Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 131: The Comfort Companion

The moment Nancy lifted her head, she found herself staring through the glass directly into Barry’s eyes, which were brimming with irritation. He glared at her, his voice sharp with annoyance.

"Do you have any idea what time it is? You actually remembered you have a home to return to?"

Beside her, Jorgan was fighting a losing battle against a fit of giggles. Hearing Barry’s tone made his shoulders shake even harder, forcing him to turn his face away to maintain some semblance of professional dignity.

Combined with the nursing bottle in his hand, Barry sounded less like a powerful CEO and more like a disgruntled stay-at-home dad complaining about a mother who stayed out too late!

The scene was so novel and earth-shattering that Nancy couldn't resist.

While Jorgan didn't dare, Nancy had no such reservations. She whipped out her phone and started recording the sight of Barry feeding the snow leopard cub, laughing as she narrated.

"My apologies! I just closed a major case today and had to work some overtime."

"You’re a busy man, but I’m not exactly idling either. I’m running between the police station and the zoo, basically working two full-time jobs!"

Nancy spoke of her hard work, but her face was a mask of pure, unadulterated schadenfreude.

Barry’s face turned as black as soot. "Stop laughing! Stop filming! And get over here right now to get this clingy brat off of me!"

Nancy noticed that despite his harsh tone, his posture while holding the cub was remarkably professional—clearly, he had been well-trained by the keepers. This only made her laugh harder as she slowly meandered toward the door. "I’m coming, I’m coming!"

"Delete that video," Barry snapped, his expression icy.

Nancy blinked innocently. "Not a chance. This is going to be the best blackmail material I have against you."

"If you let that video get out," Barry threatened, "I won't pay the final installment for Star’s treatment."

Nancy let out a light chuckle. "Star’s treatment has only just begun. If you don't pay the balance... it’s not that big of a deal for me."

Barry glared at her, but she just smiled like a little fox that had stumbled into a beehive—her eyes curving into bright, mischievous crescents.

Nancy leaned in and gently scratched the cub’s chin, cooing softly, "Alright, little one, stop bothering your 'mommy.' Come to Nancy."

At the mention of that word, Barry’s face darkened even further!

The cub’s ears twitched. It looked up with watery, blue eyes, a tiny purr vibrating in its throat as if it were heartbroken at the thought of leaving its guardian. It hesitantly released its grip, allowing Nancy to scoop it into her arms. The cub immediately nuzzled its fluffy head against her arm.

It was soft and docile, like a ball of fresh snow. She looked down with a smile, and it looked up at her; for a moment, the very air seemed to sweeten.

Nancy glanced out the window at the night sky and said softly, "It’s getting late. Why don't we start the first phase of the trauma recovery and adaptation training today?"

"It just so happens that I need you and Star to stay at the zoo for a few days for observation."

Finally free from the cub’s clutches, Barry didn't even have time to breathe a sigh of relief before a freshly bathed, fluffy Star came charging over, wrapping his paws around Barry’s leg.

Barry pressed a hand to his forehead, his tone reluctant. "Let’s get one thing straight: I am not 'moving in' to your zoo."

"I’m just staying for a few nights to see if this 'treatment' of yours actually works."

Nancy nodded repeatedly, a hidden smile in her eyes. "Don't worry. I won't charge you for the room these next few days."

"You’ve finally developed a conscience," Barry huffed.

Nancy then led him to a wide expanse of lawn and dragged a heavy tent out from the storage shed. "Give me a hand with this!" she called out.

Barry’s pupils contracted slightly, his voice tinged with disbelief. "...You’re making me sleep in a tent?"

Nancy turned around, her expression earnest despite the spark in her eyes. "This is to simulate the field environment you’re familiar with. It will help Star—and it will help with your Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."

He froze in his tracks, his gaze suddenly darkening. His voice dropped to a low, guarded tone. "How did you know that I also..."

"Star was your partner who fought by your side on the battlefield," Nancy said seriously. "And your insomnia is so severe that you can only sleep when he is by your side."

"Just like the snow leopard needs a companion dog for comfort, in a way, Star is your 'comfort dog.' You can only truly feel at peace when he’s standing guard over you."

Nancy finished speaking and watched Barry’s tense profile. It really wasn't that hard to guess. Jacob had mentioned that Barry had been thrown into a war-torn land by his stepmother right after graduation. To go from a quiet campus to a battlefield of endless gunfire—that’s a staggering weight for a young man to carry, all while dealing with the danger and trouble caused by his two half-brothers.

She couldn't imagine how much he had suffered or how many life-and-death moments he had survived. Yet, despite it all, Barry hadn't just survived; he had built a business empire with his own two hands.

Nancy suddenly felt that this man, who appeared so cold and arrogant, was an incredible miracle in his own right.