Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 223 I’m not protecting him

Victoria’s POV

"Promise? Aren’t those just empty words to charm young girls? As long as I’m alive, you and Victoria will never be together. You must break up immediately!"

My grandfather’s voice grew more agitated with each word. Damien remained silent, clearly afraid of provoking Grandfather’s temper further. The last thing either of us wanted was for him to have another health episode.

"Grandfather," I said, my voice soft but determined. "Maybe he should leave first, and I can explain everything to you slowly?"

I worried that Damien’s presence was making my grandfather even more upset. Though I didn’t fully understand Grandfather’s intense reaction, he was my only family—my only true family. While I’d recently discovered possible blood ties to the Gillies family, that connection felt distant and abstract. Grandfather was irreplaceable in my heart.

This situation wasn’t Damien’s fault. If anything, it was mine for not finding the right moment to tell Grandfather about us. Or perhaps none of us were to blame—we simply had different perspectives.

"Victoria!" Grandfather’s eyes flashed with disappointment. "He’s supposed to be a man, yet he needs you to protect him? He has absolutely no backbone!"

My wolf, Nora, stirred restlessly inside me, sensing my distress.

"Grandfather, I’m not protecting him," I insisted, feeling my heartbeat quicken. "He doesn’t need my protection. Damien Sterling is many things, but lacking courage isn’t one of them." I took a deep breath, summoning my resolve. "I... I don’t know how else to say this, but I love him!"

With a boldness that surprised even me, I reached for Damien’s hand, intertwining our fingers and standing close beside him. The familiar smoky cedar scent of his skin calmed my nerves slightly.

"Grandfather, I know I made poor choices before, but I want to try again. Can’t you give us a chance?" I pleaded, searching his eyes for understanding. Having the blessing of family meant everything—the bond between mates was sacred enough, but having pack support made it complete.

"You... you two..." Grandfather’s hands trembled with emotion.

"Grandfather," I continued, my voice softening, "do you disapprove of Damien himself, or is it just because he’s a Sterling? You keep mentioning the Sterling family, but have you truly gotten to know Damien? He’s nothing like them."

It was obvious that Grandfather’s prejudice against the Sterling family had colored his perception of Damien.

Damien squeezed my hand. "Victoria, maybe you should say less right now," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear.

He was right—this wasn’t the time to argue. We needed to wait until Grandfather had calmed down before having a rational conversation.

"Victoria! How can you speak to me this way for a Sterling?" Grandfather’s face contorted with anger. His body began to tremble, and suddenly he clutched at his chest. Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead as he gasped for air, his body swaying unsteadily.

In the next moment, he collapsed onto the sofa.

My blood ran cold. "Grandfather! Grandfather!" I rushed to his side, panic clawing at my throat.

Damien’s voice cut through my fear with calm authority. "Victoria, step back. Call the hospital while I perform emergency first aid. Have them prepare for our arrival."

"Yes, of course," I stammered, my hands shaking as I fumbled for my phone. Horror and guilt crashed over me in waves. I never intended to upset Grandfather to this extent. If I’d known this would happen, I would never have pushed him.

Please be okay, Grandfather. Please.

While I contacted the hospital, Damien performed emergency procedures. Arthur, Damien’s wolf, lent him strength and focus as he worked to stabilize my grandfather. I caught fragments of his muttered explanation—something about cardiac arrest due to extreme anger. Damien had apparently studied emergency response techniques, knowing that an ambulance might take longer than if we drove Grandfather ourselves.

After stabilizing him enough for transport, Damien carefully lifted my grandfather and carried him downstairs to the car. We sped to the hospital through the dark night streets.

Now, seated in the sterile hospital waiting room while Grandfather was in emergency care, I couldn’t stop the tears streaming down my face.

"Damien, what if I’d just said less? Would Grandfather still have had a heart attack?" The guilt was overwhelming. If anything happened to him because of me, I would never forgive myself.

Damien wrapped his arm around my shoulders, his warm hand rubbing comforting circles. "He’ll be fine, Victoria. Your grandfather is strong."

But I couldn’t shake my anxiety. Every minute that passed without news felt like an eternity, each second stretching into hours as we waited outside the emergency room. My wolf whined anxiously within me, sensing my distress.

After what seemed like forever—though my watch showed only thirty minutes—a doctor emerged. I leapt to my feet.

"Doctor, how is he? Is my grandfather okay?" I asked, my voice breaking.

The doctor nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "The emergency care you provided at home and your quick action getting him here made all the difference. He’s stabilized now. We’ll be moving him to a regular room shortly."

"Thank God," I breathed, relief washing through me like a physical sensation. "Thank you, doctor!"

My wolf settled slightly, though she remained vigilant.

Another thirty minutes passed before Grandfather was transferred to a regular room. The sight of him lying there with an oxygen mask, looking so frail and vulnerable, broke my heart all over again.

"Damien," I whispered, my eyes fixed on Grandfather’s pale face, "was I wrong? I shouldn’t have upset him. He’s my only family, and I just want him to stay with me as long as possible. I know he only wants what’s best for me—he would never intentionally hurt me. And yet I did this to him. How heartbroken must he be?"

Damien guided me to a chair beside the hospital bed, his hand never leaving the small of my back.

"Don’t overthink it. You didn’t do anything wrong, and your grandfather is going to be fine. He won’t blame you for this."

Looking at Grandfather, I noticed how much he’d aged. His hair had grown whiter, the lines on his face deeper.

After a moment of silence, Damien spoke again, his voice hesitant. "You’re not going to break up with me because of this, are you?"

I could sense his concern—he knew how important Grandfather was to me. In Damien’s mind, I might choose my only family over our relationship.

I shook my head firmly. "I’m not that kind of person. Let’s wait until Grandfather wakes up. Now that he knows about us, we can talk to him properly."

Right now, I couldn’t think beyond being here for Grandfather. Nothing else mattered.

"It’s getting late," I said, noticing the fatigue beginning to show in Damien’s eyes. "You have work tomorrow. Why don’t you go home and rest? I’ll stay here."

"Not a chance," Damien replied without hesitation, his jaw set with determination. The last time Grandfather was hospitalized, Damien and I weren’t as close—he’d only stayed briefly.

Now that I was his girlfriend—his mate—there was no question of him leaving me alone.

"I’m staying with you," he insisted, his voice gentle but firm. "I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway. Don’t worry—I’ll leave before your grandfather wakes up so he won’t see me, okay?"

As long as I wasn’t breaking up with him, Damien seemed content.

I nodded, too exhausted to argue. If Damien wanted to stay, I wouldn’t stop him.

"If you get tired, just go home," I murmured, my eyes already returning to Grandfather’s sleeping form. "I might be too focused on Grandfather to pay much attention to you."

A small smile tugged at Damien’s lips. "I’m a grown man, not a child. I can take care of myself. Don’t worry about me."