Crossword Genius

Brief relations ceased, not unexpectedly (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

anecdotes

'brief relations' is the definition.
(stories which can be told or related briefly)

'ceased not unexpectedly' is the wordplay.
'unexpectedly' is an anagram indicator.
'ceased'+'not'='ceasednot'
'ceasednot' with letters rearranged gives 'ANECDOTES'.

(Other definitions for anecdotes that I've seen before include "Noted case (anag.)" , "A short amusing story, probably true" , "yarns" , "Amusing short tales" , "Short accounts of incidents" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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