Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 308: The Imposter

"Ms. Nancy," Sigrid said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Can you tell us what really happened up there? Were the takins actually responsible for the death of the gatherer?"

"No. Someone else did it."

Nancy kept the details brief, sticking to what she was allowed to say. "Last night, we caught a high-profile fugitive on the mountain. He already confessed to the murder."

Sigrid did not miss a beat, her professional instincts kicking in.

"So, Ms. Nancy, by going into the mountains, you did not just clear the herd’s name. You rescued a victim and brought a dangerous criminal to justice. Is that right?"

The question hit like a slap to the face for everyone who had spent the night talking trash.

The crowd erupted. A wave of gasps rippled through the villagers.

"My god... we were living on the same mountain as a killer?"

"We blamed the bulls. We blamed them for nothing!"

Nancy let her gaze sweep over the guilty faces. "The takins might have a short fuse, but they never attacked anyone before this. They were branded as killers and lived in fear because of a lie. Now that the truth is out, do not you think you owe them an apology?"

The massive bulls stood beside her, their dark eyes watching the crowd.

This is great! It is so good to have Nancy as a voice for us!

"Apologize! We have to apologize!" The villagers, rattled by the sheer presence of the animals, finally broke.

"We are sorry! We were blind!"

"Thank you for catching that monster!"

Through the noise, Sigrid’s voice rose again. "Do not you think you should apologize to Ms. Nancy, Simon, and Jerome too? They risked their lives to find the truth and save a life while you all stood here dragging their names through the dirt!"

The villagers turned red. The guilt was heavy as they turned toward the three of them.

"Ms. Nancy, Officers, we are sorry. We said some stupid things."

"Thank you for everything. You did a hell of a job."

With the apologies and thanks echoing behind them, the hunt finally ended. Nancy and the others said their goodbyes to the herd and headed back to the city.

By that evening, they were at Dorne Hill Hospital.

When Nancy and Simon walked into the room, Ingrid was awake and looking much better.

Eugene was in his wheelchair by the bed, taking meticulous care of his mother. When he saw the siblings, he was so overwhelmed he tried to stand. Simon stepped forward to steady him.

"I cannot believe you brought her back so fast!" Eugene’s voice cracked. "Tammy’s children... you really are as incredible as she was. The doctor says she just needs rest and time for her leg to heal."

On the bed, Ingrid’s eyes grew red the moment she saw them. She struggled to sit up.

"It is you. The moment I saw you at the bottom of that cliff, I knew. It was destiny. You were meant to be the ones to save me."

She and Eugene exchanged a look.

Eugene understood. He turned to the siblings. "I am going to talk to the doctor about the follow-up care. You three talk."

He turned his wheelchair and left.

The door clicked shut.

Ingrid took a deep breath. "You risked your lives out there and came to see me so urgently. It was not just about saving me. You want to know about your mother, do not you?"

"Yes." Nancy met her gaze. "Madam Ingrid, please. Tell us what happened to her."

Even the normally steady Simon felt his fingers tremble. "When I was very young, she went out for groceries and never came back."

Ingrid sighed, her eyes filled with old anger. "Your mother, Tammy... she was supposed to be the true daughter of the Summers family in Bellwood."

She watched the shock hit them and kept going. "But something went wrong back then, and the family took the wrong child home. They raised an imposter. That person seems to have known the truth for a long time. He was terrified that Tammy would come back to claim her place and take everything. For years, he worked in the shadows to suppress her, watching her moves and doing everything he could to keep her away from the Summers family."

A storm of emotions surged through Nancy. So, Chandler's the imposter? But she was still confused. A baby boy and a baby girl switched? Had the hospital really been that much of a disaster?