Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 24: Borrowed Time

"Send me the address. I’m coming right now."

Simon arrived quickly. He had spent the morning buying essentials for Nancy’s move into the zoo dorms—groceries, snacks, daily necessities—only to hear at the gate that his sister had collapsed and been carried off by a stranger.

Now, in the hospital, he sat by her bed, carefully peeling an apple.

Nancy watched him hand her the slices. "I made you worry again."

"Don’t say nonsense like that." Simon placed the fruit in her hand, his voice firm.

Just then his phone buzzed. It was a call from his station chief.

"Chief? I’m in the city. Did something happen?"

He listened, brows tight at first, then slowly easing. When he hung up, he turned to Nancy.

She looked uneasy. "What is it?"

Simon’s lips curved faintly as he tucked the blanket around her shoulders. "I’ve been transferred. I’m going to the city bureau."

"So soon?" Nancy’s eyes widened. "We only spoke to Mr. Samson about it last night."

Simon nodded, then shook his head. "Technically it’s just a secondment for now. A temporary assignment in Townsville’s main bureau."

Nancy pouted. "That’s not quite the same thing."

"It’s the fastest way to get me here." His smile was warm. "And it means I’ll be close to look out for you."

He could see how tempted she was by Samson’s offer. "Don’t hold back on my account. Give him your answer soon." He raised his phone. "He already messaged me. While I’m on secondment, it’s my trial period. If I pass, I’ll transfer officially. Then we’ll be colleagues."

Colleagues.

The word lit something in Nancy. Jack was also a special consultant at the bureau.

Her fists clenched. She and Simon would outshine him. She’d prove she could do better than the Summers family ever believed.

"You’ll definitely stay," she said, with conviction.

A knock on the door interrupted them. A nurse wheeled in a cart, setting a tray table over Nancy’s bed and laying out a lavish spread of food.

Nancy blinked. She knew hospital meals well, and this was top-tier—hundreds per serving.

"Excuse me, I didn’t order this," she said softly.

The nurse smiled knowingly. "It’s already paid for—along with all medical costs. You can stay as long as you like."

She then handed Simon a box. "And here’s a companion meal for family."

Only now did Nancy realize her room wasn’t an ordinary ward at all—it was a private suite, spotless and bright, the kind you only saw in TV dramas.

Simon weighed the meal in his hands, frown deepening. "Nancy, who was the man who brought you here?"

Nancy explained about the stream, Jacob, and his mysterious friend. "It should’ve been someone Jacob asked to help. I’ll see if I can contact him to reimburse the costs."

Simon’s shoulders eased, though his gaze stayed sharp. At least it wasn’t an unexplained debt.

He laid out her utensils. "Don’t worry about that now. Eat first."

After the meal, Nancy opened her streaming app.

Her inbox showed a new message from The One.

"Ms. Nancy, do you take in-person consultations? My friend’s wolfdog has grown violent, refuses to eat, and is wasting away. He’s seen every expert but no one can diagnose it. Could you try?"

"Your fee by the minute, your choice. If you cure him, reward is ten million."

Ten… million.

Nancy stared at the screen, stunned. Someone would spend that much on a dog?

Her curiosity burned.

Jacob had even included his contact details.

Heart racing, Nancy dialed his number.

He picked up quickly, voice lazy but familiar. "Hello?"

"Mr. Jacob, it’s me—Nancy. Zookeeper Nancy, from the stream earlier."

Her worry slipped out before she could stop it. "Have you been checked? How’s your health?"

His chuckle came through the line. "Ms. Nancy, you’re awake. Good. They caught it in time. I just need a short hospital stay for observation."

Relief softened her. "That’s good… Mr. Jacob, about my medical bills. How much were they? I’ll transfer the money to you—please pass it to your friend who helped me."