The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The Zoo Director’s apartment was more like a cozy suite, featuring its own private bathroom and warm, natural wood finishes throughout. Though a bit cluttered, Nina could easily imagine the place in its heyday, when the Forest Isle Zoo was at the peak of its charm and popularity.

Just the thought of having a place to stay without paying rent instantly lifted Nina’s mood. Finally, she had a spot she could truly call her own.

Her parents’ summer home, while luxurious, felt more like a gilded cage. Cameras were installed in her room to monitor her every move, ensuring she was constantly studying. She never felt comfortable or safe there.

As she hummed softly to herself, tidying up the space, Nina stumbled upon a dusty box tucked away in a storage closet. Inside was a set of wearable streaming equipment—apparently relics from past zoo events. A spark of inspiration lit up her mind immediately.

After straightening up her room, Nina slipped into her zookeeper uniform, ready to treat the real VIPs of the Forest Isle Zoo—the animals themselves.

She pulled out a map and zoomed in on the nearest exhibit: Desert Paradise. The name sounded exotic and inviting, but when she pushed open the door, she was met with a vast expanse of sand, almost barren except for four tiny Fennec Kits curled up in a tight cluster, fast asleep.

The soft morning sunlight filtered in at an angle, casting a warm, golden glow over their delicate fur. These little creatures were true nocturnal beings—lively and alert after dark, but by day, they transformed into lazy, fluffy bundles of cuteness.

At that moment, they were deep in dreamland, snuggled close together like tiny, furry balls. Their oversized ears flopped gently with each slow breath, resembling soft, floppy fans. They looked utterly adorable.

Nina pressed a hand to her chest, her heart swelling. “This kind of cuteness should be illegal,” she thought, smiling. “I don’t know if my heart can take it. For the sake of a bright, fuzzy future for these little beans, let’s get to work!”

She strapped on the streaming gear, quickly signed up on the platform, and chose her username: ForestIsleZooDirectorNina. Her fingers danced across the keyboard as she typed out a catchy stream title: [Animal Communicator Live—Every Sarcastic Thought Your Pet Has? I’m Listening!]

Once live, Nina ignored the incoming chat messages and grabbed a small shovel, huffing and puffing as she began cleaning up after the Fennec Kits.

Because her parents controlled every aspect of her digital life, Nina hadn’t yet mastered the app’s features. She was unaware that the “People You May Know” function was active.

Thanks to the algorithm’s magic, it wasn’t long before someone from her real world stumbled upon her livestream.

Ryan Gibbs, heir to the wealthy Gibbs family, was scrolling through news in his sleek, modern apartment when he caught sight of Nina streaming herself shoveling animal droppings. He blinked in disbelief. “Well, well, if it isn’t Nina from the Summer family,” he muttered.

Nina had always been the golden child—the straight-A student, the perfect example of success her parents loved to flaunt. Ryan had endured her smugness and superiority since childhood. Now, here she was, stuck cleaning up poop at a zoo. He couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

Wasting no time, Ryan shared the stream link in his group chat: [Guys, check this out! The fake heiress Nina got kicked out of the Summer family and is now livestreaming herself cleaning animal crap. And get this—she calls herself an animal communicator. Total scam.]

The gossip spread like wildfire. Spoiled heirs and heiresses piled on, mocking Nina live and flooding the chat with sarcastic comments, turning her stream into the hottest mess in town.

Her stream exploded in popularity, but the chat was filled with biting sarcasm and sharp jabs.

[Top of her class, huh? Look at her now—hitting rock bottom after getting kicked out.]

[Who even knows if her grades were real? That so-called “top vet” title is probably a joke.]

[She stole Claire’s heiress life and soaked up riches for 20 years. Karma’s finally catching up.]

Nina glanced at the chat, blinking in surprise. She’d honestly expected no one to show up for her first livestream, but clearly, she was more popular than she’d imagined.

“Haters are still followers,” she thought with a calm confidence, unfazed by the flood of spoiled brats trying to drag her down. She knew their type all too well—fake smiles, worshipping whatever was trendy.

With a sharp, confident grin, Nina fired back, “You do realize this is a vet consult livestream, right? All that flailing in chat—desperation for some real help?”

“Back in high school, you begged for my homework. Now you want a brain check? Please, try not to fall for me this time.”

On the other side was a stunning man with golden hair and electric blue eyes. His sharp, striking features carried a blend of elegance and the kind of charisma you’d expect from a romantic movie lead. Bandages across his face hinted at some recent trouble.

Nina’s mind raced. ‘Sure, he’s Mr. Right. Total heartthrob!’

“Doctor, you have to save my daughter!” the man blurted out urgently.

“She’s got late-stage lovesick brain. What do I do?” he asked, holding up a gorgeous Calico Cat with a dramatic sigh. “Her soul’s been stolen by some scruffy ginger tom from the streets. Now she sneaks out and parties all night.”

Nina tilted her head, puzzled. “Scruffy ginger tom?”

The man pulled up a photo on his tablet—a giant orange tabby. “That’s him! The notorious ginger villain from our gated community. I was so fed up that I hired people to trap every unneutered stray tomcat for miles and get them neutered.”

Nina couldn’t help but laugh softly. “That’s actually a smart move. Neutering keeps male cats healthier, calmer, and helps them live longer,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips.

The man shook his head, his expression falling. “Now my daughter’s holding a grudge for snipping her boyfriend. Every meal, she jumps on the table, kicks my food off, throws tantrums, and hisses like I’m the bad guy.”

A hiss from a cat meant anger, fear, or stress.

“Her attitude’s getting worse. She’s scratched my face and even smacked me in the mouth,” he added, pointing to the bandages on his cheeks. “My heart can’t take much more…”

Nina noticed the Calico Cat kicking and yowling in his arms, its fur puffed up like a tiny volcano.

The man looked utterly heartbroken. “Doctor, look at this,” he sighed. “I don’t know what she’s saying, but it sounds like she’s cursing me out. Can you understand her? Maybe you can talk her down. I’m just trying to help.”

Nina tuned in to the frantic meows and blinked. “Wait—hold up,” she said, shaking her head. “She’s not cursing you out; she’s actually looking out for you.”