Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 35: The Fragrance Of Deceit

Chandler spun around, glaring at Nancy with unfiltered disdain. "Nancy, what are you still doing here? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"

Back when Nancy had practically lived at the Summers Corp Veterinary Hospital, she was never more than a lead physician. Yet, the moment Ginnie returned, she was handed the keys to the kingdom as the new Director.

Nancy let a mocking smile play across her lips, completely ignoring Chandler. Instead, she turned her attention to Barry. "Thank you for saving me last time. Since time is precious, we should get on with Star’s examination."

Seeing her treat him like thin air, Chandler’s temper flared. "Nancy, are you deaf? I’m talking to you! I am never letting you back into the Summers family, so get lost!"

"Sir." Jacob’s playful smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp edge. "Miss Nancy is a guest of the Sand family. We invited her here specifically to treat Mr. Goodman’s wolfhound. She is an honored guest of this gala—I suggest you show some respect."

The mention of the "Sand family" hit Chandler like a physical blow. Compared to the Sands, a century-old powerhouse with deep-rooted influence, the Summers family was barely a blip on the radar.

He looked at Nancy with a sneer. "You’ve certainly been busy, climbing your way up the Sand family’s tree."

Jacob corrected him instantly. "She didn't 'climb' anything. I, Jacob, the only son of the Sand family, am the one who came to her for help. Is that clear enough for you?"

The room fell into a stunned silence. Rumors always painted the young Sand heir as impossibly arrogant; what kind of extraordinary skill did Nancy possess to make someone like Jacob seek her out?

"I saw it with my own eyes—Nancy was the one who calmed that dog," Jacob continued, eagerly defending his savior. "Your daughter is stealing Nancy’s work while playing the innocent victim. Honestly, she’s like a plastic bag—completely full of herself and trashy to boot! I suggest you take her home and teach her some manners before she embarrasses you further."

Ginnie’s face turned deathly pale. "I didn't," she whispered, her voice trembling with stubborn defiance. "How can you twist the truth just to please Nancy?"

Though Chandler was wary of the Sand family, he wouldn't let his daughter stand alone. "Everyone in this hall has ears," he barked. If Ginnie was the one who cured the wolfhound, they could secure a connection with the Goodman family and perhaps even swap the marriage alliance from Nancy to Ginnie.

Empowered by the thought, Chandler’s voice grew bolder. "It was Ginnie who told the musicians to change the song. That’s when the dog let go of Nancy."

The guests began to murmur in agreement. "Exactly. Ginnie saved her, and this ungrateful girl is trying to steal the credit!"

Suddenly, Barry, who had remained silent throughout the chaos, let out a cold, sharp chuckle. The room went silent instantly.

"It certainly is lively today." Barry’s fingers idly stroked the wolfhound’s chin. "Star, tell me. Which of these two actually made you feel at ease just now?"

The wolfhound looked at Nancy, then at Ginnie.

Seated in her wheelchair, Ginnie offered a graceful, confident smile as she reached out toward the dog. "Don't be afraid, Star. We aren't on the battlefield anymore. You're safe here. There are no enemy airstrikes."

She had repeated Nancy’s previous words almost verbatim.

At the mention of "battlefield" and "airstrikes," Barry’s eyes snapped toward Ginnie. During his two years as a combat medic, he had never shared the details of his service with anyone.

The wolfhound’s nose twitched. It trotted over to Ginnie, sniffing her hand before circling her and wagging its tail. To the onlookers, it looked like a clear display of affection and recognition.

The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief. "See? Ginnie is the one who helped the dog!"

"Nancy is truly shameless. She gets saved by Ginnie and then stabs her in the back."

"Even the dog couldn't stand it—it’s pointing out its real savior."

Chandler seized the moment, shouting, "Nancy, get out! Your heart is black and full of malice toward your own sister. Don't even dream of returning to the Summers family!"

Nancy ignored him. Her eyes were fixed on the wolfhound, who was barking softly at her.

"Pretty lady, there's something wrong with this girl's smell! I just get so excited when I smelled her, and I can't help but to get close to her!"

Nancy’s lips curled into a knowing smile. Under the bewildered gazes of the crowd, she walked straight up to Ginnie, grabbed her wrist, and took a deep sniff.

"What do you think you're doing?! Get away from her!" Chandler lunged forward, shoving Nancy back with considerable force.

As Nancy stumbled, a broad, firm palm caught her arm, steadying her. But the moment the man confirmed she was balanced, he pulled his hand away as if he’d been burned.

Nancy looked up and found herself staring at Barry’s icy profile.

"Thank you," she said, her eyes crinkling into a smile. This Barry fellow didn't seem so terrifying after all—he was just a bit chilly on the surface.