Dumped by the Baseball Captain, Claimed by His Brother

CHAPTER 1. THE SOUR ANNIVERSARY Chloe's Point of view. The last thing I expected this beautiful morning was finding the hidden diamond ring my boyfriend, Scott Bennett had tucked away in his drawer. I carefully set down the vacuum cleaner I was holding, eyes fixed on the little blue box. I flipped it open, and the ring shimmered in the daylight. I could tell it's a real diamond. My stomach flipped with joy,my lips spreading into a wide grin. ‘It’s for me…. I know it’s for me.’ For a moment, I just stared at the ring, warmth flooding my chest. I'm glad he remembered today is our anniversary. Our secret relationship would be one year today. My gaze drifted to the charming prince still fast asleep, the blanket hanging dangerously low on his waist. Scott Bennett—the handsome captain of the Ashwood Titans University baseball team. Thick, messy dark hair that always looked like he’d just rolled out of a magazine spread instead of bed. A sharp jawline that could probably slice apples. Long lashes any girl would envy, and full lips that carried the most infuriatingly cocky smirk whenever he knew he was right, which according to him,he’s always right. His broad shoulders stretched across the mattress, years of baseball had carved lean, powerful muscle over every inch of his body.I smiled to myself, gently closing the ring box before slipping it back into the drawer exactly where I’d found it. I considered waking him up but stopped myself. No. Two can play that game. I’ll let him propose on his own terms. We had always kept our relationship a secret. He was the star pitcher and captain—girls practically drooled over him. I understood why he worried a public relationship might hurt his fanbase. Besides, I didn’t have time to overthink it. Between school, baseball, and my multiple side jobs, I barely had any spare time. A sharp knock on Scott’s door pulled my attention away from cleaning. I set the vacuum down and hurried to answer it. It was his private suite and no one would suspect anything. Afterall,everyone knows me as the girl who cleaned rooms for extra cash. If anyone saw me in Scott’s room this early, they’d simply admire how dedicated I was, not suspect I’d spent the night tangled in his sheets. I swung the door open to find a delivery man holding a massive bouquet of red roses. Before I could say anything, Scott’s gruff, sleep-roughened voice called out from behind me. “Thank you. Bring it inside, please.” I stepped aside, watching as the man placed the stunning bouquet on the center table and hurried out. My heart swelled with joy as I stared at my favorite flowers. A breathy chuckle escaped me.This feels unreal. It’s finally happening. We’re about to make our relationship public. I can feel it. “How did you know these are my favorites?” I asked, my voice sweet with excitement. Scott swung his legs out of bed, completely naked, grabbing a towel to wrap around his waist. “Your favorite?... “ He sounded almost bored as he headed towards his wardrobe. “Are they?” I laughed softly.“Yeah,Red roses have always been my favorite. You’ve known that since freshman year.” My fingers brushed the silky petals, my grin widening. “You even remembered the exact shade I love…” There was no reply. Scott was already rummaging through his clothes, far more interested in picking an outfit than in me. It made me wonder where he was rushing off to. Today was a free day, no baseball practice, no classes. So why was he getting dressed? “So…” I hugged the bouquet to my chest. “What’s the occasion?… Is today finally the day?” Scott frowned. “Which day?” My pulse quickened. ‘He’s kidding, right?’ He’s just playing one of his stupid pranks. He loved doing that, so I played along. “Who are the flowers for?” “Oh, those?” He barely glanced at them. “They’re for Becca.” My heart stopped,my entire body freezing at the mention of that name. I forced myself to breathe. “Who? Who’s Becca?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light as my eyes stayed glued to his face. “Becca Brooks.” He said flatly, pulling out a white t-shirt. “She transferred to our school and is arriving today.” “Is this some kind of joke, Scott? Stop it. It’s not funny,” I said with a strained chuckle, clearing my throat when my voice cracked. Probably from all the screaming and moaning I’d done beneath him last night. “Who’s Becca?” The playfulness had vanished from my voice. I frowned at Scott, then back at the flowers. He tossed a pair of dark denim jeans and a black t-shirt onto the bed, then slammed his wardrobe shut. “Becca is my girlfriend,” he said without sparing me a glance. My heartbeat quickened as I realized Scott was dead serious. The bouquet slipped from my hands, but he caught it before it hit the floor and shot me a scowl. “What’s wrong with you, Chloe? That s**t is very expensive.” My hands started to shake, “Your girl friend?” I whispered,”Then what am I ?” Irritation crossed his devilishly handsome face. “What are you talking about?” I stared at him,stunned. “Where is this coming from, Scott? We just had s*x a few hours ago. You were just inside me, and now you’re…” He laughed. “Come on, Chloe. We do that all the time. What’s so special about last night?” “You just said you’re going to pick up your girlfriend—” “Yes.” “So…” I forced a smile that hurt my cheeks. “What am I to you?” Scott’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?” “I’ve been here…” My voice came out barely above a whisper. “With you, by your side, doing everything we do and…” A short laugh escaped his lips. “Come on, Chloe. We were just having fun.We’ve had our fun. My girlfriend is transferring here. It’s time we check back into reality.” He looked at me like I was being ridiculous, ” You didn’t actually think we were dating, did you?” “Sc-Scott…” My voice quivered as tears prickled my eyes,my heart clenching painfully. “So you’re just going to break up with me because—” “Break up?” He cut me off with a sharp laugh. “Come on, Chloe. We were just f*****g. We never had a relationship. We never did, and we never will. You didn’t seriously think I was going to date you…” “I’m a Bennett. More importantly, I’m Scott Bennett. The world expects me to be with a model or some co-ed sports star who’s on my level.” “Come on, Chloe. Let’s wrap this up. Clean the place and tidy it. Make sure you take the condoms and all your stuff. You need to come by for the next two days—I’ll pay you some extra for that.” “I’ll send it on my way to the airport,” he added before dashing into the bathroom. Moments later, I heard the shower running. I wanted to shout at him. I wanted to break down right there as my heart demanded. But I didn’t. I held myself together, even as my heart shattered into a million pieces. If I said one more word or made a scene, the ocean of tears in my eyes would pour out, and I refused to let him see that. I quietly set the vacuum cleaner down, quickly pulled off his stupid shirt, slipped back into my own clothes, and left his room. It was all my fault for thinking Scott Bennett, the star baseball player and heir to one of the biggest conglomerates in the country, would ever date me. And me—Chloe Parker, who lives in a tiny apartment with my family. I was stupid to believe he’d settle for a girl who cleaned rooms for tips just to get by on campus. Stupid me. I should’ve known. As I raced out of his expensive suite, I told myself: f**k him and his money. I quit even if he's my highest paying client.