Chapter 198 He Came with His Will Prepared
Tobias was the most boyish of Amelia's five brothers.
Kevin, Chris, and Ryan needed no explanation.
Zander, though only half a minute older than Tobias, had matured far beyond his years. Years of recurring illness and isolation, combined with a mind sharper than most adults, had made him grow up fast.
Tobias was different. Simple. Direct. Whatever he felt—joy or frustration—was written plainly across his face.
When Amelia first arrived at the Martinez Mansion, Tobias hadn't hidden his dislike. He made it clear he didn't want her there.
But later, he was the first to change his mind, the first to treat her like a treasure worth guarding… the first to throw himself into a fight for her.
Amelia understood him completely. Though he sometimes seemed rebellious, his heart was tender, almost childlike, and he was always fiercely protective.
So seeing Tobias now, clinging to her like a sulking kid, tears streaking down his cheeks, didn't surprise her.
It was because he cared—deeply—and suddenly felt insecure. As if being with Michael meant she would spend less time with her brothers.
He didn't want to lose that time. Just imagining it made his chest ache, so he asked those childish questions out of pure emotion.
Looking at his reddened eyes, Amelia felt both amused and touched.
Her voice softened as she wrapped her arms around him, patting his back. "You really don't want me to date anyone?"
"Of course I don't!" Tobias said, pausing. "No… not right now, at least. You've barely been home, and already that Michael has his eyes on you."
"If you start seeing him, you'll spend your after-school hours, your weekends, spending all your time with him. Then I'll never get to play games with you again."
"And he's way older than you. He's not some emotionless robot—if he's with you, he'll want to kiss you, hold you… just thinking about it makes me want to punch him."
The more Tobias spoke, the angrier he sounded. Amelia couldn't help but laugh.
"That's not how it is. Didn't you see when we came in? I was the one who made the move," she said with mock seriousness.
"Michael's a gentleman. He respects my choices. He won't do anything that makes me uncomfortable."
"As for spending all my time with him, I have my own schedule. He's busy too. We won't be joined at the hip."
"Boyfriends matter, but so does gaming with you. Don't overthink it."
"No matter who I like, you're still the most important person to me. That will never change."
"Really?" Tobias lifted his damp eyes.
"Really," Amelia nodded firmly.
A moment later, Tobias asked, "If Michael and I fell into the ocean at the same time, who would you save?"
"But Tobias… Michael can swim. I can't."
Amelia tilted her head, feigning thought. "How about I jump in and let Michael save us both?"
Her answer made Tobias laugh.
The kitchen felt like a playground for children.
But in the study, Kevin and Michael's conversation felt like a different world entirely—steady, heavy, deliberate.
Inside, Michael took a seat across from Kevin.
"Mr. Martinez," he began. "I'd meant to visit after last week's gathering, but something came up. I was delayed."
"Today's more of a coincidence than a plan. But it's not too late."
Coincidence indeed.
Kevin still wasn't happy about the scene he'd walked in on earlier. He remembered the last time he'd spoken to Michael—at the Prestige High School fair—telling him that no matter how much he liked Amelia, they needed to talk.
Today, Kevin intended to see how Michael would prove his sincerity.
Kevin sat firm, bearing the full weight of the Martinez family's authority.
Then Michael placed the envelope his assistant had just delivered onto the table.
"What's this?" Kevin asked, frowning as he took it.
"My will," Michael said evenly.
Kevin's hand jerked, the envelope almost slipping from his grasp.
"What?" His voice was sharp with disbelief. "What did you just say?"
Had he heard that right? Who brings a will to a first serious conversation?
Michael was twenty-five. Why would he even have one? Was he sick?
Michael didn't flinch. "You can rest assured, Mr. Martinez—my health is fine."
"I drafted it last week, after giving it careful thought. Showing it to you is my way of proving how serious I am about Amelia."
"It's notarized. It includes a full assessment of my assets—bank accounts, properties, vehicles, shares, investments."
"You can check the details and totals inside."
"The will states, regardless of what Amelia and I may be in the future—whether lovers, spouses, or nothing at all…"
"From the moment I signed it, if anything happens to me, she becomes the sole heir to everything I own."
"The entire Johnson Group would be hers to run."
"It's permanent. No revisions, no withdrawals."
Kevin was stunned into silence.
When he opened the file and saw the total value, he froze.
The number was nearly a hundred times the combined wealth of the Martinez family.
Kevin had known Michael was rich, but not like this—not to the point where his personal fortune was staggering.
And the promise itself… it was overwhelming in its weight.
No matter what happened between them, Amelia would inherit it all. Michael had bet everything on a future that wasn't even certain, just to prove his heart.
It was too much.
Kevin had always assumed Michael was a calculating businessman, never one to take a loss, someone to guard against.
But now it was clear—Michael had gone all in for Amelia, giving himself no way out.
And this… wasn't even the end.