The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 31

**TITLE: Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 31**

Chubby, his belly round and overflowing with treats, danced around Claire, leaving a trail of tiny, flower-shaped paw prints across her pale dress. The little creature was a whirlwind of energy, his antics drawing laughter from onlookers even as he made a mess.

The squirrel friends they had befriended at Pinehill Manor joined the fray, circling Claire like a furry whirlwind.

“Wow, this lady’s hands smell absolutely divine!” one squeaked, its nose twitching with delight.

“Better than anything I’ve ever tasted!” another chimed in, clearly enamored by Claire’s presence.

Before she could react, the squirrels swarmed onto her wheelchair, and in mere moments, she found herself completely engulfed by the furry little pests.

While one or two squirrels might have been adorable, the sheer number of them was overwhelming. The wild creatures, with their twitching tails and beady eyes, could potentially carry all sorts of bacteria, and the thought sent a shiver down Claire’s spine.

What made matters worse was that the squirrels, emboldened by their curiosity, began to lick her hands, treating them as if they were the most delectable of treats.

Despite her best efforts to maintain composure, Claire couldn’t stifle a scream of terror. “Get away from me!” she shouted, her voice a mixture of panic and disbelief.

But it wasn’t just the squirrels that had descended upon her. Guests’ dogs of all breeds, from tiny yapping terriers to lumbering golden retrievers, along with stray cats that roamed the manor grounds, joined the chaotic scene.

More and more small animals surged into the hall, surrounding Claire and sniffing at her with eager curiosity.

Charles, her steadfast companion, was at her side, desperately trying to shoo the furry intruders away. But it was a losing battle; soon, Claire resembled the epicenter of a small, chaotic zoo.

Finally, it took the intervention of the Hayes family’s bodyguards, armed with an assortment of treats, to lure the animals away and restore some semblance of order to the hall.

Claire was freed from the furry frenzy, but not without consequence. Her head and body were now adorned with a layer of fur, her once pristine dress marred by paw prints and damp stains.

Her hands felt sticky, marked with teeth impressions that testified to the enthusiastic nibbles she had endured.

Suddenly, her vision blurred and darkened, and she fainted, her body giving in to the overwhelming chaos. Charles, alarmed, barked orders to the staff to summon a doctor immediately.

Now, instead of the sweet floral scent she had once carried, Claire was enveloped in the pungent odor of dried saliva from her furry assailants, a smell that was anything but pleasant.

The crowd, taken aback by the scene, instinctively stepped back, forming a wide berth around her. Even Yvonne, Claire’s ever-loyal sidekick, couldn’t help but retreat a few steps, her face a mix of concern and disbelief.

Nina, unable to contain herself, stifled her laughter until her stomach ached. She had to turn away, lowering her head to chuckle quietly to herself.

She nudged the arm of the person behind her, whispering conspiratorially, “Jason, now you understand why I told you to relax? I can handle her on my own.”

The arm she had patted was surprisingly firm, muscles taut beneath her fingers. It felt so good that she instinctively gave it another squeeze. “Did you see that? Claire looked like she was hosting her own zoo back there!”

Just then, a voice rang out above her. It was Quentin’s, cutting through the laughter. “I saw it. Your little masterpiece?”

Her smile faltered, freezing in place as she realized she had inadvertently grabbed Quentin’s arm.

Jason, standing to her right, gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “You’re awesome!”

Nina felt the heat of embarrassment flooding her cheeks.

No wonder the arm had felt so different; Jason was lean, and his arm shouldn’t have been that sturdy. She had mistakenly grabbed the wrong man.

She yanked her hand back as if it had been burned, her face turning crimson as she sensed Quentin’s gaze lingering on her.

“I’m hungry again,” she muttered under her breath, shuffling toward the dessert table. Busying herself with the selection of sweets, she tried to mask her embarrassment.

Just then, Nina felt a big, fluffy tail brush against her ankle from beneath the table.

“Oh my god, what spell did Nina cast on that dog?” someone murmured in disbelief.

“My daughter once watched one of Nina’s live streams. She said Nina could understand what animals said. Could it be true?” another voice chimed in, filled with wonder.

“Mr. Hayes’s dog has been in pain for years. There’s no way its illness can be cured so quickly,” someone else remarked skeptically.

Even Quentin felt a pang of jealousy. Since Shadow had fallen ill, there were moments when even he struggled to control the dog.

He glanced at Nina, his expression a mix of confusion and intrigue. “Follow me. It’s too noisy here.”

Nina hurried after him, her mind racing with thoughts of the four million dollars that felt tantalizingly close.

Quentin held Shadow’s leash. Normally, the dog would trot ahead of him, but now it lagged half a step behind, almost brushing against Nina as it walked, letting out affectionate barks.

“Vet lady, will you always stay with me? Only you understand what I say,” Shadow seemed to communicate with its big, soulful eyes.

“I feel really safe when I’m by your side,” it seemed to say in its own way.

Shadow was being playful near Nina, its tail wagging enthusiastically.

Nina scratched its head affectionately. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay with you all the time. I have a whole zoo to take care of—I’m too busy.

“But if you want to see me, you can come play at my zoo. You can even stay there if you want. There are lots of friends waiting for you.”

“Only known you for a few hours, and you’re already trying to steal my dog?” Quentin said, pushing open the doghouse door, giving Nina a pointed look.

Nina immediately fell silent, the playful banter evaporating in an instant.