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Todos los capítulos de I Won't Compete With His Ex: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

10 Capítulos

Chapter 1

I was curled up on the couch, texting, when I heard someone punching in the code at the front door.I thought Graham was home. I grabbed the throw pillow beside me, ready to toss it at him.But the person who walked in was Anna Vaughn.The moment she stepped inside, she headed straight for the cat bed like she'd done it a hundred times. She scooped up Bagel and buried her face in her fur."There's my baby! Mommy missed you so much!"Bagel let out a soft meow and calmly let Anna fuss over her.I glanced at the scratches on the back of my hand. They still hadn't fully healed.Bagel didn't like me.Ever since I'd moved in, she freaked out whenever I got too close. If I tried holding her the way Anna was, I'd probably end up with my face scratched up.Anna only noticed me after she'd finished cuddling the cat. She froze for a second, then gave me an embarrassed smile."Sorry. I do in-home pet sitting for a living, so I honestly treat every cat like my own. I don't mean anything by it."Her

Chapter 2

The profile picture clearly belonged to a young man.Graham noticed immediately. "Who's texting you?"I picked up my phone. "Maybe someone who's interested in me."His expression tightened as he walked over and reached for it."Don't even read it. Delete it."Just then, the front door opened.Anna hurried in, soaked from the rain, with Bagel in her arms."Sorry. It started pouring out of nowhere, so I'm late."Graham pulled his hand back and went straight to her."What were you thinking? Why didn't you find somewhere to get out of the rain? You know you could get sick getting soaked like this."He took Bagel from her arms."I'll take care of Bagel. Go take a hot shower."Anna glanced at me."I don't think I should."Then she took Bagel back. "Never mind. I'll just give her a bath and head home. You're allergic to cats, so I'll do it."She carried Bagel into the guest room.Graham followed right behind her.The sight reminded me of the photo that had popped up after I scanned the QR cod

Chapter 3

The rain was still coming down.Graham glanced out the window and grabbed his car keys."It's pouring. I'll drive her home. It's not safe for her to go by herself."With that, he reached down to pet Bagel in her bed. "Be good and wait for Daddy to come back."Anna leaned down and kissed Bagel twice. "Bye, baby. Mommy will come see you tomorrow."I watched in silence as the two of them walked out together.It had been raining for days.Just last weekend, I'd had to work until eleven at night.It had been pouring then, too, and I'd taken my e-bike to work.I'd texted Graham to ask if he could pick me up.It took him a while to reply.Graham: [Why are you still working this late?]Graham: [Bagel freaks out during thunderstorms. I need to stay with her.]Graham: [Just get a rideshare home. If you're scared, we can stay on a video call.]But my phone was almost dead. I couldn't video call him or order a ride.In the end, I rode my e-bike home through the pouring rain.I checked the time. It

Chapter 4

I opened the door.It wasn't Chase standing outside.It was his older sister, Camille Calloway.I blinked in surprise.Camille smiled and pulled me into a hug."What's with that look? It's been so long. Don't tell me you don't recognize me."Then she saw the injuries on my back, and her eyes widened.She hurried me inside."How did you get hurt this badly?"Her gaze shifted to Bagel in the cat bed."I'm taking that cat to an animal behaviorist later."I pulled her toward my bedroom."Forget it. She's not my cat anyway."What are you doing here?"Camille helped clean and treat the injuries on my back."My brother's still abroad. He called and said you needed him. I happen to be here on business, so I came over."Warmth spread through my chest.Camille told me Chase had wanted to come home right after we broke up, but their grandfather had refused to let him return until he finished his degree.For the past four years, Chase had poured his heart out to her more times than she could count

Chapter 5

Chase hung up and looked at the injuries on the back of my neck, his expression tightening with concern."Hmph. Even at my roughest, I never left that many bite marks on you. What gives that fat cat the right?"I stared at him.He was insane.I snatched my phone back just as it rang again.Chase tried to stop me from answering and leaned in to kiss me.I pressed a hand to his chest."I forgot I haven't broken up with him yet. You really want to be the other man?"He stopped immediately.Then he straightened. "Then what are you waiting for? Answer it."I picked up."I'm sorry." Graham's voice was quiet. "I shouldn't have accused you. I just...""Let's break up."I cut him off.Silence fell on the other end for a few seconds.Then came a soft sigh."I know you're angry, but can we not talk about breaking up?"Our families already planned an engagement dinner for tomorrow. We've been together for two years. You're really breaking up with me over something this small?"Something this small

Chapter 6

Chase stopped at Cask & Cedar and picked out an expensive bottle of whiskey and a few high-end gift boxes.I folded my arms and seriously wondered if he was trying to get my dad in trouble at work."My dad's line of work doesn't allow him to accept expensive gifts like these."In the end, we only brought some fruit and food.As our car pulled into the parking garage, another car pulled into the space beside us.It was Graham.The moment he got out, he saw Chase holding my hand.His expression darkened."Let go of her."Chase only tightened his grip. Then he lifted our joined hands and waved them right in front of Graham."She's my girlfriend. I'll hold her hand if I want. And who are you supposed to be?"Compared to Graham, Chase really was childish.But he was sincere.I interlaced my fingers with his and squeezed his hand, then smiled at Graham."We already broke up. This is Chase Calloway, my boyfriend."Then I casually told Chase, "And this is Graham Mercer, my ex."Graham's jaw ti

Chapter 7

I couldn't blame Mom for thinking that.In their eyes, Graham had always been practically flawless.Until now, I'd thought so too.Four years ago, when I came to live with the Hartleys, everything was unfamiliar. Even my own parents still felt like strangers.Growing up, I'd always traveled by chauffeured car or private plane. So when junior year started and I needed to book a flight myself, I had no idea how.Graham was already working by then, and he walked me through the whole process.He happened to work in the same city as my college, and he ended up looking after me quite a bit after that.Whenever a school break was too short for me to go home, I'd be stuck in my dorm with nothing to do. I'd also lost touch with most of the friends from my old social circle.Graham would come pick me up and take me out for dinner or shopping.I knew my family had asked him to keep an eye on me.That was why, in his eyes, I'd always been a pampered rich girl.Two years ago, after I graduated from

Chapter 8

I didn't tell our parents everything I'd found out.I just kept it simple."Graham's cat doesn't like me. She's scratched me several times, but once you take in a pet, you can't just abandon her. So I think it's better if we break up."He'll find someone Bagel likes."Mom reached over and brushed my hair away from the back of my neck.The scratches there looked awful.She froze.Then she turned to Graham. "Aren't you allergic to cats? Why do you even have one? And you let her scratch my daughter up this badly?"Mrs. Mercer looked just as shocked."Exactly. Your cat allergy was so severe when you were little that you almost died. I spent your whole childhood doing everything I could to keep you away from cats and dogs, and now you've gone and gotten a cat?"Graham's fingers curled against his knee, then slowly relaxed.Finally, he sighed."My allergy has gotten better over time. The more I've been around cats, the milder my reactions have gotten."My symptoms are pretty mild now."And I

Chapter 9

I was a little surprised Mom would ask that.Chase immediately sat up straighter."Mrs. Hartley, my parents have always adored Lauren."They were really sorry to see her go four years ago."And once they found out I loved her, they kept telling me to hurry up, finish school, and come home so I could marry her."He even raised a hand as if he were about to swear an oath."If you're willing to trust Lauren with me, I promise...""All right, all right."Mom grabbed his hand and cut him off before he could launch into a speech."Forget the grand promises. As long as Lauren's happy, who she marries is entirely up to her."We just need to know she won't be mistreated."Dad nodded. "I do have one condition, though. No pets. Ever."If my daughter gets scratched again, I won't let you off easy."Chase grinned. "Don't worry, Mr. Hartley. I'll spend my life taking care of my family, not pets."I never knew he could be such a kiss-up.The arrogant young heir who was used to throwing his weight aro

Chapter 10

Mrs. Langford's expression stiffened.Mr. Langford came downstairs, clearly displeased."Shut up. You're getting more and more out of line."For four years, we've given you everything you've asked for. We've done everything we could to make up for what happened. What are you still unhappy about?"Mr. Langford looked much older than he had four years ago.When I'd left, he hadn't had a single gray hair.Now his temples were streaked with gray.My heart ached.I wanted to ask what had happened, but one look at the hostility in Sloane's eyes made me hold my tongue.Tears streamed down her face."Just admit it! You don't love me. She's the only daughter you care about!""Enough!"This time, I was the one who cut her off.I spoke slowly, one word at a time."It was already confirmed that a nurse was responsible for the switch."You were the one who insisted we both go back to our birth families, and everyone agreed."When I left, I didn't take anything with me. I was the one who cut ties wi

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