Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 24 You lying bitch

Victoria’s POV:

"It wasn’t me, I swear! It was Scarlett!" Sophie Mitchell blurted out, her voice trembling with fear.

Scarlett’s face twisted with rage. "Sophie, are you insane?" She clearly hadn’t expected her little minion to crumble so easily and betray her.

I almost felt sorry for Sophie. Almost.

She was just Scarlett’s lapdog, dragged to these high society events to give her glimpses of the world she so desperately wanted to be part of. Now, facing potential imprisonment, Sophie chose self-preservation.

My wolf Nora snarled within me, still bristling from our near-death experience on the track.

We all knew who was really behind this.

"It was Scarlett!" Sophie continued desperately. "She was jealous of you, so she had me cut your brake lines! She wanted you dead, said it would just look like an accident! She was the mastermind, Victoria! If you’re going to call the police, arrest her, not me! I had nothing to do with this!"

Before I could react, the sound of a slap echoed through the air. Scarlett’s hand struck Sophie’s face violently, leaving an angry red mark that immediately began to swell.

"You lying bitch!" Scarlett screamed, striking Sophie repeatedly. "I’m going to tear your mouth apart!"

Sophie fought back with surprising ferocity. "You’re the one who tried to commit murder, and now you’re blaming me? I’m not afraid of you anymore, Scarlett! My aunt is married into the Sterling family now, and my cousin is a Sterling heir!"

They devolved into a full-blown catfight, clawing and pulling at each other while I waited calmly. I had already called the authorities, and the evidence was in my favor. My wolf practically purred with satisfaction.

Scarlett managed to rake deep scratches across Sophie’s face, but Sophie gave as good as she got. She tore Scarlett’s expensive blouse, exposing her chest to the crowd.

Several onlookers were recording everything with their phones—yet another social media disaster for aspiring influencer Scarlett Sutton.

Police sirens pierced through the commotion.

Scarlett’s head snapped up, face pale as she scrambled to flee. I reached out and grabbed the torn fabric of her blouse, pinning her in place.

"Leaving so soon?" I asked coldly.

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Do you know who I am, Victoria? I’m a Sutton. I’m Ethan Sterling’s mate. If you dare send me to trial, I’ll make your life a living hell!"

I couldn’t help but laugh. Her claimed mate bond with Ethan was pathetic compared to what true mates shared. "Is that so? I welcome the challenge," I replied, turning to the approaching officers. "These two conspired to murder me. Sophie’s confession has been recorded, and Scarlett’s hired racer repeatedly tried to ram me on the track. The surveillance footage will confirm everything. I demand justice."

Scarlett’s face drained of all color. "She’s lying! Victoria made all this up! It’s a setup!"

Despite her protests, the tribunal committee took her away for questioning.

After they left, I sensed a familiar presence approaching.

I turned to see Damian Sterling approaching, his powerful presence impossible to mask even when he tried to appear casual. During my moment of danger, I had also caught his scent.

Could it have been him who saved me?

"When did you arrive?" I asked Damian directly.

Usually, this would be when Damian would say something irritating like "Little she-wolf, I saved your life again. How will you repay me?" But instead, he simply said, "Just got here."

Something was off. "The person on the track earlier... was that you?" I asked, studying his face carefully.

Damian didn’t answer my question directly. Instead, his eyes locked with mine, those deep, mesmerizing pools that seemed to see right through me. His lips curved into that infuriating smirk. "Why? Were you hoping it was me, sister-in-law?"

I felt Nora stirring within me, responding to his wolf in a way that confused us both. "It couldn’t have been you," I said firmly, trying to convince myself rather than anyone else.

"What makes you so certain?" he challenged.

"You’re too busy to go racing, Mr. Sterling. The person on that track was an expert driver, probably professional. Besides, you’re wearing a suit and dress shoes, which would make it difficult to operate the pedals properly." I gestured toward his perfect attire—an impeccably tailored black suit and pristine leather shoes that seemed untouched by today’s chaos.

Felix opened his mouth to speak, but Damian cut him off. "You seem quite determined it wasn’t me, sister-in-law."

My wolf whimpered softly within me. Was that disappointment? I couldn’t tell. Had Damian sensed the danger and protected me when no one else had noticed the sabotage?

"I’m simply analyzing the facts," I replied coldly, though uncertainty crept in. Could it have been Damian?

Would he really go out of his way to help me?