Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 276: The Truth Behind The Needle

Brandon stood frozen, his knuckles white. The star professor of the Royal Veterinary College had just been publicly humiliated by a junior who hadn't even started grad school. His reputation and pride lay in pieces on the floor.

Ginnie looked even worse. Her father was in prison, Jack’s career was at risk, and now the partnership that was supposed to save Summers Corp had vanished. Watching Nancy be treated like a guest of honor by Callum made her head spin; she felt like she was about to collapse.

Inside the private lounge, Callum was busy pouring tea for Nancy and Barry, his attitude completely transformed. Cloud, massive as he was, seemed a bit cramped in the room but stayed glued to Nancy’s side, affectionately nuzzling her shoulder.

Callum watched them, half-wondering if the horse would try to sneak off to find Nancy in the middle of the night instead of flying home with him.

"Ms. Nancy," Callum said, his expression turning serious. "How exactly did that needle get into Cloud?"

Nancy stroked the horse’s neck. "According to Cloud, it was a micro-titanium needle left behind two months ago when a vet was treating a cyst at the base of his mane."

Her gaze was steady. "The question now is whether it was a mistake or intentional. I need you and Cloud to work with me to find out the truth."

Callum looked baffled. "How is Cloud going to help?" Then he remembered something. "When Mr. Barry introduced you, he mentioned you were an animal communicator. I thought it was just a marketing gimmick. Can you actually talk to them?"

Nancy nodded and leaned in, lowering her voice. "Cloud just told me that whenever you're in a bad mood, you hide in the stable, grab his neck, and sing folk songs out of tune. And you always change the last line to my little baby Cloud..."

"Stop! Stop right there!" Callum’s face turned bright red as he waved his hands frantically. "I believe you! Completely! Please, don't say another word."

He instinctively reached for his wrist to give her a hush money gift, only to realize his watch and rings were already gone.

Nancy got back to business. "What do you know about that vet?"

Callum frowned. "A friend recommended him. His background was thoroughly vetted." He sounded less certain now. "But even the most careful professional can make a mistake..."

Nancy turned to Cloud and spoke softly. "Cloud, do you remember the vet doing anything unusual when he treated you two months ago?"

Cloud tossed his head. "I remember! The day before he left the needle in me, he was messing with my hooves while talking into his phone. He said, Don't worry, he definitely won't be able to make it to the Crown Prince’s race."

The horse let out an annoyed snort. "I was actually happy at the time. I didn't want to deal with those other horses anyway. They're so rude, always trying to bump into me on purpose."

Nancy translated the speech for Callum.

Callum bolted upright, the color draining from his face. "Someone didn't want Cloud in the race? A vet I trusted was actually bought off..."

He looked at Nancy desperately. "Did Cloud hear who was on the other end of the line?"

Nancy rubbed Cloud’s ears. "Cloud, did you recognize the voice?"

A horse’s hearing is hundreds of times sharper than a human's. They can pinpoint the source of a sound with surgical precision, even directing their ears in different directions to monitor two things at once.

"I heard it with both ears!" Cloud recalled. "The person on the phone said the money had been moved to an offshore account. I know that voice. I've met him with my human more than once."

Nancy’s expression sharpened. "Mr. Callum, the person behind this is someone you know. Two months ago, they likely wired a bribe to the vet’s offshore account."

Callum was stunned. "Someone I know? I've always been on good terms with the people around me."

Nancy shook her head. "When money is involved, there are no permanent friends. Cloud says the person on the phone was a middle-aged man with a very deep, resonant voice. Do any of your friends fit that description?"

Callum thought it over and nodded. "Three of my friends sound like that."

He pulled out his phone and called them one by one. When he reached the second person, Cloud’s ears twitched.

"That's him! That's the voice!"

Nancy immediately signaled Callum with a look.

Callum hung up, his face dark with rage. "I can't believe it’s him. The man I just spoke to is named Gilan. He’s the one who introduced the vet to me. We’ve been close business partners for years."