Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 181 Well, did you?

Victoria’s POV

"Victoria, what exactly are you implying? Do you think I orchestrated that car accident?" His tone carried wounded pride, but something in his voice made my wolf Nora growl low in my chest.

"Well, did you?" I looked directly into his eyes, vigilantly searching for any hint of deception. My senses were heightened—I could detect subtle changes in his scent, anxiety seeping through his usual heavy cologne.

Patrick clearly hadn’t expected me to confront him so directly. I watched him struggle internally, wavering between confession and denial, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"Victoria," he finally spoke, hurt coloring his voice, "do you really distrust me that much? What kind of terrible person am I in your eyes? Am I a villain to you?"

"Patrick, answer my question. Was it you or someone else?" I maintained a calm tone, my wolf instincts allowing me to catch every subtle expression change on his face.

I remained cold and distant, watching him squirm. Patrick didn’t know whether I had evidence against him, but he knew clearly that once the truth came out—and it would—our friendship would be over.

"Make them leave," Patrick gestured toward Damian and the doctor. "I need to talk to you alone."

"Absolutely not!" Damian immediately refused with sharp finality, his tone protective and fierce.

His Alpha pheromones, carrying that smoky cedar scent, permeated the hospital room even more intensely.

I raised my hand slightly. "It’s fine. Damian, could you and the doctor step out? This is between Patrick and me."

"He’s a manipulator, Victoria," Damian growled low, wolf-like glints in his eyes. "You have no idea what he might do if you’re alone with him."

"You’ll be right outside," I explained, meeting Damian’s sharp gaze. "If anything happens, I’ll call for you. Besides, I don’t think Patrick will do anything foolish right now." The firmness in my tone indicated this wasn’t a request.

Damian reluctantly backed toward the door, his eyes never leaving Patrick’s face. The doctor followed him out, closing the door behind them.

Once we were alone, I crossed my arms. "Well? I’m waiting."

Patrick exhaled slowly, his shoulders sagging slightly. "To explain this properly, I need to start from the beginning. Victoria, I’ve noticed you since the day your grandfather brought you home. You were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, like a living doll. Even then, young as I was, I thought, ’Someday she has to be mine.’ From the first moment I saw you, my heart belonged to you."

I interrupted him, my patience wearing thin. "Patrick, I don’t want to hear your reminiscing. Just tell me—did you orchestrate that accident or not?"

"Victoria, can’t you spare even a few minutes to talk with me like we used to?" He looked wounded, but Nora could sense the pretense beneath his hurt expression.

"This isn’t about the accident. Answer my question." My wolf detected deception.

Patrick’s expression crumbled further, tears welling in his eyes. "You might never speak to me again after today, so please, let me tell you everything."

"Victoria, I’ve loved you for years—maybe you never realized. You might have even misunderstood my intentions, but I swear I never meant to hurt you. Hurting you is the last thing I’d ever want to do."

"I admit I used some... unsavory methods," he continued, a tear sliding down his cheek. "But I swear, everything I did was out of love for you, nothing else."

"We’ve known each other for years. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? This was just a moment of foolishness. I’m sorry, Victoria. I deceived you. Are you going to shut me out now? Will you never forgive me?"

As he finished speaking, two tears rolled down his cheeks, his face full of sorrow—as if I were the one who had committed some terrible crime.

Despite all Patrick had said, he still hadn’t directly answered my question about the accident. But his non-answer was answer enough. It was him. I felt nauseated.

I couldn’t believe Patrick would do such a thing.

We hadn’t seen each other in a long time, but the Patrick in my memory would never resort to such tactics. He’d always been a gentleman, at least on the surface. Time really did change people. The man before me was just a stranger wearing Patrick’s face.

"So you arranged for someone to hit me?" I said harshly. "And you’re using your supposed feelings for me to justify what you did?"

"I never meant to hurt you," he insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. "I swear, I really didn’t. I just wanted to be closer to you. I tried many approaches, but you always kept your distance. This... this was a desperate attempt, a miscalculated plan."

"I swear on my life, I only wanted to put myself in danger, never to harm you. Victoria, I never intended for you to get hurt. Seeing you get so close to Damian Sterling, jealousy blinded me. Please don’t hate me. You said if I confessed everything, you’d forgive me and pretend nothing happened."

"I know you’re angry now, probably hate me. It’s all my fault, I won’t make excuses. But Victoria, please don’t distance yourself from me. Can we still be friends? Please?"

His face full of guilt, he suddenly dropped to his knees beside the hospital bed, grabbing my hands.

"Patrick! What are you doing?" I was startled by his appearance, trying to pull him up.

"I won’t get up unless you forgive me," he said, gripping my hands tighter.

"Patrick, get up right now!" I tugged at his arm, but he wouldn’t budge.

"Victoria, I know I was wrong. But please, don’t tell your grandfather. Don’t cut me out of your life. Promise me, or I won’t stand up."

His words were full of manipulation, making my wolf instinctively snarl. I was tired of this game.

"Then stay on your knees." I said coldly, pulling my hands free. If Patrick wanted to play this game, I wouldn’t stop him. Compared to what he’d done before, this humiliation was nothing.

I turned to leave, but Patrick suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around my legs. "Victoria, don’t go! Please don’t leave!"

I tried to break free, but he held on with surprising strength. "Patrick, let me go! Let go of me!" I struggled desperately, shocked by his behavior.

Was this really the Patrick Wagner I knew? The composed, dignified man in my memory would never kneel on the floor, clinging to someone’s legs and begging. No person with any dignity would do such a thing.

Patrick had thoroughly disappointed me.

"Victoria, don’t leave! Listen to me!" He clung to my legs, terrified that if I walked out that door, everything would change.

Just then, the door burst open with a bang.

Damian kicked the door open, his face full of concern.