Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 42: The Refusal

"My leg really wasn't hurt when I fell from the stairs."

Ginnie’s voice trembled as her fingers twisted the hem of her dress. "But at the time... I truly thought Nancy pushed me."

"She has always disliked me. I was terrified... terrified she would try to hurt me again."

Tears welled in her eyes, and she continued with a sob, "I had only been back with the Summers family for a few days, while my parents and brothers have twenty-two years of history with Nancy..."

"I was so scared. Scared that I could be kicked out at any moment… That’s why I..."

Ginnie suddenly covered her face, her shoulders shaking violently. "That’s why I pretended the injury was severe. I just wanted Nancy gone... I know now that I was wrong. I’m so sorry!"

As Ginnie’s confession ended, the fury on Chandler’s face vanished completely.

He reached out to help Ginnie up, then turned to the guests with an apologetic expression. "I apologize for the scene. This child... she was simply too afraid of losing her family."

The guests exchanged glances, and the murmurs started up again:

"It makes sense. Nancy did take Ginnie's place in luxury for over twenty years..."

"The biological daughter deserves some compensation."

"Blood is thicker than water, after all..."

Nancy watched the display with cold detachment, as if it had nothing to do with her. She no longer held any expectations for the Summers family.

Barry’s deep eyes reflected Nancy’s solitary figure. A flash of complex emotion and a hint of a memory crossed his gaze.

Suddenly, Ginnie lunged toward Nancy and fell heavily to her knees with a loud thud.

"Nancy, I’m sorry! I misunderstood you! I swear I’ll never do anything like this again!"

Chandler hurried forward to support her. "Get up, don't do this..."

He turned to Nancy, his gaze a mix of emotions. "Nancy, she has admitted her mistake, and the misunderstanding is cleared. Move back home today."

"After all... you are the daughter we raised for twenty-two years."

Chandler paused, his tone becoming stern. "But remember your place once you return."

"Ginnie comes first in everything. You can’t be as willful as you were before."

Nancy let out a sharp laugh, her silver fork glinting under the chandelier's light. "Return to the Summers family?"

She slowly speared a piece of matsutake mushroom, her eyes full of mockery as she looked up. "Don't you think a little too much of yourselves?"

With a sharp clack, she set her knife down heavily on the porcelain plate.

Nancy wiped the corner of her mouth. "A place like the Summers household... is that supposed to be something I crave?"

Chandler slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his finger shaking as he pointed at her. "You! You’d rather be the director of some broken-down animal sanctuary and live a hard life with that little cop brother of yours than return to the Summers family?!"

"Dad..." Ginnie said, her eyes red as she tugged at Chandler’s sleeve, but she was interrupted by Nancy’s light chuckle.

Nancy calmly gestured to a server. "Another serving of the matsutake fried rice, please."

She didn't give the fuming Chandler a single glance, treating the entire scene like a boring farce.

"Enough! Today is my birthday banquet. Handle your family drama on your own time."

Errol finally spoke up, his voice booming with authority.

It was clear he didn't care for Nancy. "Miss Nancy, since you aren't treating Barry’s dog and you have nothing to do with the Summers family anymore, I must ask you to leave my banquet immediately."

He had no respect for an "ungrateful" child who showed no regard for her adoptive father's dignity.

Star immediately flopped down at Nancy’s feet and refused to budge. "It's literally their own pathetic issues, so why are they making the pretty lady leave!"

Jacob panicked and was about to plead with Errol when an unexpected voice broke the stalemate.

"Although the collaboration with Dr. Summers wasn't finalized, her professional capabilities are beyond reproach."

Barry’s voice was cool, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "Grandfather, surely throwing out a guest isn't the Goodman way of showing hospitality?"

Though phrased as a question, his tone left no room for argument.

Errol knit his brows but ultimately remained silent. Every guest in the room knew who the true power was in this family dynamic.

"Butler," Barry signaled. "Give her the menu."

He swept his gaze across the room, his voice flat. "She can order whatever she wants. She can stay as long as she likes."

"Prepare a guest room and have a driver on standby."

Chandler and his daughter were stunned, and the guests exchanged baffled looks. Hadn't the word been that Barry kicked Nancy out? It turned out they just hadn't reached a deal.

Looking at the wolfhound pinned to Nancy’s side, the realization dawned on everyone: Nancy might not have a contract with Barry, but she had his legendary dog wrapped around her finger.

Nancy looked at Barry in shock. Had he taken the wrong medication today?

He had actually stepped in to save her from the embarrassment.

Even more confusing was Barry’s attitude toward his own grandfather—it was cold and distant, almost as if he were dealing with a stranger.