Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 176 Go ahead, we’re fine

Victoria’s POV

"You two wait just a moment," the owner replied with a smile. "Food’s coming right up. I need to handle something first."

I nodded. "Go ahead, we’re fine."

The moment I settled into my chair, the rich aroma of the restaurant’s dishes enveloped me. This place had that authentic home-cooked flavor that always drew crowds. Local photographs adorned the wood-paneled walls, adding charm that made it a beloved neighborhood spot.

When the food arrived, the robust aroma of spices hit me immediately. Though I’d eaten a little at grandfather’s, the sight of the sizzling dishes instantly awakened my appetite.

"I’m digging in!" I announced without ceremony. I attacked the food with gusto, savoring every bite. My wolf Nora practically purred with satisfaction within me.

Damian’s lips curved into that infuriatingly smug smile. "Who would have thought that Victoria Lancaster, Alpha heir of Crescent Dawn Pack, would eat with such... enthusiasm in a place like this."

I rolled my eyes and swallowed. "What about you? Don’t forget, you chose this place. What exactly is wrong with how I eat? Everyone eats according to their hunger level. There are no cameras on me, I’m not on television, and honestly, when food tastes this good, I don’t care about table manners."

"There’s nothing wrong with it," Damian said, his eyes never leaving me.

"It’s not my issue—you’re the one who brought it up." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Fine, my fault, baby." He smiled, reaching over to stroke my hair.

I was in too good a mood to push him away.

Halfway through my plate, my stomach signaled it was full. I set down my fork and leaned back. "Now I get to watch you eat, Mr. Sterling. Let me see just how ’proper’ you really are."

Despite the casual setting, Damian remained impeccably elegant. His perfectly tailored suit contrasted sharply with the humble surroundings, and his use of utensils was flawless to the point of being enviable. If someone walked in now, they might think he was dining at a five-star restaurant rather than this corner diner.

"Actually, your manners aren’t much better than mine," I commented.

Mischief flickered in his eyes. "Doesn’t that prove my point? We’re similar by nature—birds of a feather."

"We’re not," I protested, feeling Nora stir within me at his suggestion that we were well-matched. "Blood Moon Pack and Crescent Dawn Pack have completely different reputations."

"Yet we’re always seen together," he countered, his voice dropping to that intimate tone that never failed to send shivers down my spine. "Aren’t you worried that being too close to me might damage your reputation?"

I covered my face with my hands in mock horror. "My lifelong reputation, ruined by Damian Sterling."

We chatted easily throughout the meal. Afterward, Damian paid the bill and drove me home. Night had fallen, and when we returned to the estate, the mansion was quiet. I assumed grandfather had already retired.

I walked through the garden into the house, turning on lights as I went. A figure in an armchair nearly stopped my heart.

"Grandfather!" I pressed my hand to my chest. "You scared me to death! Why are you sitting here in the dark?"

"Where were you so late?" The severity in his tone made my wolf instincts rise defensively. His posture was rigid, his expression stormy in the lamplight.

"Just out with a friend," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

"A friend?" He raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Victoria, why must you always be like your mother, never heeding my counsel?"

"Grandfather..." I stepped closer to him. "I’ve always listened to you. So did mother."

"Then why do you continue associating with that man?" He rose from his chair, and despite his age, a powerful aura filled the room. "Your mother’s fate should have been warning enough, shouldn’t it? She wouldn’t listen to my advice, insisted on being with that man. And she paid for it with her life! I will not allow you to repeat her mistakes. I will not allow your relationship to continue."

"And I’ve reminded you more than once not to forget your identity."

His words made the air heavy. He’d been sitting here since I left, brooding in the darkness.

I knew he’d been investigating my ex-boyfriend Ethan, who’d remarried less than a month after our breakup. Rumors about his infidelity and even having an illegitimate child had reached our ears. The Sterling family truly was "like father, like son"—a clan full of chaos and betrayal.

I thought we’d reached an understanding during dinner.

But clearly, he didn’t believe my words.

"Grandfather..." I reached out to touch him, but he pulled away.

"I will never consent!" He straightened, his voice carrying the authority of decades as an Alpha leader. "As long as I draw breath, I will never agree!"

Tears glinted in his eyes before he turned toward the stairs. This was the first time I’d seen him react so strongly, though he’d met Damian before without this response.

"Grandfather, please don’t upset yourself," I quickly followed, saying, "Don’t let this affect your health."

I trailed him upstairs, peering through his half-open door. Through the gap, I saw him holding my mother’s photograph, secretly wiping away tears when he thought no one was watching.

"Grandfather!" I knocked gently. "I’m coming in."

He hastily hid the photograph, but I pretended not to notice.

"If you miss her, you don’t need to hide her picture," I said softly. "Maybe we should visit her grave soon?"

My parents’ remains were buried in a cemetery on the city’s outskirts. They’d died while traveling in South America, but we’d brought them home to rest.

Grandfather shook his head. "No, it only brings pain."

My parents were buried together, and grandfather rarely visited them. Each visit reopened wounds that never fully healed.

"Grandfather, what happened to mom and dad might have just been an accident," I said gently, though even I found the words hollow. "Car accidents happen every day."

"It wasn’t an accident," he replied with firm conviction. "It was him—that man destroyed her. If he hadn’t deceived your mother, she never would have severed ties with me!"

"Dear Victoria, I’m not telling you this just out of concern for Alpha status. I have many ways to maintain political position."

"What I’m most worried about is you getting hurt. Do you understand?"

His grief was palpable, filling the room like a living entity.

"Victoria, you should rest now. I need to be alone for a while." He reached for the photograph again, his eyes full of longing.

He’d had only one daughter, and his wife had died young. Looking at my mother’s photograph brought him nothing but heartache.