Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 59 who’s the other man?

Victoria’s POV:

The door handle turned as multiple voices filtered through from the hallway.

"Is anyone in there?"

"Miss, we’re from M Fashion. We just watched your runway show and would like to talk with you."

"We’re from S Fashion Company. We’d also like to speak with you."

"I’m a talent scout from W Entertainment. I was wondering if you’ve signed with any agency yet? Perhaps you’d consider our company? We guarantee to make you our top star."

Several male voices competed for attention outside the door. Before I could respond, the door swung open and the men froze in shock at the scene before them—Ethan on his knees, Damien standing dominantly over him, and me with my dress slightly disheveled from our encounter.

"Sorry for the interruption," one stammered, but none of them moved to leave.

I could hear their whispers as they stared at Ethan’s humiliated position.

"Isn’t that the Sterling illegitimate son?" one murmured, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I think so. Looks like him. I heard his mother was some man’s mistress for years. Why is he kneeling like that? Some kind of fetish?"

"And who’s the other man? I think I saw him during the show, sitting in the center row. What’s his deal?"

The men continued their hushed discussion, not bothering to close the door. Every word pierced Ethan like a dagger, his wolf Leon practically howling in humiliation beneath his skin.

"Damien, stop taking this too far!" Ethan roared, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Damien’s lips curved into that infuriating smirk of his. "Taking what too far? I don’t see any person here worth my concern." His gaze slid dismissively over his half-brother. "Just a dog barking on the floor." He turned to me, his eyes softening slightly. "Do you see a person, little wolf?"

I matched his cruel smile, Nora growling with satisfaction inside me. "No, I don’t. I only see a dog that bites anyone within reach. Did his mother never teach him proper behavior?" I tilted my head in mock contemplation. "Though I suppose she couldn’t teach what she doesn’t know herself."

"Victoria!" Ethan’s face contorted with rage and hurt. "How could you become like this? You’ve disappointed me so much!"

A cold laugh escaped my throat. "You’re disappointed in me? How amusing." My wolf’s eyes flashed momentarily as my control slipped. "What exactly are you disappointed about, Ethan? That I discovered your years of cheating? Or that you chose to act like a dog instead of a man?"

I stepped closer to him, my voice lowering dangerously. "I don’t know what gives you the nerve to stand here judging me. Who was the one cheating? You, Ethan Sterling. Have you forgotten what you did so quickly? Did you think about me when you were in bed with Scarlett? When you were acting like an animal without loyalty?"

Arthur growled softly from within Damien, responding to Nora’s anger.

"Did you think about me when you married her?" My voice was sharp enough to cut glass.

"That wasn’t my intention!" Ethan pleaded, his voice cracking. "I... I only wanted to secure a better life before marrying you. Victoria, everything I did was because of you, because I love you. I only wanted to give you the best."

"Ha!" The bitter sound escaped me before I could stop it. "Ethan, do you even believe your own lies? You slept with another woman for years ’for me’? You married someone else ’for me’? How can you say these things with a straight face?"

I’d never encountered someone so shameless, so completely devoid of honor. Even Nora was disgusted, snapping her teeth within me.

"I... everything was for you!" he insisted, his wolf’s desperate howl almost audible beneath his words.

The bond between mates was sacred among our kind. To betray it as he had done was unforgivable. Every wolf knew this, which made his transgression all the more heinous.

"Ethan Sterling, let me tell you one last time," I said, my voice glacial. "I am single. We broke up long ago. Who I choose to be with is none of your concern. Who I share my bed with has nothing to do with you." I moved closer to Damien, deliberately linking my arm through his. "If I want to be with Damien, if I want to be your brother’s mate, you can’t stop me. If you keep this up, I might just seduce your father next and have your entire family thrown out onto the street!"

Beside me, Damien choked slightly. "Ahem! Perhaps let’s not take it that far, little wolf. The old man isn’t worth your time."

I turned back to Ethan, fury bubbling in my veins. "Are you still not leaving? Do you actually want to watch us mate?" I deliberately used wolf terminology, knowing it would sting him more. I leaned up and pressed my lips against Damien’s cheek, making sure Ethan had a perfect view.

I wanted to hurt Ethan. Part of me wished the sight would kill him where he stood.

But Ethan’s face merely hardened, his wolf’s stubbornness showing through. "I’m not leaving. Victoria, if you can be with him, why not with me?" His eyes darkened with something possessive and disturbing. "I could join you both. I don’t care that you’ve been with Damien—that makes us even. I’ll keep it secret from Scarlett and be with you quietly."

Disgust rose in my throat. Nora snarled so loudly inside me that I nearly lost control of my shift. Ethan was more repulsive than roadkill on a hot summer day.

"Get out," I hissed, venom dripping from every syllable. "No one wants your pathetic offer." I turned to Damien, deliberately loud enough for Ethan to hear. "Darling, let’s go. Why waste our evening on someone like him? Let’s enjoy ourselves tonight. Did you like my outfit today? Perhaps you’d like to help me take it off later?"

The words were meant to provoke Ethan, to drive that final stake through his heart. But the heat that flashed in Damien’s eyes at my suggestion wasn’t entirely fake.

"I’d love to," he replied, his voice dropping to that timber that made Nora’s fur stand on end.

Ethan had unwittingly become our matchmaker. The rage and jealousy radiating from him only pushed Damien and me closer together.

With Damien’s arm secured around my waist, we walked out, leaving Ethan kneeling amidst his shattered pride. The sickening encounter had killed my appetite for the evening.

Once we were safely in the corridor, I tried to pull away from Damien, but his grip remained firm on my hand.

"Running away so soon, little wolf?" His voice was playful, but his eyes held something more intense. "Using me and then discarding me when it’s convenient?"

"Thank you for back there," I said formally, trying to create distance between us. "The situation is over now. You can go your way, and I’ll go mine."

I wanted to escape before dealing with any more people. My wolf was still agitated from the confrontation with Ethan.

Instead of releasing me, Damien tightened his hold and pulled me back against his side. "If you let go now and Ethan sees us, won’t all our efforts be wasted?" His eyes gleamed mischievously. "Besides, didn’t someone just promise to let me help remove her dress tonight?"

I had spoken those words purely to anger Ethan, not considering how intimate they sounded. Now, with Damien’s intense gaze fixed on me, the implication hung heavy between us.

"I was just saying that to upset him," I explained hastily. "Don’t take it to heart."

"What if I’ve already taken it to heart?" His voice dropped lower, sending shivers down my spine.

"Then I should definitely keep my distance from you." I trembled slightly, sensing that Damien Sterling might prove just as dangerous to my resolve as his half-brother, though in entirely different ways.

As I attempted to step away, his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me back against the solid wall of his chest.

"Too late!" he growled, the sound vibrating through my body. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Before I could protest further, Damien guided me to his car where his driver waited. With two simple words—"Drive now!"—we were in motion.

I quickly texted Grace to let her know I was heading home and to be careful herself. Through the window, I watched the city lights blur as we drove toward our home building. I planned to make a quick escape once we arrived—get home, lock the door, and put this entire evening behind me.

In the elevator, I helpfully pressed the button for his penthouse floor and then offered a sweet, dismissive "You’re welcome" when he raised an eyebrow.

Damien didn’t speak, but his eyes never left mine, dark and unreadable. His scent had changed subtly—smoky cedar with undertones of midnight rose now carried something more primal, more possessive.

When the elevator stopped at my floor, Damien stepped out with me. Before I could react, he had me pressed against the hallway wall, his powerful frame caging me in as his lips claimed mine with a hunger that made my knees weak.