The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 45

**TITLE: Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 45**

As Nina wrapped up her thought, an unexpected rustling echoed from the branches above. In an instant, Luna descended, her form flipping gracefully upside down as she swung from the tree. With a commanding tone, she called out, “Hey! Where do you think you’re taking my grandbaby?”

Chunky, feeling the weight of her gaze, instinctively tucked his head in, displaying a hint of nervousness. “Grandma, I’m just going with Nina to lose some weight,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nina, sensing the tension, spoke softly but firmly, “Luna, Chunky’s extra weight is putting him at serious risk. He’ll find it difficult to fly swiftly and will react sluggishly. If a predator were to appear, he might not escape in time. And let’s not forget, being overweight could hinder his chances of reproducing later on.”

She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing, “Luna, you wouldn’t want the legacy of your Bat Clan to fade away, would you?”

Luna fell silent, her expression contemplative as she weighed the implications of Nina’s words.

Noticing Luna’s uncertainty, Nina quickly added, “How about this? Why don’t you send a few of your family members with me to the zoo to keep an eye on Chunky? My zoo is filled with trees, and there’s no shortage of mosquitoes and moths. Trust me, you bats will never go hungry there.”

The Bat Clan that had assisted her the previous day consisted entirely of household bats, who thrived on tiny creatures like mosquitoes, moths, and beetles.

Nina recalled how a single household bat could eradicate nearly a thousand bugs in a single night, most of which were mosquitoes.

She thought to herself, ‘With summer in full swing and a swarm of bats hanging around the staff dorms, my life would become infinitely easier. I could finally bid farewell to those annoying little mosquitoes once and for all.

‘It would be like having my very own unbeatable bug-busting team operating on autopilot.’

After a moment of deliberation, Luna finally spoke up, “Alright then, I’ll send a few of his siblings with you. Let them experience the world outside for a while.”

A wide grin spread across Nina’s face as she replied, “You can count on me, Luna. I’ll take care of them as if they were my own.”

Thus, four bats, alongside Chunky, followed Nina as they made their way down the mountain.

The journey proved to be quite a challenge for the bats, especially for Chunky, who struggled to lift himself off the ground due to his size.

Nina instructed the butler to prepare a travel crate, ensuring that all five bats could settle in together comfortably for the ride.

As they exited Pinehill Manor, Shadow bounded over, eager to bid farewell to Nina. “Hey, Nina! I promise I’ll come to visit you again. And next time, don’t forget to ask my owner for a couple million. The guy’s rolling in it and never spends a dime, so it’s better he gives it to you than let it collect dust.”

Nina couldn’t help but laugh heartily at Shadow’s cheeky suggestion. She mused, ‘If Quentin ever caught wind of what Shadow just said, his face would likely darken with fury.

Shadow was so clingy and affectionate that Quentin could barely manage to hold onto the leash, which seemed ready to snap at any moment.

Quentin had been preparing for one final, serious discussion with Nina, but Shadow’s antics had turned the moment into a playful chaos. His lips pressed into a thin, frustrated line as he attempted to regain control of the situation.

“Ms. Summer,” Quentin said, trying to sound serious, “I’ll increase the offer—an additional 2 million to become Shadow’s exclusive vet. What do you think?”

Nina shot back, “Sorry, Mr. Hayes, but I don’t make exceptions for anyone.” She echoed his words back to him defiantly.

Quentin’s expression darkened, frustration evident on his face.

With a wave to Shadow, Nina reminded him, “Don’t forget our deal, okay?”

Shadow nodded enthusiastically before darting off to fetch a small canvas bag, which he tossed through Nina’s car window. “I heard you might need help with those vet bills. Here’s my savings stash—just for you.”

Nina was taken aback; she never imagined she’d be receiving financial support from a dog. She hastily tried to return the canvas tote to Quentin.

Quentin frowned at the drool-covered bag and said, “Just keep it. All his toys are nothing but worthless junk anyway, soaked in slobber.”

With two animal carriers in tow and the unexpected treasure bag, Nina climbed into her car and began her descent down the mountain.

She clicked on the most viral post, which read: [Guys, stay away from Forest Isle Zoo. I came here because of the so-called “animal whisperer” streamer. What I witnessed instead was staff threatening and hurting animals with needles. Pics don’t lie.]

The post accompanied a photo taken in a dimly lit corner of a cage, where a distressed parrot was pinned down by a staff member, its wings trembling in fear. The sharp tip of a needle glinted ominously as it hovered dangerously close to the parrot’s eye. The bird’s pupils shrank in terror, and its beak parted slightly, as if it were silently pleading for help.

The staff member’s hand was tense, veins bulging, and their grip was unyielding. Scattered medicine bottles and pieces of gauze cluttered the background, amplifying the chaotic atmosphere.

The comment section erupted into a storm of outrage.

One user commented: [Unbelievable. Nina is just lining her own pockets, ignoring both the poor animals and her staff.]

Another chimed in: [Those animals are just cash cows for Nina Summer. Heartless doesn’t even begin to cover it.]

Nina was left utterly speechless.

The photo that had ignited this uproar was merely a staff member attending to a parrot’s eye problem. If anyone had bothered to review the security footage, they would see the keeper spent a considerable amount of time calming the bird before proceeding with treatment.

Yet, the blogger had captured only the three seconds that appeared most aggressive—the exact moment the injection was administered. The angle was deliberately deceptive: dark, blurry, as if crafted to paint an abusive narrative.

Beneath the post, alongside the flood of criticism aimed at Forest Isle Zoo and Nina, were countless comments extolling the virtues of Cuddle Critters Indoor Park.

One user suggested: [Honestly, skip this dump—just go to Cuddle Critters Indoor Park instead.]

Another boasted: [I’ve been to Cuddle Critters Indoor Park. It’s all indoors, so no sore feet, and the animals are ridiculously cute. Plus, your photos come out super Insta-worthy.]

A third comment read: [The owner of Cuddle Critters Indoor Park is gorgeous and incredibly sweet. Even though she’s in a wheelchair from an injury, she personally takes care of the animals and even does their check-ups herself.]

Suddenly, these comments triggered a memory of Claire in Nina’s mind.