Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 470: The New Quarters

Nancy stood there speechless. She could not help but blurt out, "What exactly is going on here?"

"I go away for a few business trips and suddenly a mobile castle grows right next to the zoo?"

Barry climbed down from the ladder and brushed the dust off his hands. His eyes landed on Nancy, a smile playing on his lips.

"You assigned this plot of land to me earlier, remember? I had a new director's residence built. Consider it a donation to the zoo for the New Year."

Before his voice faded, Star caught the cue. The wolfdog trotted forward and carefully held a red booklet in his mouth, offering it to Nancy with a happy wag of his tail.

"Nancy, keep this safe! A New Year's gift from my human!"

Nancy took the booklet and flipped it open. She froze.

It was the property deed for the director's residence. In the space for the owner's name, the text clearly read, Nancy Summers.

Barry took a step closer and looked down at her, his voice carrying a perfect mix of humor and sincerity. "Happy New Year. I hope you like the new dorms."

"This..."

Nancy looked at the heavy red booklet and then back at the storybook villa. She did not know whether to laugh or cry. "What kind of dorm is this? I have never seen a director's residence this luxurious."

The forest cottage style was exactly her aesthetic.

"Well, now you have. Bigger is better." Barry’s tone was natural as his gaze swept through the open space inside. "You will be more comfortable, and when your friends or family come to visit, there will be plenty of room for everyone to stay."

When he said friends or family, his gaze flickered casually toward Simon, who had remained silent with a complicated expression on his face.

The smile in Barry’s eyes deepened as he added pointedly, "That way, when your brother comes to see you, he will have a spacious place to stay as well."

Simon crossed his arms, his gaze shifting between the deed in Nancy’s hand and the flawless smile on Barry’s face.

The family Barry was talking about likely included more than just him.

Barry met Simon’s stare, which was almost intense enough to burn a hole through him, with the same cultured smile. His focus remained steadily on Nancy.

"Oh, right."

He added as if he had just remembered, his tone casual. "I had them leave a south facing room on the first floor with excellent light. I plan to set it up as a professional animal clinic."

"It will make it easier for you to do Star's regular checkups whenever you need."

He looked at Nancy, the warmth in his eyes deepening. "My lounge is right next to the clinic. That way, when a patient's family needs to stay over, like when I am here for Star's appointments, there is a comfortable place to rest without interrupting your work."

Barry let out a soft, helpless sigh and shook his head. "That motorhome from before was just too small. It was not enough."

As soon as he finished, Star understood the assignment. He trotted over again and gently placed an exquisite set of keys into Nancy’s other hand.

The large dog nudged her wrist affectionately, his barks full of joy. "Yes, exactly! The motorhome is a bit small! But in the future, when you take Snowball and the others out to play with me and my owner, we can drive it! We will save it specifically for trips!"

Nancy stood there stunned, clutching the heavy property deed in her left hand and the cool keys in her right.

She looked up at the smiling Barry, then down at the two massive gifts. Finally, she looked at Simon, whose face had turned as dark as the bottom of a pot, and let out a small groan.

"This... this New Year's gift is too much. Even if I sold myself along with Snowball, I could never pay this back!"

Barry simply let his lips curve into a gentle smile as he watched her. "You gave me the land, and I gave you the house. It is a fair trade. Doesn't that settle the bill?"

He stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over the quiet corners of the zoo and the visible security personnel. His smile widened. "Besides, being allowed to live in your restricted area is a win for me. I hear the security level here is almost at military grade now. No matter how you look at it, I am the one coming out ahead, getting a bit of your peace and safety."

Nancy blinked. Following his logic, she instinctively nodded. "Wait. That... actually makes sense?"

Beside them, Simon kept his arms crossed, his brow furrowed into a tight knot. His lips moved, but he could not force out a single word.

Only one thought was screaming through his mind: Barry. Just like that, he had found a perfectly legitimate way to live in the same villa as Nancy.

Yet the man's reasoning was flawless. Star needed regular checkups, and as the owner, Barry naturally had to stay.

Simon thought of the Gyrfalcons Barry had brought for Nancy and the meticulous protection he provided in the snowy wilderness. He had to admit the support was beyond reproach, even if it left a bitter taste in his mouth.