Miracle Cutie Chapter 14: Zoe's Denial

Nina remembered the moment Daniel got attacked like it was yesterday.

Her tiny brain had replayed it a hundred times—she still held that grudge tight.

Alistair—the man Zoe kept clinging to—looked down at the chubby toddler, already imagining a dozen petty ways to get back at her.

"Alright, Zoe, I promise. I won't touch her. For now," Alistair murmured, squeezing Zoe's hand reassuringly.

Zoe's shoulders eased. Of course he was better than Daniel.

Alistair always listened, always respected her.

Daniel was too arrogant for his own good.

Unconsciously, Zoe and Alistair were still holding hands.

Which was exactly when Nina jabbed a tiny pudgy finger in their direction.

"They hold hands!" she announced, outraged.

Her round little face scrunched up with serious authority as she waddled over to Daniel.

"Un-coo Dan'el, no love bad lady! No!" She slapped her tiny hand on her chest. "Love Nina!"

Even though she was mad at Daniel, her priority was crystal clear—teach him a lesson.

Warn him not to fall for the mean lady.

Daniel stood behind his tiny protector, his eyes fixed on Zoe and Alistair's intertwined fingers.

Something inside him dropped.

"Zoe," he said, voice low, "what's your relationship with him?"

Gone was the easygoing charm.

His eyes now were sharp, cutting, and suffocating.

A chill rippled straight down Zoe's spine.

But she wasn't going to show it.

She straightened up, tossing the blame right back.

"Daniel, who do you think you are to question me? I'm working. Can you not—"

"Zoe," he repeated, harder this time, "answer me. What's your relationship with him?"

He didn't look away. Didn't blink.

His stare pinned her like a spotlight.

Zoe's eyelashes fluttered.

She pressed her lips together, then finally forced out:

"We're just friends."

Alistair stared at her, stunned.

Just friends?

They had hugged, kissed—everything except going all the way.

He knew it for sure—Zoe was into him.

And he was definitely interested in her body.

They had been this close to taking the next step…

Then suddenly she had pulled back, pushing him away.

It drove him insane.

Zoe had squeezed those words out by sheer force of will.

After she got them out, she quickly turned to the crew.

"Darius, are we still shooting?"

The director nodded. "Yes, continue."

Then he glanced carefully at Daniel. “Mr. Graham… maybe you'd like to step aside? We'll wrap quickly."

Nobody dared offend Daniel.

Daniel's expression didn't soften at all.

Even after the "friends" answer, suspicion clung to him.

"Don't mind me," he said. "Keep filming."

He didn't sit.

He scooped up Nina—who was still trying to waddle forward to fight Zoe herself—and turned away.

They headed upstairs to the children's floor, a whole level dedicated to kids' play.

Usually you needed a VIP pass.

Daniel, of course, didn't need one. Everyone knew him.

"Sweetheart," he murmured, giving her cheek a gentle pinch, "you wanna play in the big castle or see the bird garden?"

Nina puffed her cheeks in mild protest at the pinch—but the moment she saw the huge inflatable castle, her eyes lit up.

"This one!"

The castle had everything—plastic balls, mini trampolines, slides, little crawl tunnels.

Nina fell in love instantly.

Daniel set her inside, with a staff member watching her.

She dove into the balls like a chubby pink dolphin.

She even trotted over to other kids to join them, giggling nonstop.

Daniel stayed outside taking videos and pictures.

“Sweetheart! Slow down! Watch your head!" he called as he filmed.

He sent all the clips to Amelia and William.

Amelia didn't reply—probably busy.

William responded almost immediately:

"Looks great. Beautiful shots. Take more if you can."

Daniel had taken 18 photos.

He sent all of them.

Seconds later, William's WhatsApp profile picture refreshed.

For years, it had been a distant mountain landscape.

Now it was Nina—wearing a pink dress, clutching a blue plastic ball, cheeks puffed in a huge smile.

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, dimples sweet as honey.