Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 216 Victoria, are you listening to me?
Victoria’s POV
I stared at the file on Damien Sterling. Every detail was there – his entire life from childhood to now, presented without a single gap.
But the more perfect this dossier appeared, the more suspicious I felt. Something wasn’t right.
My wolf, Nora, stirred restlessly inside me, her instincts aligning with mine. *Too convenient,* she whispered in my mind.
Two encounters with the same mysterious man in one day wasn’t coincidence. In my experience, such "accidents" were carefully orchestrated. After surviving an assassination attempt just weeks ago, I wasn’t about to trust anyone easily.
Damien was mixed-race, spent most of his life abroad according to the file. He spoke English fluently, but his Mandarin carried a slight accent. Though undeniably handsome with those chiseled features, something about him unsettled me.
Those pale eyes especially. When he looked at me, they sparkled with amusement, but beneath that... something predatory lurked. Something that made my skin prickle with warning.
"Victoria? Victoria, are you listening to me?"
I snapped back to reality. My grandfather, William Lancaster, Alpha of the Crescent Dawn Pack, was looking at me expectantly across his mahogany desk.
"Sorry, Grandpa. What were you saying?" I tucked a strand of blonde hair behind my ear.
"I asked if you were alright. You seem distracted." Concern etched the lines around his eyes deeper.
"Just thinking about work," I replied, setting the file aside.
"Is running the company becoming too much? You’ve taken on so many responsibilities lately." The worry in his voice was genuine. As former CEO of Lancaster International, he knew better than anyone the burden I carried.
I shook my head. "It’s manageable. Kane helps me keep everything organized. We’re doing fine."
"I trust the company is in good hands, but I worry about you, sweetheart." He sighed, leaning back in his leather chair. "If only I could still handle some of the workload. Then my little granddaughter wouldn’t have to shoulder everything alone."
"Grandpa, stop." I reached across to squeeze his hand. "I should be thanking you. You built the foundation for everything I have now. Honestly, I had it easy compared to someone like Damien Sterling."
I seized the opportunity to steer the conversation toward Damien, hoping to soften my grandfather’s stance on him. "He created Blood Moon Enterprises from nothing. Started with zero connections and built an empire through sheer determination. That kind of ability deserves respect, don’t you think?"
Grandpa’s eyes narrowed immediately. "Hmph. Ability isn’t everything. Character matters more."
"What’s wrong with his character?" I pressed. "Think about it – his business acumen, his strategic mind... Even I admire how he’s handled his company. Any wolf would be proud of those accomplishments."
My grandfather grudgingly nodded. He might dislike Damien, but as a businessman himself, he couldn’t deny the younger Alpha’s talent.
The way Damien’s mind worked was razor-sharp. His instincts for opportunities were unmatched. Few wolves our age could claim even half his success.
But my grandfather wasn’t convinced. "I’ve known too many businessmen, Victoria. They sacrifice everything for power – family, pack, even their own happiness. I’d rather see you with someone ordinary who can give you peace than someone extraordinary who brings chaos."
"Why are you suddenly defending Sterling?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Has he threatened you? Is he using his Alpha influence?"
I sighed. "No, Grandpa."
So much for changing topics. My grandfather’s distrust of Damien ran bone-deep.
By the time we arrived home, I was mentally exhausted. Our estate sat nestled among pine trees at the edge of Crescent Dawn territory – pristine even though I rarely stayed there. The staff kept everything immaculate, the hardwood floors gleaming and the windows spotless.
After lunch with Grandpa, I checked my phone and nearly choked on my water.
I’d gone viral.
Someone had recorded my impromptu performance at the nightclub and uploaded it. The video already had over a hundred million views, with comments praising both my voice and appearance.
Author’s POV
Ethan Sterling was also watching the video. It was the weekend, and he was at home, greedily staring at Victoria Lancaster on his phone screen.
Victoria sat there with her legs casually positioned, yet somehow she created this incredibly soothing atmosphere. Just watching her made everything feel peaceful, unconsciously drawing a smile to his lips.
Looking at Victoria’s face brought him comfort unlike anything else. Hearing her sing was pure bliss—he hadn’t realized until now just how beautifully she could sing. Just watching her like this seemed to make all worldly troubles fade away.
While Ethan was engrossed in the video, Mona came downstairs. "Honey, what are you watching?" she asked.
The sound of footsteps and Mona’s voice caused Ethan’s face to darken instantly, his fists clenching involuntarily.
This worthless bitch!
She’d gotten rid of his child and was sleeping with his father behind his back. Ethan’s good mood was completely shattered.
Mona, unaware that Ethan had discovered her betrayal, walked over and affectionately leaned against him. "Ethan, watching videos? Looking at other beautiful women?"
Ethan locked his phone and glared at her with vicious eyes.
"Sing for me," he demanded.
"What?" Mona had no idea why Ethan suddenly wanted her to sing.
"What should I sing?" she asked, confused.
"Just sing! Do it now!" Ethan’s eyes flashed dangerously, his behavior completely unhinged.
When Mona hesitated, not knowing what to sing, Ethan grabbed her by the throat, forcing her to comply. His grip was so tight it seemed like he might actually kill her.
Mona struggled to breathe, completely at a loss about what she was supposed to sing.
"Honey... please..." she gasped, clawing at Ethan’s hand, desperately seeking relief.
She truly felt in that moment that Ethan wanted to kill her.
Just as Mona was about to suffocate, Ethan finally released his grip.
Mona clutched her chest, gasping for air. Her downcast eyes revealed nothing but contempt for Ethan. Once she secured her position in Lawrence’s heart, she would definitely dump Ethan!
Ethan deserved to die!
He and his mother should both be thrown out of this house!
"I don’t know what to sing. Can I just sing something random?" she asked.
Mona began to sing, but her breathing was unstable. Combined with her naturally unpleasant voice and the fear in her tone, the result was terrible.
To Ethan, her voice couldn’t compare to Victoria’s in the slightest. Victoria’s singing was divine, while Mona’s was... nothing.
"Get out! Just get out!" he screamed.
She wasn’t Victoria. None of them were Victoria!
Only Victoria was unique, irreplaceable.
Ethan returned to his phone, obsessively watching the woman in the video, as if somehow this could bring her from the screen into his presence.
Ethan remembered those years when he and Victoria were together. She would occasionally hum songs, but Ethan, irritable and distracted, had told her to stop. After that, he never heard her sing again.
When would Victoria sing for him again? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
Wasn’t Victoria supposed to be his? Wasn’t she his Victoria?
Why? Why had everything turned out this way?
