Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

His mocking words cut deep into my heart.

A single conversation with Dr. Thorn had been enough to poison him against me. I couldn’t understand how I’d ever fallen for this cold-hearted man standing before me.

Thea whimpered in grief inside me, "How he could misunderstand us so completely."

After catching my breath, I whispered, "Would you only believe me if I died right in front of you?"

Brett snarled, "Save the dramatics for someone who’ll fall for them. Stop looking so pathetically ill. I’m not that stupid."

I could see his conversation with Dr. Thorn replaying behind his eyes, fueling the hatred that rolled off him in waves.

"How much did you pay your makeup artist? It looks remarkably convincing. Must have cost a fortune."

Yet when he looked at Clara, his expression softened imperceptibly.

"Look at how you’ve cared for her, Lilith," he continued harshly. "She’s burning with fever. Her hands are covered in knife cuts and burns. You had time to scheme and plot against Aurora BioSciences’ research secrets, but no time to care for your own child?"

"Why have her at all if you couldn’t care for her properly? Once you brought her into this world, she deserved better than this."

I felt too exhausted to defend myself anymore. But the fear of leaving Clara alone in this world gave me strength for one final attempt.

"Alpha Brett, I’m not acting. Everything I’ve told you is true." My voice was barely audible, but I knew his enhanced hearing would catch every word. "Clara’s injuries are my failure, yes. But I had no choice. She needs to be independent."

"You won’t acknowledge her, so I’ve been trying to find an adoptive family. Before that happens, I needed to teach her how to cook, do chores, sleep alone without comfort."

Thea howled in anguish within me at the admission. The thought of our pup with strangers tore at both our hearts.

"You don’t have to believe me. But if I die before finding her a home, I have one last request. Do another lineage test, for her sake."

If there had been any other option, I wouldn’t keep subjecting myself to his cruelty. But there wasn’t. Clara needed protection only an Alpha could provide.

I dragged my weak body back to the seat by Clara’s bed and gently stroked her cheek. Behind me, Brett’s bitter accusations continued.

"Lilith, you’ll stop at nothing to get Aurora BioSciences’s research secrets, will you? Even if what you’re saying were true,even if you did have the terminal illness,I wouldn’t give you our experimental treatment once it’s developed. Not after what you’ve done."

Each word dripped with venom, but even as they left his mouth, something flickered across his face,doubt, perhaps?

On the bed, Clara stirred, calling weakly, "Mommy?"

Her eyes fluttered open, brightening when they found me. "Mommy, where am I?"

I touched her forehead gently. "In the hospital, sweetheart. I’m sorry I didn’t take better care of you."

"It’s okay, Mommy." Clara’s small voice tugged at my heart. "Can you hug me, please?"

I could see the longing in her eyes.

"Mommy, hug," she repeated, arms reached out.

I leaned down and embraced her fragile body. My heart crumbled at how thin she felt in my arms.

"Mommy, I’m thirsty," she rasped.

Brett immediately stepped forward with a cup of warm water. Clara noticed him then, and her expression fell. She looked at him with unmistakable dislike, though she remained polite in that way I’d taught her to be with strangers.

"Thank you, but I want water from my mommy," she said carefully.

Brett’s hand froze midair, before slowly withdrawing. A shadow passed over his features, and I caught a flicker of something unexpected—hurt. His shoulders tensed, his dominant Alpha presence momentarily unsettled.

Brett’s POV

I stood there watching Clara’s small face flushed with fever, her voice hoarse. My chest tightened painfully.

Even if she was Lilith and Finn’s daughter, a result of their betrayal, I still wanted her to be healthy and happy. No child deserved to suffer.

My voice softened as I offered her the glass of warm water again. "Clara, the water from me is just the same as your mom’s."

"Drink up, it’ll help your sore throat. Let Uncle Brett help you, okay?" I even reached out to stroke her small head with my palm, feeling a strange pull toward this child I’d denied was mine.

Her tiny hand pushed my glass away. Then she flinched from my touch when I tried to stroke her head.

When she finally looked up at me, those lashes framing eyes so familiar yet distant, all I could see was pure dislike. My wolf, Jacob, whined uncomfortably inside me.

She hated me.

I realized with painful clarity that whenever I appeared, Lilith became upset.

"Thank you! Your water doesn’t taste good. Only Mommy’s water tastes good," Clara said, her voice polite yet cold.

Then she turned to Lilith, her expression transforming into a smile of pure happiness. "Mommy, I want the water you give me!"

That smile reserved only for Lilith stabbed at my heart like a silver blade. Why did this child look at me with such coldness?

Lilith quickly poured Clara another glass of warm water, watching carefully as the child drank half of it in one go. As she took the cup back, she anxiously checked on Clara’s condition.

Standing behind them,still holding my glass of water,I suddenly felt like an outsider,an intruder in their little unit. My Alpha presence, usually commanding any room, seemed diminished here.

"I’ve already paid for Clara’s medical expenses," I said stiffly. "Lilith, perhaps you should spend more time caring for your child rather than plotting your schemes."

Clara looked at Lilith and said, "Mommy, can we return his money? I don’t want to use it."

Lilith nodded, "Okay."

Standing by the hospital bed, I couldn’t understand why Clara wanted nothing to do with me. I didn’t hold her parentage against her. At least, that’s what I told myself.I genuinely cared about her welfare. Why couldn’t she see that?

Lilith walked me to the door. Standing in the hallway, I said coolly, "I’ll upgrade Clara’s room. I’m going to pay for it now."

"That won’t be necessary," Lilith replied.

"I’m doing this for Clara’s sake. I want her to recover quickly."

"Clara wouldn’t appreciate it," she countered. "I don’t have cash with me, nor do I have your contact information. I’ll ask Cassian to return the money you paid for Clara’s treatment."

As she turned to go back inside, I couldn’t help the bitter words that escaped me:

"Lilith, you’ve already taken two million, why pretend to be noble about returning a couple thousand in medical expenses?"

"You truly make me sick."

Lilith offered no explanation. I knew through Cassian that she was keeping that money for Clara. But she didn’t defend herself.

As she pushed the door open slightly, I added coldly:

"Lilith, you shouldn’t have listed my name and contact information on Clara’s family information form."

"I am not Clara’s father."

"When will you correct the kindergarten records?"

Lilith didn’t answer.

I knew Lilith wouldn’t have contacted me unless she had no other option. She clearly wanted nothing to do with me anymore. But something about her desperation disturbed me.

"Don’t worry," she finally said with forced assurance. "Susan won’t be calling you again."