The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 46

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**
**Chapter 46**

In the comment section of the alarming post, a user had the audacity to share side-by-side photos of two very different establishments.

On one side was Forest Isle Zoo, where the staff appeared intimidating and unwelcoming, while the animals looked utterly despondent and unwell. The contrast was stark and unsettling.

On the other side was Cuddle Critters Indoor Park, where the owner, Claire, was showcased in a flowing white dress that billowed gently around her as she sat in her wheelchair. Her long, silky hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her face like a halo. She cradled a white fox tenderly, attending to it with a gentle touch. At that moment, she resembled a fairy from a storybook, radiating an ethereal charm.

As Nina scrolled through the comments, recognition hit her like a bolt of lightning. Claire was the owner—how could she have missed that?

The comments section was overflowing with sympathy for Claire, with people lamenting, “Poor girl, she’s in a wheelchair but still manages to care for the animals.”

Nina rolled her eyes internally, thinking, ‘Really? With all this pity flooding in, Claire has probably already recouped the costs of that stage-prop wheelchair and her cast.’

It seemed that every blogger cautioning others against Forest Isle Zoo found their posts inundated with hired commenters promoting Cuddle Critters Indoor Park.

Curiosity piqued, Nina did a quick search. To her astonishment, she discovered that Cuddle Critters Indoor Park was charging a whopping 56 dollars per person for what they termed a “pet experience.” For that price, visitors could pet a few animals, and they even threw in a free animal headband and lemonade.

At first glance, it seemed like a bargain. But in reality, the lemonade was practically free to make, and those headbands? Just cheap trinkets from wholesale vendors.

Determined to dig deeper, Nina uncovered more unsettling facts.

Cuddle Critters Indoor Park spanned less than 2,000 square feet—about the size of two average classrooms. The so-called “forest area” was nothing more than 3-D wallpaper hastily plastered on the walls, and the enclosures were so cramped that the animals could barely move.

Cole the duck and the lop-eared bunny were confined to a minuscule patch of fake grass—barely more than a few feet square.

Nina’s heart sank as she recalled that the place had been under construction just two months prior, and now they were open for business.

She scoffed internally, ‘Are they really expecting both visitors and animals to inhale that toxic formaldehyde air? And for this cramped space, they have the audacity to charge 56 bucks for a mere two hours? Give me a break.’

‘Forest Isle Zoo boasts 3 acres of fresh air and real animals, and we only charge 20 bucks for a ticket. Seriously, how does that make my place look?’

‘But hold on—Cuddle Critters was already being renovated two months ago. Back then, Claire wasn’t even connected to the Summer family. So where on earth did she get the funds to set this place up?’

‘Simon had mentioned that Claire was always complaining about being broke, even going so far as to max out his credit card!’

Suddenly, a realization struck Nina like a thunderclap—she and Simon had been nothing but suckers for Claire.

With determination, Nina handed her phone back to Liam and declared, “Let’s release the footage of the parrot receiving treatment first.”

Liam responded, a hint of frustration in his voice, “We released it as soon as the abuse rumors started, but it barely made a ripple. Not a single click, no buzz. Rumors spread like wildfire in seconds, but cleaning them up? That’s a marathon.”

After a brief pause, Nina reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.”

Nina made her way back to the staff dorm, cradling five sleeping bats and the energetic Squirrel Bros.

The bats were already deep in slumber—after all, daytime was their bedtime.

Nina resolved to give them the rundown on zoo rules later that evening.

Meanwhile, the Squirrel Bros were engrossed in counting the pinecones they had pilfered from Pinehill Manor, their tiny paws working diligently.

Nina quickly answered, her voice laced with concern, “Captain Cole, is everything alright?”

Grant’s voice came through, grave and urgent. “Nina, we’ve encountered a very serious situation, and we need your assistance. We have a missing person report. The individual has been unaccounted for for fifteen hours.”

Nina frowned, her mind racing. ‘Isn’t it standard for the police to wait over twenty-four hours before opening a case?’ But she recalled that if the police suspected danger or any criminal activity, they would act immediately.

“Is the victim in peril? Kidnapped?” she asked, her heart racing.

Grant sighed heavily, “That’s precisely what complicates matters. Right now, there’s no evidence of a kidnapping or any real danger—he’s simply off the radar. Without that, we can’t just drop everything and initiate a massive search.”

“But this individual has a rather unusual background, which is why we have no choice but to involve you. The officer handling the case is waiting for you at the entrance. He’ll provide you with all the details.”

Nina hung up, her heart pounding as she approached the police car parked outside. She rapped her knuckles lightly on the window.

Shawn emerged, followed closely by a burly, middle-aged man who looked deeply anxious.

“Ms. Summer,” Shawn greeted her with a quick salute, before explaining, “The missing person is a member of the national swim team. He’s supposed to fly to Starglaze in three days for the World Championships.”

The middle-aged man stepped forward, his urgency palpable. “Hi, I’m Tony Warren, the swim team coach.” He produced a photo and continued, “This is Evan Rivers—our missing swimmer.”

“Ms. Summer, please, you have to find him. The finals are in just three days. Without Evan, our team stands no chance. He’s our golden opportunity in the butterfly event and the anchor of the relay; we can’t replace him.”

“Our country has never secured a gold medal in men’s butterfly before. Right now, he’s carrying the hopes of the entire nation on his shoulders.”