Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 317: Entrapped

"Go for it, Human! Take Simon down!"

"Simon!"

Nancy felt her heart lurch at Simon’s murderous expression. She scrambled to intervene, her words tripping over each other in a frantic rush. "Don't get the wrong idea! I’m the one who wouldn't let go of Barry’s hand because of the fever last night. If anything, I’m the one who messed up and wasted his time!"

Simon watched his sister jump to defend an outsider, then cut a look at Barry. The man looked like a bystander, but he was clearly pulling every string in the room. A wave of fury hit Simon’s chest, but there was nowhere for it to go.

He finally shot Nancy a look of pure exasperation. You’re being played for a fool and helping him do it, his eyes screamed.

Sensing the air was about to catch fire, Nancy clutched her stomach and let out a soft whimper. "I'm hungry."

Right on cue, the moment she mentioned being hungry, Simon’s lethal aura vanished.

He gave Barry one last glare, but his priority was Nancy. He turned away to unpack the thermal containers one by one.

The moment the lids came off, a light, mouth-watering scent filled the room.

Simon carefully set a bowl of perfectly simmered savory rice with lean meat alongside a few side dishes on the tray in front of Nancy. The rice had been cooked until it was soft and broken down, kept at just the right temperature.

Then, with stiff, reluctant movements, he filled another bowl and shoved it toward Barry. "Barry, thanks for looking after my sister last night."

His voice was like granite, as if he were checking off a box he hated.

He didn't miss a beat before showing him the door. "Finish up and head home to get some rest. I’ve got things covered here."

Barry looked down at the bowl and took it with practiced ease.

His long fingers gripped the spoon, stirring the rice at a relaxed pace. He looked up at Simon, his tone impossibly smooth. "Thanks, bro."

Simon’s face transformed instantly. The temperature in the room plummeted.

"Who’s your brother? I’m Nancy’s brother. Period."

He stared Barry down, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.

With the situation about to boil over, Nancy grabbed her brother’s arm and gave it a tug. "He’s just being polite. It’s just a word, Simon. It’s not a big deal."

Barry caught the way Nancy was shielding him.

A faint, almost innocent smile flickered in his eyes.

He pivoted gracefully. "My mistake."

His voice was soft, laced with a subtle, almost hidden touch of loneliness. "I suppose it’s because I grew up in a house where brothers didn't get along and the elders had favorites. This is the first time I've ever tasted home cooking. I got a little caught up in the moment. I apologize."

The excuse was flawless. It left Simon with no room to push back.

Sure enough, the second Nancy heard him mention the mess that was the Goodman family, her expression melted into pure sympathy.

And when Barry praised Simon’s cooking, she beamed like she’d found a soulmate. "Right? I knew it! My brother is the best cook ever!"

She patted Barry’s arm with a "we’re in this together" look. "Tell you what, if you like it that much, I’ll split whatever my brother makes for me from now on!"

She turned to Simon, her eyes bright with pride. "Seriously, if you ever quit the force, you’d have a Michelin star in a week!"

Simon watched the two of them play off each other, the pressure in his chest tightening.

He felt like a redundant parent watching his kid skip right into a trap someone else had set.

"Simon," Nancy said, seeing his sour face and trying to pivot, "have you eaten yet?"

"No," he grunted, his eyes still glued to Barry.

He’d been up since the crack of dawn making that soup, thinking only of getting Nancy back on her feet. Then he’d gotten that "surprise" over the phone and lost his appetite completely.

Nancy’s heart sank for him.

She fished a tender piece of chicken out of the soup and put it in an empty bowl, pushing it toward Simon. "Eat!"

At the exact same time, Barry naturally reached out and set a fork and spoon right next to the bowl. "Go ahead, bro. Eat up."

The synchronized bro and the way they were working in tandem made Simon’s face go dark.

But then he looked at Nancy. Her eyes were wide with genuine worry and expectation. Every angry word he had planned died in his throat. He could only let out a heavy, silent sigh.

The three of them fell into a bizarre, tense rhythm as they ate.

Finally, the rich scent of the chicken soup managed to wake Snowball from a deep sleep in the corner.