Miracle Cutie Chapter 4: Daddy's Here

Evelyn's slap cracked across Amelia's face so hard her feverish head rang—buzzing so loud she went deaf for a second.

But she snapped back fast.

And she slapped Evelyn right back—just as hard.

"If my baby dies, I swear I'll kill every last one of you!"

Her voice was hoarse, but the resolve in it was ice-cold and unshakeable.

The hatred in her eyes made even the already-bruised Evelyn flinch.

Evelyn stood stunned. Liam didn't—he just kept glaring, rage twisting his features.

“You? Kill us?" he barked out a bitter laugh.

"Amelia, you ungrateful bitch—did you forget? If my mom didn't take you in, you'd have been dead on the streets!

You owe her your life! If Nina dies, well—now you're even!"

His lip curled.

"And hey, you wanted a kid, right? I'll give you another one!"

Right there—right in front of his own mother—Liam started pulling his belt open.

He'd wanted Amelia for years.

Back in college, she studied and worked day and night, barely home. After graduation, she kept bouncing around, switching places.

Liam could never track her down.

But now she was back in his hands. And the longer he stared, the less control he had.

Evelyn didn't even try to stop him.

She just pressed a hand against the cheek Amelia had slapped and said coldly,

"Amelia, Liam doesn't have a child yet. You should give him one.

A kid from the two of you would be better than that bastard Nina anyway."

Those words—paired with Liam unbuckling his belt—made Amelia's stomach twist with pure terror and fury.

She scanned the room, desperate for anything to defend herself, but Liam had planned for this—no sharp objects anywhere.

Clang!

His belt hit the floor.

Her heart dropped straight with it.

Just when she thought all hope was gone—

A violent bang shook the whole house.

Someone had kicked the door open.

Liam froze.

He tried to ignore it, but the pounding footsteps moved closer and closer.

He yanked his pants back up, swearing, furious at being interrupted.

Storming toward the door, he growled,

"Who the hell is ruining my—"

He swung the door open.

And stopped cold.

There, at the entrance, stood little Nina.

Freshly cleaned, wearing new clothes, with a small bandage on her forehead.

Her big, watery eyes stared up at Liam—then recognition hit.

She trembled.

And immediately buried her face into Daniel's neck.

"Bad guy!" she cried, voice muffled against Daniel's shirt.

"Bad guy t'row Nina! Nina fall—boom! Nina hurt—ow!"

She hiccupped, tears spilling fast. "Waa waa! Nina no wanna see bad guy!"

Daniel already knew Nina had fallen from the eighth floor.

But he didn't know this was the man who threw her.

Until now.

Nina kept sobbing, tiny body shaking.

Daniel held her close—one hand under her soft little bottom, the other around her back.

He'd gotten better at holding kids in the last hour.

He couldn't attack Liam himself with Nina in his arms.

But William's men had heard every word Nina said.

Their faces darkened immediately—

Then one of them stepped forward and kicked Liam straight in the gut.

Liam flew back, crashing onto the floor.

Daniel stepped inside, voice cutting through the room like a blade.

"Where's Amelia?"

He wanted nothing more than to beat Liam within an inch of his life.

But Amelia came first.

Liam, gasping on the floor, saw the expensive clothes, the men behind Daniel, the cold, rich aura—

He immediately assumed Daniel was one of Amelia's wealthy "clients."

So he spewed filth.

"That bitch Amelia—she's been throwing herself at me since we were kids. You sure you still want a piece of trash li—"

He didn't finish.

Daniel's black leather shoe slammed across his face.

"I don't need you telling me what kind of person she is."

Blood spilled instantly from Liam's mouth.

The noise echoed down the hall.

Evelyn—who had locked Amelia in a room—ran out screaming.

"Who are you people!? What do you think you're doing!? Let go of my son! I'm calling the police!"

Empty threat. Pure bluff.

Daniel gave her a cold, disgusted smile.

"No need. The police should be here any minute."

Evelyn's face drained of color.

But then she saw what Daniel was holding.

Nina.

Alive.

Relief washed over her like a wave.

If Nina was alive… Liam wasn't a murderer.

Liam was safe.

Her relief turned into arrogance.

"Who do you think you are?" she snapped. "That's our girl you're carrying! You kidnapped her, barged into our house, attacked my son! When the police get here, you're done!"

She rushed forward, trying to shove Daniel—but his men stepped in immediately, blocking her.

Others rushed down the hall.

And soon—they found Amelia.

When they brought her out, she looked like she'd fall apart at the slightest breeze.

Her skin was pale, lips cracked, fever burning through her.

"Nina!" she cried the second she saw her daughter in Daniel's arms.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

She tried to reach—

But her knees buckled.

Just as Nina turned toward her mother's voice, Amelia collapsed.

“Mr. Graham!" one of the men shouted. “Ms. Parker's running a fever!"

"Take her back," Daniel ordered instantly.

The moment he said it—

Nina cried out in panic.

"Mo… mommy!" Her whole body lunged forward, pudgy arms reaching desperately.

“Mommy! Mommy! Nina want Mommy!"

Daniel almost lost his grip on her.

"Sweetheart, hey—hey—your mom's sick," he whispered quickly, trying to keep her from wriggling out of his arms. "She can't hold you right now. We're taking her to the doctor, okay? Be good for me. Please.”

Nina didn't understand.

She only knew her mommy was falling away from her.

Her sobs rose into a heartbreaking wail.

Just then, the police burst through the doorway.

The officer leading them—Lucas Morris—recognized Daniel instantly.

Childhood friends.

Daniel tightened his hold on the crying Nina while giving him the quick version.

"This man threw Nina off the eighth floor. Then he kidnapped her mother and tried to force himself on her."

Lucas's jaw clenched.

“Alright. Take them home and get a full statement later. I'll handle her mom—she needs a doctor now."

"Got it."

Lucas glanced at Nina, still crying into Daniel's shoulder.

He hadn't even known the Graham family had a little girl now.

But that was for later.

For now—Liam was going straight to jail.

Between the assault, kidnapping, and attempted murder—he wouldn't be out for a long, long time.

Back at the Graham Residence, the doctors and nurses William had arranged were already waiting—originally for Nina, but now they rushed to help Amelia too.

On the drive, Nina clung to Amelia's limp arm, pressing her chubby cheek against her mother's cool skin, eyes swollen from crying.

Watching them, Daniel's chest tightened with anger.

How could Benjamin have abandoned them like this?

What kind of monster left his girls out there to suffer?

Daniel was cursing Benjamin in his mind—

Completely unaware that Benjamin had been discharged from the hospital earlier that day.

William had arranged for him to be brought home.

So Nina… could stay with her father.

"Nina, we're home now," Daniel said softly. "From now on, this is your and your mom's house.

I'll take care of you both. Even if your dad doesn't make it this time, you don't have to be scared. You can think of me as your dad instead."

He finished this heartfelt promise, turned around—

And there was Benjamin.

Being wheeled into the house.

Daniel froze.

His knees nearly buckled.

"Well, Nina," he muttered weakly, "what do you know.

Your not-so-dead dad just got home too."