The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 86

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 86**

From the moment Nina had put pen to paper on that contract with Quentin, her life had taken an unexpected turn. It was as if she had unwittingly signed up for a relentless boot camp. Quentin had transformed into a relentless overseer, scrutinizing every morsel she consumed and monitoring her exercise regimen with an intensity that felt suffocating.

The whole situation made Nina’s head spin. He was like a strict drill sergeant, always threatening to snatch away her bonuses if she so much as dared to take a break.

In a moment of defiance, Nina had decided to change his contact name on her phone to “Troublemaker Quentin.”

With a frown knitting her brows together, she pondered, ‘What now? Why is Quentin calling me at this hour?’ A wave of annoyance washed over her. ‘Is Shadow misbehaving again?’

She hurriedly picked up the phone, her heart racing slightly.

“Where are you?” Quentin’s voice came through, sounding unusually fatigued. “I brought Shadow to Forest Isle Zoo, and you’re nowhere in sight.”

Nina replied, “I’m at the Jelasburg Police Department Headquarters. Just wrapped up a case.”

Her concern bubbled over as she blurted out, “Is Shadow acting up?”

Quentin sighed, “It’s not that serious, but honestly, it’s quite draining.”

Nina’s mind flickered back to Jason’s words—if Shadow was restless, Quentin would be too, and that thought gnawed at her.

“Are you coming back today?” Quentin asked, a hint of urgency in his tone.

Nina yawned, her exhaustion creeping in. “I’m on my way.”

“Stay put. I’ll come pick you up.” Without waiting for her response, he disconnected the call.

Nina, still clutching her phone, turned to Simon, who was leaning against the wall, his expression a mix of concern and resignation. “You should really get some rest,” she advised him.

“Quentin said he’s coming to get me from Forest Isle Zoo,” she explained, trying to dismiss the worry that flickered across Simon’s face.

Simon narrowed his eyes, aware of the contract Nina had signed with Quentin. He wanted to caution her, to remind her to tread carefully, but he held his tongue, knowing it would only irritate her.

“Just let me know when you reach your dorm,” Simon said, his voice steady.

Nina nodded enthusiastically, a smile breaking through her fatigue. “Absolutely! You should take a quick nap, Simon!”

*****

Twenty minutes later, a sleek black Cullinan stood parked directly across from the imposing entrance of the Jelasburg Police Department Headquarters.

Quentin rolled down the window, his eyes scanning the empty steps with a hint of irritation.

‘Of course. She didn’t even bother to check my message,’ he thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

On his phone screen, the message he had sent—[Come out three minutes early and wait for me]—sat there, unanswered.

With a grunt of annoyance, Quentin slammed the car door and strode towards the building, his long legs covering the distance quickly, each step radiating irritation.

As he entered the lobby, his gaze immediately fell upon Nina, curled up on a bench as if she owned the entire place—typical of her.

Her messy bun slumped against the backrest, her lashes fluttered softly as she slept, and Quentin couldn’t help but picture her as one of those little squirrels at the zoo, all snuggled up and enjoying a peaceful nap.

Only, unlike those squirrels with their fluffy tails, Nina had only herself to keep warm.

Bending down, Quentin pronounced her name slowly and deliberately, “Nina?”

He kept his voice low, almost a whisper, each syllable floating out softly, like a marshmallow melting in your mouth. He didn’t want to disrupt her dreams.

When Nina didn’t respond, Quentin frowned, a playful smirk crossing his lips. He reached out and poked the bun on her head gently. “Up you get. Time to go home and catch some proper sleep.”

Nina blinked awake, her eyes meeting Quentin’s intense gaze, and in that instant, her sleepiness vanished.

Quentin’s eyes flickered to the oversized backpack next to her, and he raised an eyebrow. “Is that yours?”

Still groggy, Nina nodded, a stray tuft of hair sticking out from her messy bun, giving her the appearance of a sleepy Night Heron.

“Let’s go.” Quentin grabbed the backpack with one hand, but the weight surprised him, causing his arm to jerk slightly.

A suspicious gurgling sound emanated from within as it shifted, and Quentin couldn’t help but marvel at how something so hefty could be carried around by someone as petite as Nina.

‘Seriously, how has she not collapsed under this weight?’ he mused silently, a mix of admiration and concern flooding through him.

Quentin swallowed hard but kept his thoughts to himself, turning to stride away with purpose.

He had never signed anything so pathetic in his life.

Usually, it was people lining up, begging him to sign their sky-high contracts. He had never been the one chasing after someone to part with his money.

“Just move into our park,” Nina suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’ll sleep way better at night, and treatments will be a breeze.”

She wiggled her fingers excitedly. “It’s basically a forest oxygen bar—fresh air for days, and it’s super close to your office. Commuting only takes ten minutes!”

Nina curled up in the plush leather seat, counting on her fingers as she listed the costs. “Rent is 30 thousand, plus utilities, cleaning, property fees, and trash pickup—” She paused, then flashed him a bright grin. “So, 50 thousand a month. What a steal, huh?”

Quentin glanced at her, snorting with a hint of sarcasm. “Yeah, I’m loaded, but I’m not about to be played for a fool.”

“But moving Shadow in is literally part of his therapy!” Nina fired back, her defiance rising. “I’ve got everything set up for treatment—just bring him over already! I’ve mapped out your plan, step by step—”

However, as she continued to ramble, her voice gradually faded, and in a sudden moment, her head dropped into Shadow’s soft fur, as if she had simply passed out.

Quentin jerked around, his voice tight with concern. “Nina?”

He stared at her pale face, instinctively holding a fingertip under her nose. Her breathing was steady, a tiny snore escaping her lips, but the sight made his heart race.

She had genuinely startled him for a moment.

‘Youth really is something else—she just crashes out like that,’ Quentin thought, a twinge of envy creeping in.

Frowning, he checked her pulse carefully. Only when he was sure she was alright did he finally exhale, relief washing over him.

His gaze lingered on her slender arms and unnaturally pale skin, a wave of fear gripping him at the thought of losing her one day.

Nina was nestled deep in Shadow’s fluffy silver-gray fur, her cheeks adorably squished against the warm fuzz.

Shadow’s tail had instinctively wrapped protectively around her waist, his previously twitching paws now lying stretched out in peaceful slumber.

Quentin pulled his hand back, swallowing hard, though it was barely noticeable.

He grabbed a spare cashmere blanket from the back seat and draped it over both of them, initially a bit careless, but as it settled over their shoulders, his movements softened unconsciously.

“You two little troublemakers,” he muttered under his breath, a hint of affection lacing his words.