Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 318: The Setup

Its tiny nose twitched like sensitive radar, catching the scent and navigating right into the middle of the three of them.

Snowball kicked off with its hind legs to stand tall, tucking its front paws neatly against its chest. Its eyes remained fixed on the table, unblinking.

"What are you guys eating? It smells amazing!"

The little creature’s whiskers trembled with anticipation.

Nancy couldn't help but laugh. She reached out and gently tapped its wet nose. "It’s chicken soup. Hang on, I'll boil you a piece of plain chicken in a bit. No salt."

Hearing this, Snowball immediately put on an act, tilting its head as if it weren't tempted at all. "Actually... I’m not even that hungry. I just wanted to get close and catch a whiff!"

But its eyes, locked onto the chicken and practically watering, gave it away completely.

Simon watched the little performer work. He knew Nancy liked to sleep with Snowball, so he had already come prepared.

He pulled a piece of plain, unsalted chicken he had set aside from the thermal bag. He blew on it carefully to cool it down before handing it to the little guy, who was struggling to maintain its composure.

"Wuu!"

Snowball’s act shattered instantly. The idea of just a whiff was forgotten as it grabbed the meat with both paws, letting out a muffled squeal of pure satisfaction. It buried its face in the food, devouring it happily.

With the little mascot joining in, the atmosphere at the table finally thawed a little. It felt like a brief moment of peace before the storm.

Once the meal was over, Barry stood up and naturally reached for a packet of medicine, moving to mix it for Nancy.

Simon handled the cleanup, packing away the leftovers with sharp, efficient movements.

Nancy sat back on the bed, gently rubbing Snowball’s bulging belly to help its digestion. She looked up at the two men, both busy with their own tasks, and felt a quiet sense of relief.

Thank god. The storm finally passed.

The thought had barely crossed her mind before reality hit her hard.

Just as Barry walked over with the prepared medicine and a glass of water, Simon’s long arm reached out. With a subtle but forceful movement, he intercepted the glass as if he were guarding a cub.

He dropped the pills into Nancy’s palm and held the glass steady against her lips, using his broad shoulders to block her from the other man’s view.

Barry’s hand hovered in the air for a split second before he calmly pulled it back. He tucked his hands into his pockets and stood by, watching silently with an unreadable expression on his handsome face.

Simon set the empty glass down, ready to show Barry the door.

But Barry beat him to it, his voice steady and professional. "I’ll need to draw some blood for a routine check later. With a recurring fever like this, I won't feel right until we’ve ruled everything out."

He looked at Nancy with genuine concern before glancing at his watch as if he had just remembered something. "If I recall, the Monday morning briefing at headquarters is important. You’re going to be late if you don't leave now."

Barry sounded completely sincere, as if he were only looking out for Simon. Then he dropped the hammer with a casual final sentence. "Don't worry. I’ll be here to take care of things."

With one move, he had flipped the script, taking full responsibility for her care.

Simon’s jaw tightened. He stared at Barry, a storm brewing in his eyes.

After a moment, a thin, cold smile touched his lips, though it never reached his eyes. "Right. Thanks for the reminder."

He grabbed his jacket. Before turning to leave, his gaze lingered on Barry for a second. "Thank you."

The two words sounded less like a gesture of gratitude and more like a warning to stay put.

Barry’s expression didn't flicker. He gave a slight, composed nod. "It’s my job. No trouble at all."

Simon didn't say another word. He let out a low, cold grunt and walked out.

He drove straight to the station. During the briefing, the captain of the criminal investigation team took one look at his face and knew something was wrong.

Once the meeting broke, Sam walked over. "Didn't you and Nancy just catch a fugitive who’d been off the grid for twelve years? Why the long face?"

Simon rubbed his temples, the image of Barry’s smug, composed face flashing through his mind.

He looked at Sam and hesitated for a moment before making a final decision. "You mentioned before that you wanted to introduce some of the rising stars in the force to Nancy. If it’s still convenient, I’d like you to set something up."

Sam was caught off guard, then laughed. "Of course it is!"

"I know a few young guys who really admire Nancy’s work." Sam paused, looking confused. "But didn't you say she was too young and there was no rush?"