Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 25: A Sudden Workforce

Nancy had just received confirmation of a 100,000 dollars transfer—the bounty for locating the missing head. It ought to cover her short hospital stay.

But she couldn’t shake the guilt. The man Jacob had summoned had likely dropped everything important to save her, only to discover she’d merely fainted from malnutrition.

Jacob, however, brushed it off. "Don’t worry. The hospital belongs to him—it’s nothing. And that wolfdog I mentioned? It’s his. Trust me, he’ll be the one asking favors of you."

His tone grew almost gleeful. If Nancy managed to heal Jeremy’s wolfdog, Jacob knew he’d have leverage over him forever.

"Ms. Nancy, rest easy," he said smoothly. "Stay at the hospital as long as you need—ah, no, let’s say I hope you recover quickly."

Nancy smiled faintly, though her mind was already racing with thoughts of the promised ten million. "When would it be convenient for me to meet the wolfdog in person?"

Jacob hesitated. "With your health… are you sure you can handle it?"

"I’ll be fine," Nancy said. "It’s an old condition. Resting is enough."

A moment later, Jacob sent her his WhatsApp and a location.

"Next Tuesday, 10 a.m."

Nancy opened the link. A manor estate.

Her lips curved. So, her patient’s owner wasn’t just rich—he was very rich.

Her mood soared. Things were finally turning around.

She was still savoring dessert when yesterday’s memory jolted her—employees had staged a mass walkout.

Nancy flung back her blanket. "No, I have to check out today. Loren Zoo’s animals have no one to care for them!"

Simon gave her a puzzled look. "What are you talking about? I counted thirteen, maybe fourteen staff this morning. All young, energetic."

He pushed her gently back onto the bed. "Stay put. The zoo looks better today than it did last night—clean, orderly."

Nancy stared. "Where would that many people come from? Don’t tell me you saw ghosts in daylight."

"Yesterday, everyone quit. Only Leon, the college senior, stayed—for his internship certificate."

Then it struck her. She’d promised Leon she’d sign off on his paperwork today.

"Leon!"

Simon nodded. "Yes. When I dropped your things at the dorm, he was the one who showed me around. I even checked his badge."

Nancy quickly dialed him. "Leon, it’s me. I’m in the hospital about your internship form—"

"Don’t worry about it now, Ms. Nancy," Leon said cheerfully. "Get well first."

"By the way, I brought a few classmates over. They’d like to help out too, in exchange for certificates. Would that be alright?"

Nancy blinked. So that explained Simon’s mystery employees.

"Just a few classmates?" she asked cautiously.

There was a pause. "Uh… twenty-two."

Nancy nearly choked. "Twenty-two? Why would that many people want to intern at a failing zoo?"

Leon sounded sheepish. "Most internships treat us like cheap labor. At Loren Zoo, there aren’t many animals, there’s free housing, and you’re a kind boss. I’ve been here three months—it’s relaxed. I told my friends, and… well, they all came."

Nancy sat back, stunned but relieved. The staff shortage had solved itself overnight. Even if temporary, it was something.

"Alright," she said, "but make a proper roster."

Her mind turned to Jerry’s three million donation. The animals’ food would need the largest share. Salaries came next.

She asked hesitantly, "We can only pay at the Townsville minimum wage. Would everyone accept that?"

Leon nearly shouted with joy. "Wait—free housing and wages? Ms. Nancy, you’re amazing!"

Nancy pressed her lips together. Are college kids really this easy to please?

"And one more thing," Leon added. "Could you give me your account login? My classmates and I can film daily clips with the animals. Keep your channel growing. You’ve already hit ten thousand followers."

Nancy blinked. "Ten thousand?"

When had that happened?

She pulled up her page. Sure enough—10,000 followers. And climbing. Refresh. Another few hundred. Refresh again. Even more.

Nancy’s pulse quickened. What had begun as a desperate attempt to survive was turning into momentum she hadn’t dared dream of.