Miracle Cutie Free Preview

Before six in the morning, in a worn-down but not-quite-old apartment complex in Averton, furious pounding exploded through the hallway and straight into the west-side unit on the eighth floor.

The noise hit so suddenly it made two-and-a-half-year-old Nina jump, her big eyes filling with tears.

She reached out her pudgy little hands and pushed at her mother—still lying there, burning with fever and completely unresponsive.

"Mommy… door…" Nina whimpered.

"Knock knock… someone knock…"

Her tiny voice shook. When her mom still didn't move, Nina sniffled, grabbed the half-full milk bottle, and pressed it to her mother's lips.

"Mommy… drink…

Nina go chase bad guy!"

With all the bravery her tiny body could muster, she scrambled off the bed. She grabbed her plastic toy gun, holding it exactly the way she'd seen cops do on TV—except her hands were trembling so hard the gun rattled.

"Go 'way!" she yelled at the door.

"Mommy no home! Nina no home!"

Her little voice wobbled the whole way through, but she tried so hard to sound fierce.

Then—

A faint click.

Someone was picking the lock.

Before she could even turn around, the front door burst open with a bang.

A middle-aged man barged in, face twisted with rage.

"Little bastard! You didn't hear me knocking?" he roared.

"You're just like that useless bitch—can't do a single damn thing right! Can't even open a door! Where's your mom? Quit playing dead! Come out and get me the money!"

This was Liam Parker—her uncle.

Nina had just been knocked over by the door and had fallen hard. Her little forehead bumped the floor, forming a small red welt. She clutched her head with a trembling hand.

"No… no money…" she cried.

"Mommy sick… Nina no money…"

Tears streamed down her cheeks—soft, round, helpless.

Amelia Parker, Nina's mother, had once been a rising actress—beautiful, fiery, and impossible to push around. That stubbornness had cost her everything. Investors hated that she wouldn't play along. Her own adoptive family had never treated her well. And three years ago, a so-called friend drugged her, sending her into the wrong hotel room…

A stranger's room.

She'd gotten pregnant, done her research, realized the man was powerful, wealthy, terrifyingly handsome—and cold enough to freeze the sun. He never dated, never got involved, never cared.

She didn't want anything from him.

She only wanted her baby, a connection she longed for, so she secretly gave birth to Nina.

But today, Amelia was too sick to even lift her head. When Nina saw Liam heading for the bedroom, she rolled to her feet and threw herself at his leg.

"No hurt Mommy!" she wailed.

"Unca Liam go 'way!"

That snapped something in Liam.

He grabbed Nina by her collar with one hand and stormed toward the balcony.

“Bastard! Your mom's been stingy with me from the moment she had you!

You think moving apartments can stop me? I'll always find her!"

He shoved open the window, cold wind blasting into the room—and dangled Nina outside.

Eight floors up.

The ground looked impossibly far away.

Nina kicked, her tiny body flailing in the freezing air.

"Mommyyyy—!" she screamed.

“Help! Nina fall!"

"Shut up!" Liam barked, spittle flying.

Then he shouted toward the bedroom:

“Amelia! You hear me? Get me the money or I swear to God I'll drop her!

You want this kid to live or not?!”

Nina sobbed until her whole body shook. She didn't even notice the emerald pendant swinging wildly on her chest—the only thing she'd ever gotten from her father.

Liam noticed it though.

His eyes narrowed.

"I knew you had money! That pendant's real, isn't it? Give it here!"

He reached for it.

Nina slapped both hands over her necklace, sobbing hard.

"No! Mine!

Mine—!"

She fought him with everything she had, kicking, twisting—forgetting she was still hanging out a window.

Liam's arm, already tired, started going numb.

Her sudden struggling made his grip slip.

"Stop—damn it—"

He let out a furious yell, ready to pull that chubby little thing back in.

But, his fingers gave out.

“Shit—!”

Nina fell.

Liam collapsed right where he stood, face draining of color.

"I'm dead… I'm so dead…"

Eight floors.

Even an adult wouldn't survive.

Meanwhile, Nina plummeted through the air. The wind slapped her cheeks as she fell—weightless, terrified, too young to even understand what was happening.

THUD!

Her tiny body hit the ground.

Blood trickled across the pavement, touching the emerald—

and the pendant lit up, releasing a soft, mysterious glow that wrapped around her life force.

Seconds later, a luxury car screeched to a halt.

“Mr. Graham! There's a kid—she's… she's not moving! Probably dead." Ethan, the driver, shouted.

William Graham's face darkened instantly when he heard the word "dead".

His own son, Benjamin, was lying in a private hospital, one breath away from dying.

And the only person who hadn't given up was a fortune-teller who claimed Benjamin was fated to have a daughter—

a daughter blessed with luck.

A daughter who could save him.

But Benjamin was cold, detached, almost inhumanly uninterested in women.

A daughter had seemed impossible.

Meaning his last hope was gone.

William's voice dropped, low and deadly serious.

"Get that child in the car. Don't let her die."

"Yes, sir!"

Ethan rushed out, lifted Nina gently—carefully, like she might break apart—and hurried back.

"Sir, should I place her beside you?"

William nodded.

But the moment he saw her little face, he froze.

"This girl… she looks exactly like Benjamin did when he was a child."

Her features—tiny, delicate, unmistakable.

Then William's gaze fell on the emerald pendant.

His breath stopped.

"This is Benjamin's pendant… the one he had since he was little!"

He stared from the pendant to Nina's pale, lifeless face.

Then everything hit him at once.

"Ethan!" he barked.

"Step on it.

"Get her to the hospital—now!"

Ethan slammed the gas pedal the moment William shouted from the back seat, pushing the car as fast as it could go.

In the back, William was gripping Nina's tiny, blood-smeared hand with fingers that wouldn't stop shaking. The man who always looked like nothing could touch him now wore pure panic across his face.

"Hang in there, little one…

You're gonna be okay. You have to be."

Even his voice trembled.

They pulled up to the Graham family's private hospital within minutes. Director Oliver Hughes was already waiting outside with a full team of doctors.

William rushed out, clutching the limp child in his arms. Blood soaked through his sleeves. His whole body was trembling as he passed her to Oliver.

Just as Oliver took her—

Nina's little fingers twitched.

Then they latched onto William's sleeve.

Her eyes never opened, but her tiny, breathy voice slipped out, barely a whisper:

"M-Mommy…?"

A thin line of blood bubbled from her lips before she could say anything else.

William froze.

The sight of blood—her blood—knocked the air right out of him.

"Move!" he choked out. "Save her! I don't care what it costs—just save her!"

"Yes, Mr. Graham!" Oliver shouted, sprinting toward the ER with Nina in his arms.

William dropped onto the bench outside the emergency room. His palms were still sticky with Nina's blood. A few strands of her soft baby hair clung to his hand.

He stared at them, then snapped to his feet.

"Run a DNA test. Her and Benjamin."

"Yes, sir."

Getting Benjamin's DNA was no trouble—he was already hospitalized here. And the hospital belonged to the Grahams, so everything would stay under wraps.

While the test was running, William called the police.

He needed to know who this little girl was.

When the richest, most powerful man in Averton called, the police didn't take their time—they moved.

It wasn't long before they had a name.

Nina Parker.

They even found her mother's registered address.

But Amelia wasn't there.

She had fainted from illness—and Liam had already taken her away.

The police expanded the search.

Meanwhile, William never left the hospital hallway. Not for water. Not for food. Not even to sit down.

Hours passed. Maybe more.

At last, Elijah Jenkins—William's most trusted assistant—returned with a folder clutched in both hands.

“Mr. Graham… these are the results. Nina is indeed Benjamin's biological daughter."

Even though William had been bracing for it, the words still hit him hard.

His eyes turned red instantly.

"So it's true… She really is Benjamin's daughter. No wonder…" His voice cracked. "No wonder I felt something the moment I saw her."

Benjamin—cold, detached, unreachable—had a daughter.

A daughter who was now fighting for her life.

William steadied himself against the wall and called his youngest son.

Daniel Graham.

Four children total.

The eldest had vanished into the sea years ago.

Benjamin was the second.

Chloe, the third, was probably deep in a rainforest right now, filming giant snakes.

And Daniel—the baby of the family—was… Daniel. Constantly making headlines for dating another actress, partying, ignoring responsibilities, and arguing with Benjamin about absolutely everything.

William didn't even like calling him, but at a time like this, he didn't have a choice.

When Daniel heard the news—

that Benjamin apparently had a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter who might be dying—

he burst out laughing.

"Dad, seriously? Benjamin? A kid? He's basically a robot! Who'd he even sleep with? The air?"

He scoffed loudly through the phone.

"Come on, just admit it—you're trying to drag me home again. What is it this time? Another stupid blind date? Some 'learn how to be responsible' crap?

Not happening. Not today, not ever."

He huffed.

"Anyway, Zoe just finished her scene. I gotta give her flowers."

Zoe Quinn. Up-and-coming actress. Pretty. Talented. And currently enjoying a meteoric rise… thanks to Daniel's money and influence.

He hung up before William could say another word.

Daniel had taken two steps toward the set when his phone buzzed again.

This time, William didn't call.

He sent pictures.

A DNA report.

Nina's blood-soaked little body.

Her tiny face—pale, eyes shut, smeared with red.

A hospital address.

Daniel froze mid-step.

"Oh my God…

Holy shit."

The flowers dropped from his hands instantly—imported roses scattering all over the ground—and he sprinted toward his car.

Back at the set, Zoe's assistant blinked in confusion.

"Zoe… what happened? Is Mr. Graham mad?"

Zoe barely glanced up.

"Why would I care?" she said coolly. "Has nothing to do with me."

The assistant said nothing.

Because she knew one thing: Zoe had no problem rejecting Daniel's affection—but she never rejected his resources.

One day, if Daniel wakes up and stops chasing after her… that woman might regret it.

But she kept that thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Daniel—who had loudly sworn he'd never come back—was flying down the highway toward the hospital.

By the time he burst through the doors, Nina was being wheeled out of surgery.

William stood over her tiny, bandaged body, tears slipping freely down his face as he brushed her small hand with his trembling fingers.

"I'm so sorry, Nina," he whispered. "If I had found you sooner… if only…"

A doctor stepped forward.

“Mr. Graham, she's still not out of danger. We need to keep her in pediatric ICU for at least forty-eight hours."

They began pushing Nina away again.

Daniel arrived just in time to watch the ICU doors shut.

He stood there, breathless, stunned, all the arrogance gone from his face.

His voice cracked as he spun toward his father.

"What the hell happened?"

"Dad—what's going on?"

Daniel was still firing off frantic questions when William spotted him—and without warning, slammed a kick straight into his chest.

"I thought you said you'd never come back!" William roared, voice echoing down the hallway.

"What the hell are you doing here now? Get out of my sight!"

Guilt over Nina was already eating him alive, and seeing Daniel—reckless, infuriating Daniel—sent him straight over the edge.

For the first time in his life, Daniel didn't dodge.

He staggered back, grabbed the window frame of the ICU, and clung to it like his life depended on it. His knuckles turned bone-white as he stared through the glass at the tiny girl inside.

All those tubes on her tiny body—too many tubes—made something sharp twist in his chest.

“Mr. Graham, please, stop," Elijah begged, stepping between them. "Nina's inside. We shouldn't yell here."

While soothing William, Elijah quickly explained to Daniel what had happened—how they'd found Nina, how badly she'd been hurt.

Outside, the adults talked.

But inside the ICU, though her eyes were shut, Nina heard someone speaking to her.

Not out loud.

Inside her head.

The voice came from the emerald pendant—the Graham family's old ancestral heirloom—the one that had been placed beside her bed.

From within it, a sacred spirit stirred.

"Nina, can you hear me?

Wake up, little one. Listen carefully."

Her lashes fluttered, barely noticeable. Her mind drifted hazily toward consciousness.

"...Who… who you?" she whispered weakly in her mind.

Then, in the darkness, an enormous bald eagle appeared—glowing faintly green, like it was carved out of emerald.

"I am the Bald Eagle," it said, voice slow and ancient.

"I made a pact with the Graham family long ago—to protect its bloodline from dying out. But now, this generation stands on the edge of extinction.

Your father, your uncle, your grandfather… all marked by death."

Nina didn't understand most of it—she was only two—but the eagle kept speaking.

"You were meant to die in that fall as well. But I sensed great fortune inside you and shielded you.

You are the last hope of the Graham family.

I grant you the power to foresee the futures of others. Use it to change their fate.

Start with your uncle, Daniel. His death is coming soon."

Then the eagle released everything—every last drop of sacred energy—into Nina's tiny body.

Her failing life signs stabilized instantly.

Her injuries began to knit themselves back together, impossibly fast.

Minutes later, Nina's condition had completely reversed.

And when she finally opened her eyes, she froze for two seconds—processing, confused, overwhelmed—

then burst into tears.

“Doctor! Doctor! She's crying—my girl's crying!"

Daniel, who'd just finished hearing Elijah's explanation, had been about to rush out to find Amelia.

But the moment he saw Nina move through the glass, he spun back around.

Doctors stormed in, checking her vitals and running rapid tests.

Daniel waited outside, heart hammering against his ribs.

He and Benjamin had never gotten along.

He'd grown up picking fights, skipping school, doing everything he wasn't supposed to.

William handed him off to Benjamin, and honestly, surviving Benjamin's discipline felt like a miracle.

Daniel never felt anything toward his older brother—respect, affection, nothing.

But Benjamin's daughter… she was different.

The first time he saw Nina, he'd melted like ice in July.

She was so small. So soft. Like she could break if he hugged her too tight.

Even now, just watching her through the glass, his chest warmed in a way he couldn't explain.

“Mr. Graham," a doctor said as he stepped out, face baffled, "her condition has improved dramatically.

She can be moved to a regular ward—or honestly, you can even take her home to recover."

He knew exactly what the Graham family's resources were.

Nina would receive top-tier care wherever she went.

The doctor barely finished speaking before Daniel was already striding into the room.

Nina had been crying nonstop since waking up.

Her little face was red and blotchy, her eyelashes stuck together with tears.

Her skin was so fair that every tiny blood vessel showed when she sobbed hard.

Daniel rushed to her side.

"Hey, hey, sweetheart—don't cry," he murmured, voice soft in a way nobody had ever heard from him.

"I'm your youngest uncle. My name's Daniel. I'm here, okay? I'm with you."

He reached out, awkward but gentle.

Nina blinked up at the handsome stranger leaning over her.

The eagle's words echoed faintly in her mind:

Your uncle… Daniel…

Uncle.

She'd heard an old lady tell her granddaughter once:

He's your Daddy's brother, he's your uncle.

Which meant—

This man is Daddy's brother.

And Nina… Nina had always wanted a daddy.

Her chubby little arms stretched out, desperate for a hug.

"H-ho… hold Nina…" she hiccuped.

Her toddler voice cracked with fear. The hospital scared her. The needles scared her. And she wanted her mommy so badly it hurt.

Daniel's eyes softened instantly.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay. I'll hold you."

Being trusted by such a little angel like that, he couldn’t help but feel totally flattered. He'd never held a child in his life—his arms were a mess of stiffness and panic—but he still lifted her, careful as if she were spun out of glass.

Nina shifted a little, unsure, but then grabbed his collar with both pudgy fists.

"Le's go…" she cried.

"Where are we going, sweetheart?" he whispered, half dazed.

"Mommy… Nina need Mommy!" she wailed.

"Go… go Mommy!"

Her tantrum spiked into a full meltdown—kicking, sobbing, shaking.

Nothing Daniel did could calm her.

He looked helplessly at William.

William had just ended a call. His face was grave.

"I found the address of Nina's uncle," he said. "Her mother's at his house."

He turned to Daniel.

"You go bring Nina's mother back to the Graham Residence. I'll take Nina home."

William crouched, voice softening for her.

"Nina, I'm your grandfather. I'll take you home, sweetheart. Mommy will meet us there, okay?"

Nina shook her head fiercely.

"No! No wan'! Mommy! Mommy go!"

The movement hurt her head; she winced, face going pale.

William backed off immediately.

"All right. All right, sweetheart. I won't take you now. I'll go home and prepare everything. Uncle Daniel will take you to find Mommy. Then we'll all go home together. Okay?"

Nina sniffed, hiccuped, and finally nodded.

"Kay…"

To calm her, William and Daniel split up—each taking on their own task.

With the address in hand, Daniel carried Nina out, gathered a few men, and drove straight toward the Parkers' house.

Meanwhile, at the Parker residence—

Liam's mother, Evelyn Parker, had just slapped Amelia across the face.

"Liam said the girl fell on her own!" Evelyn snapped.

"And you still want to call the police? Trying to get my son arrested? That girl is dead weight—if she's gone, that only helps you!

"If you keep arguing with me, don't even think about leaving this house again! Let's see how long you can keep fighting back!"

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."

When Nina heard someone say her dad had come home, she didn't even spare him a glance.

Right now, she only wanted her mom.

Daniel still had her in his arms, though his eyes kept flicking nervously toward Benjamin from across the room. Outside these walls, Daniel was the one people bowed to—the youngest son of the Graham family, the guy no one dared cross.

But in front of Benjamin?

He'd been getting his butt kicked since they were kids.

While Daniel hesitated, little Nina—eyes glued to the bodyguards carrying Amelia—called out to them in her soft, babyish voice.

"Sir… be gentle, 'kay?"

She was terrified they'd bump her mom while setting her down.

Under Nina's watchful little gaze, Amelia was carried into the house and taken straight to a private room for treatment.

Then Nina spotted William.

The moment he walked over, he gently lifted her out of Daniel's arms.

"Nina, your mom's getting an IV," he said softly. "Once she finishes and gets some rest, she'll be alright. You don't have to worry anymore."

The doctor soon explained Amelia's condition—years of overworking, her body pushed past its limit, topped off with a fever left untreated. But with the fever stabilized, she just needed rest and good care. She was young; she'd recover quickly.

Nina nestled against William, her tiny fingers exploring his face, curious and tender.

"Gwanpa… you play wif Nina?"

She'd seen grandparents playing with kids at the neighborhood square. Now she wanted her own grandpa to play with her too.

William felt the soft little hand cupping his cheek and instantly melted. His stern expression softened into pure warmth.

"Of course I will," he chuckled. "I'll play with you as much as you want from now on."

"Okay!" Nina beamed, her round cheeks glowing with sweetness.

Unable to resist, William leaned down and kissed her squishy cheek.

Nina didn't dodge. Instead, she puckered her tiny lips and gave him a giggly kiss back.

William almost handed her the entire family fortune on the spot.

Four kids of his own, but not a single one of them wanted to be close to him.

Benjamin, especially—hopelessly obsessed with cleanliness—even as a kid, he hated being touched. If William tried to kiss him, Benjamin would wrinkle his brows, grunt in disgust, and march right out of the house.

Daniel copied him, of course. If Benjamin didn't like kisses, then neither did he.

The eldest and the third? They each had their own brand of weirdness.

Raised four kids, but not one affectionate moment.

Now, with Nina—this little cinnamon roll—he finally knew what joy felt like.

"Gwanpa! Milk!" she suddenly declared.

After kissing William, she patted her tummy and announced seriously, "Nina tummy go grrrr. Nina hungee."

At two and a half, she mostly ate whatever Mommy cooked—but she also loved her milk powder. Honestly, between Mommy's food and milk?

Milk won every time.

The moment William heard she was hungry, he sprang into action.

"Then let's go have dinner right now. The kitchen already prepared food. And if you don't want rice, Grandpa can make you milk instead, alright?"

Nina paused. “…Okay.”

She wasn't in the mood for dinner, but Grandpa was being so nice. So she nodded obediently.

Soon, William took her to the dining room.

Daniel watched the two leave together—completely abandoned. He sighed and dropped onto the couch, pulling out his phone. Since no one needed him, he might as well do something useful.

Amelia was Nina's mother—the woman who'd once been involved with Benjamin. Daniel wanted to know everything about her. He searched online and texted his assistant, Henry Powell, telling him to dig deeper and run a full background check.

Meanwhile, Nina was happily sitting in William's lap as he fed her dinner.

"Here, sweetheart, try this pie."

After washing her little hands, William handed her a whole pie to hold and nibble on. Other dishes were set out too.

Nina stared at the pie: prettier than Mommy's, smelling amazing. She took a huge bite.

Thin crispy crust. Juicy filling. Meat inside.

The moment the flavor hit her tongue, her eyes sparkled.

"So gooood!"

She'd never tasted anything like it.

William laughed and picked up a piece of shrimp, feeding it to her.

Also delicious.

Her chubby face lit up, swaying happily as she munched—pie, shrimp, ribs, drumsticks. William couldn't stop smiling. For the first time in years, he felt like he was raising a normal, happy child.

Time passed, and before long Nina had eaten two pies, two drumsticks, three short ribs, a cupcake, and a bowl of soup.

William, not knowing how much toddlers should eat, hadn't stopped her—until he saw her tiny belly sticking out, round and tight.

"Sweetheart, that's enough. You can eat more later, alright?"

He carried her off to clean up, then let her play in Amelia's room.

Amelia's room was right next to Benjamin's—large, soft mats covering the floor, toys everywhere. Nina sat quietly playing with her new things while Daniel filled William in on Amelia's situation.

"Dad, things aren't great for Nina's mom," Daniel said. "She's tangled up in online scandals. Ms. Harrison—you know, the third daughter who went into showbiz—claimed Amelia stole her boyfriend. It's blowing up online. And Amelia's supposed to work today and tomorrow."

William listened, unimpressed.

"Work can wait. Health comes first. We'll talk business when she's recovered."

"Okay," Daniel said.

When everything was settled, William stood up. Seeing Nina so calm at home, he decided to take her to see Benjamin.

"Nina, look," he said gently,

"This is your daddy. Your daddy's sick. He hasn't woken up yet. If you stay with him, maybe he'll wake up soon."

William set Nina onto Benjamin's bed.

Benjamin lay still, face too handsome for someone unconscious, but that coldness etched into his features even now.

Nina scooted close, blinking her big round eyes as she studied him.

William's heart softened again—father and daughter, side by side.

He was just feeling touched when—

Smack!

Nina's chubby little hand slammed right across Benjamin's face.

"Bad Daddy! Leave Nina!"