barely audible.

She grabbed my hand, tears spilling over. “I don’t have money for a new one…”

It was only thirty bucks, but she’d skipped lunch for three weeks to save it up. My heart broke a little more.

Her voice cracked, and I squeezed her hand. “Hey, it’s okay. You don’t have to do this alone.” I wanted her to know someone was on her side, even if it was just me.

“How about this? I’ll order some affordable ones for the shop. Next week you can come pick one out, okay? Like before, you can buy on credit and pay me back a little at a time.”

She looked at me like I’d just handed her the moon. I smiled, hoping she could see I meant it. “No rush. Take your time. We’ll figure it out together.”

← Prev
Next →

You may also like

I Failed Her First: A Teacher’s Confession
I Failed Her First: A Teacher’s Confession
4.9
Sometimes, the lesson you teach is the one you need most. She was the student who wouldn’t meet my eyes, clutching her notebook as if it could shield her from the world—and I was the punk-rocker-turned-teacher, hiding behind a new haircut and borrowed shirt. Sent to a crumbling rural school I never wanted, I tried to be tough, but fear and doubt clung to us both. When my first lesson fell apart and I made her cry in front of the class, I realized I wasn’t the savior I imagined—I was the one who needed saving. Can a broken teacher find redemption in the eyes of a frightened student, or will we both drown in the silence we share?
He Sold Me—Now I Own Myself
He Sold Me—Now I Own Myself
5.0
He called me worthless, then sold me to save my brother. My name is Jessie, and my family traded me for a dowry—no love, no regret. Forced into a marriage with a cruel, dangerous man, I learned that survival means more than silence; it means fighting for every scrap of dignity they tried to take. In a town where girls are currency and justice is just a rumor, I turned secrets into power and betrayal into a weapon. But when exposing my husband's darkest crimes sets the whole town against me, I must decide: will I save the family that broke me, or let them drown in the world they made? If justice means standing alone, is it worth everything I’ve lost?
She Left Me—Now I’ll Beat Her Onstage
She Left Me—Now I’ll Beat Her Onstage
4.9
She left me for fame and a Grammy-winning songwriter, but I won’t stay silent. Autumn and I once dreamed together, but now she’s the darling of America’s strangest music scene—while her manager tries to buy my silence. When she demanded a divorce on the eve of our big break, I lost everything except my talent and my pride. But the world doesn’t know I’m back, hiding behind a mask in the same competition, ready to take the crown she stole. In a world where kids’ songs have gone off the rails, can I turn heartbreak into a comeback—or will Autumn’s new allies crush my only shot at redemption? When the final curtain falls, who will America cheer for: the star who left, or the man she tried to erase?
She Stole My Client—So I Quit
She Stole My Client—So I Quit
4.8
Betrayed by the person she trusted most, Samantha Caldwell’s career implodes in a single morning when her own trainee steals a $700,000 client—right under the noses of their entire branch. Once the office’s top performer, Sam finds herself gaslit by management, isolated by jealousy, and forced to choose between dignity and desperation. As rumors fly and loyalties fracture, Sam realizes that talent means nothing in a rigged system—especially when ambition turns toxic. But walking away isn’t defeat; it’s the start of a new game. Can she reclaim her power, or will Jenna’s ruthless play be the final word? In a world where loyalty is currency and betrayal comes with a smile, who gets the last laugh?
He Broke Her—She Took Everything
He Broke Her—She Took Everything
5.0
She stood on the roof, the whole town watching—her husband with another woman, her in-laws wishing her dead, her best friend racing to save her. Autumn Reed’s life in Maple Heights was a nightmare in slow motion, every Thanksgiving a fresh bruise. But this year, Savannah is back—and when Autumn’s desperation hits the edge, the town’s secrets come tumbling down. Betrayed by family, abandoned by love, Autumn faces a cruel ultimatum: break, or fight back. With the help of an old friend and a new ally, she’s about to turn the tables on the man who ruined her. Can Autumn survive the fallout and claim a life of her own—or will Maple Heights swallow her whole?
He Left Me, But I Paid the Price
He Left Me, But I Paid the Price
4.9
Some endings are silent, but the ache never is. I thought Eli and I were forever—until a single betrayal tore us apart, leaving me clutching memories and a cheap county fair kite. Years later, I’m called back to his side as his emergency contact, thrown into a whirlwind of old wounds and unfinished business. He’s surrounded by new admirers, but the past still claws at both of us. I want closure, maybe even forgiveness, but Eli only offers distance. My friends say I’m a fool for loving him, but they never saw the sacrifices he made, the debts unpaid. Now, as I watch him slip away for the last time, I’m haunted by one question: Was I the one holding him back—or was he always running from something he could never name? If love is letting go, why does it hurt so much to set him free?
She Saved Me, Then Sold Me
She Saved Me, Then Sold Me
4.9
She saved me from the darkness—then became it. Five years after a near-kidnapping, I married Autumn Walker, my fierce, barefoot savior. She loved every broken part of me—even after learning I was a werewolf. But when I overhear her bartering my life for moonstones and planning a future with another man, my world fractures. Our son, Eli, is caught in the crossfire—used for profit, left unprotected. When I follow Autumn to the Silver Pines Club, I discover just how deep her betrayal runs. Trapped between hunters, heartbreak, and the threat of being sold, I face an impossible choice: fight for my son, or surrender everything I have left. How much can a heart endure before it breaks for good—and will Eli ever forgive me if I fail? The truth will cost us everything.
Bought the Governor’s Son, Now He Owns Me
Bought the Governor’s Son, Now He Owns Me
4.7
I bought a broken man at the market, never knowing he was the governor’s son—and now the whole town wants him back. Every night, I wield the whip and the leash, but his silence cuts deeper than any blade. The real heroine is coming for him, and when she does, I’ll lose everything—unless I break him first.
She Canceled My Room—So I Fought Back
She Canceled My Room—So I Fought Back
4.8
A holiday getaway shouldn’t start with humiliation, but that’s exactly what happens when my hotel reservation vanishes and the front desk clerk makes me her public target. I came for rest; instead, I’m thrown into a battle of wits and dignity against Madison, the queen of petty power plays. Each attempt to salvage my weekend—whether flashing my corporate badge, demanding a manager, or simply asking for breakfast—only escalates the showdown. When Madison denies me even the basics and flaunts her favoritism, the line between customer and victim blurs. But as secrets spill and the hotel’s perfect image cracks, one question haunts my every move: how far will I go to reclaim my dignity before Madison destroys my holiday for good?
The Skirt He Said Was Only Mine
The Skirt He Said Was Only Mine
4.2
Love feels safest when it's forbidden. When Brianna slips into the skirt her Uncle Mark gave her, she expects a flirty video call with her boyfriend—until Uncle Mark himself walks through her door, claiming her attention in ways she never expected. One stolen kiss and a single command ignite a spiral of confusion, longing, and dangerous comfort. As Brianna tries to reconnect with Tyler, cracks in their long-distance romance widen into heartbreak, and a devastating truth shatters the trust she once clung to. With betrayal exposed and her world upended, Brianna is left vulnerable—caught between the ache of old loyalties and the magnetic pull of someone she’s never truly understood. When Uncle Mark offers her comfort and a possessive promise, will she let herself fall—or is this just another heartbreak waiting to happen?
My Heartbreak Became My Boss
My Heartbreak Became My Boss
5.0
She was the girl who broke my heart in college—now, years later, she's my boss. I thought I'd buried my feelings for Savannah Langley, but fate throws us together again, this time in the high-stakes world of corporate politics. Every stolen glance and awkward silence threatens to shatter the careful walls I've built. As memories resurface—midnight snacks, hidden confessions, and the heartbreak that tore us apart—I’m forced to confront the truth: I never stopped loving her. When a stormy night, a lost power outage, and a long-forgotten stuffed bear bring our past crashing into the present, I have to decide—can I risk my heart again, or is this just another chance to be shattered? Will old wounds heal, or will loving her a second time hurt even more?
I Loved Her, Then I Let Go
I Loved Her, Then I Let Go
4.9
He always did the right thing—even when it broke his heart. Dylan Brooks, the self-proclaimed 'honest guy,' thought marrying Savannah—the city’s most notorious heartbreaker—would finally make him enough. But Savannah’s beauty hides cold indifference and a string of betrayals, and Dylan’s loyalty is tested past its breaking point. When a midnight confrontation exposes the final lie, Dylan is forced to decide: does honesty mean staying true to her, or finally to himself? In a world obsessed with appearances, can the man who never lied learn to keep one secret of his own? What happens when the honest guy walks away first?