Miracle Cutie Chapter 451: The Sweet Treat Did Its Job

Nina's sobs came and went.

Finally, exhausted, she slumped against the storage room door. Her little head tilted to the side, and she fell asleep.

Amelia watched her sleeping face through the phone, her heart aching.

Time passed slowly. In the dark, chilly storage room, Nina developed a fever again.

She was so little, already frightened, and had cried herself to sleep. She lay there without even a blanket.

When the adults found her, her cheeks were flushed a worrisome shade of red. Her fever was much worse than it had been the day before.

Benjamin picked her up. She was like a little furnace in his arms.

"Nina," Amelia called to her, but Nina didn't open her eyes. She only let out a few soft, confused whimpers—too deeply asleep or too dizzy to wake.

Benjamin wasted no time. He rushed her straight to the hospital.

Lester was already at that same hospital, undergoing emergency surgery. His injuries were severe.

Philip had died at the Powell Estate. For now, that news was contained.

Before being taken to the hospital, Lester had ordered his people to lock everything down.

Now, both Nina and Lester were there. Benjamin stayed by Nina's side. He sent Daniel to check on Lester.

Daniel went, though reluctantly, dragging Erik along with him.

After surgery, Lester was moved to the ICU.

Daniel made a point of asking the doctor if Lester would pull through.

The doctor couldn't give a definite answer, only saying they needed to observe and continue treatment.

Compared to Lester's critical condition, Nina's fever was more straightforward.

She was too out of it to take medicine, so they started an IV.

Amelia's eyes stayed red-rimmed as she watched the IV line, her heart aching.

Benjamin stood beside her, his own mood heavy as he looked at Nina in the hospital bed.

By the time the second bag of IV fluids was running, Nina's fever had broken. She was doing much better.

Her eyes fluttered open, dazed. She lifted a chubby hand to rub them, but Benjamin gently caught it.

The nurse had placed the IV in her forehead because the veins in her hands were too small.

Benjamin was worried she'd accidentally pull the needle out.

"Daddy?" Nina mumbled, staring sleepily at Benjamin now right in front of her.

After calling for her dad, she immediately looked for her mom.

"Mommy!"

The moment she saw Amelia, her lower lip trembled. She began to cry.

Amelia had known this would happen. She quickly held up a new toy she'd bought, waving it brightly.

"Look, Nina, a police car! And there are little police officers inside!"

She showed Nina the little toy police car she'd prepared.

It was a detailed toy car. The doors opened and closed, and two tiny officer figures sat inside.

Nina looked at the police car, then at Amelia. She stared for a few seconds. Then she batted the toy away with her free hand. Her cries intensified.

"Waaah! Mommy!"

She didn't want the police car. She wanted her mom to hold her.

Amelia carefully gathered Nina into her arms, careful of the IV in her forehead.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetie. Don't move. Mommy's got you," she soothed, rocking her gently.

Benjamin picked up the discarded police car. He tried showing her other toy cars instead.

When none worked, he switched tactics. He pulled out a piece of candy. The sight of it finally calmed Nina down a bit.

"Daddy...peel," she requested between sniffles.

Benjamin unwrapped it. He popped the candy into her mouth.

The sweet treat did its job, helping to soothe her. With candy in her mouth and toys in her hands, and with both parents there, Nina slowly quieted down.

She sniffled. "Where Grandpa?" she asked.

Amelia said, "He came to see you earlier. He had to take care of something, but he'll be back soon."

Satisfied that William would return, Nina moved on. "Where Un-coo Dan'el?"

"He's around. He'll be back in a minute," Amelia replied.

Nina continued her list. "Where pwetty uncle?" She meant Lester.

"He's sleeping," Benjamin answered. Being in a coma still counted as sleep.

Nina blinked. She looked toward the window. It was nighttime, but the hospital lights were so bright it was hard to tell.

She didn't dwell on it. Her list wasn't finished. She asked where Catherine was.

Catherine was with William, helping with some things, and couldn't come sit with her right now.

Only after asking about everyone did Nina seem to fully notice the IV in her forehead.

She didn't want it. She reached up to grab the tube.

Seeing this, Amelia quickly turned on the TV in the room for distraction.

With her parents' constant attention, Nina—still tired and unwell—didn't put up too much of a fight.

She only cried a little harder when the nurse came to remove the needle.

Once the IV was out, Benjamin picked Nina up and carried her to see Lester.