Chapter 121 Jealous Enough to Punish
From the way Zander wore the same childish party hat as Amelia, it was obvious he was meant to be one of the guests of honor tonight. After all, aside from Amelia, everyone knew Zander had only just returned to the country today.
It was his homecoming that had prompted Kevin to call Chris earlier, insisting he come back for dinner so the whole family could gather.
But the moment Amelia stepped through the door, Zander was quietly sidelined at the dining table. Every gaze in the room shifted to her.
When Ryan bent down to kiss the back of Amelia's hand, Tobias blurted out, "Hey, hey, Ryan, why are you kissing Amelia again!"
Ryan spread his hands with mock innocence, his tone both unapologetic and matter-of-fact. "What can I say? Amelia is too adorable… I can't help myself."
His eyes danced with amusement as he straightened, flashing Tobias a grin. "Besides, don't you think my gesture was charming… even gallant?"
Tobias rolled his eyes. Ryan was undeniably handsome, but also unapologetically vain. Honestly, Tobias thought the only thing separating them was an inch of height—certainly not looks.
When Tobias began to loudly declare that he should get a kiss too, Chris stepped in, expression unreadable. "The hand is fine. Kissing the face spreads bacteria."
Bacteria?
The single word hit Tobias harder than he cared to admit. He opened his mouth to argue, but Kevin's calm, authoritative voice cut through the chatter.
"Enough. No more fooling around."
Kevin turned to Amelia. "You've been back at the Martinez mansion for over two weeks now, but we haven't properly welcomed you. Tonight is your homecoming dinner."
He spoke with quiet conviction. "You grew up in the countryside with your mother and endured more than your share of hardship. Now that you're here, with the Martinez family, we won't let you live like that again."
"And we have gifts for you. Tobias, go get them."
"On it!"
Tobias returned in moments, arms full of five gift boxes of varying sizes.
Ryan's eyes curved into a smile. "Little Cutie, open them—and guess which one of us gave each gift."
Amelia hadn't expected it. She had bought presents for her brothers earlier today, and now it turned out they had done the same for her. Setting her shopping bags aside, she began with the first box.
Inside was a gold supplementary card. It held no funds of its own, but any purchase made with it would draw directly from the main account.
She looked straight at Kevin. "This one's from you, isn't it?"
"I told you," Tobias said immediately, "who else gives a card as a gift? Boring as hell—had to be Kevin."
The second box revealed a pair of cool, dazzling diamond studs, perfectly matching the necklace Chris had given her before.
Amelia lifted her gaze to Chris. "Thank you."
The remaining boxes held treasures of their own: a flawless icy jade bracelet worth at least three million dollars—clearly from Ryan; a massive box crammed with luxury handbags in every style, ten in total—Tobias had clearly raided the boutiques after complaining that Amelia only ever carried her worn countryside backpack; and finally, a small, exquisitely crafted black-gold dagger.
Amelia glanced at Zander. She had always preferred the weight and honesty of a blade over a firearm. This one was perfect—compact enough to carry everywhere.
She thanked each of them in turn, then handed out the gifts she had brought. Surprise and delight lit their faces; her choices suited them perfectly.
Kevin, accustomed only to bespoke designs, and Chris and Zander, indifferent to fashion brands, examined their gifts with quiet appreciation. Ryan, however, instantly recognized the logos: tie clips, watches, sunglasses, and two fragrances from The Thorn Birds—worth tens of thousands at least.
Given Amelia's past, Ryan assumed she had no savings from her mother. He naturally concluded she must have used Kevin's allowance to buy them.
Had she spent every cent of her pocket money just to give them gifts?
Ryan slipped on the sunglasses she had chosen for him, ruffling her hair with a smile that could outshine the room. Then, as the others headed for the table, he discreetly transferred three million dollars to her account.
Seated, Amelia saw the notification pop up. She looked at him. "Ryan, I don't—"
She was about to say she didn't need the money, but Ryan pressed a finger to his lips in a hush.
Leaning close, he murmured, "Kevin keeps a tight rein. Zander and Tobias get no more than two hundred thousand a month—he doesn't want them spoiled. I don't know how much he gives you, but you're a girl. If you like something, you should be able to buy it. The more money you have, the harder it is for some man to lure you away."
"So, think of me as your private vault," Ryan said with a low chuckle, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "If you ever need cash, just tell me quietly. Don't let Kevin know."
As he spoke, he reached up to untie the ribbon beneath her party hat.
Warmth spread through Amelia's chest. In that moment, she felt truly human—felt the genuine affection of family, untouched by the cold calculus of gain and loss.
After all, there are things beyond profit. Family. Love.
Dinner ended around ten. At the table, Amelia had tried a peach-flavored fruit wine—sweet, easy to drink. Without realizing it, she finished the whole bottle. Only when she stood did she discover her tolerance was low; the room swayed faintly around her.
Opening her bedroom door, she found a tall, impossibly handsome man waiting inside, like a lover hidden away to surprise her.
She narrowed her eyes, lazily lifting her arms as he stepped forward, scooping her up without effort.
In the dim light, Michael sat in a chair with Amelia perched on his lap, her arms wrapped around his lean waist. She pressed her flushed face to the cool fabric of his shirt, seeking relief from the heat in her skin.
Michael tilted her chin up until their faces were inches apart. His voice was low, almost rough. "You drank?"
"Mm…"
Her cheeks were tinged with a soft, wine-born blush, her hair faintly scented with the sweetness of peach. Her gaze was hazy, a little unfocused, carrying a subtle pull that made his pulse jump.
Desire rose before he even touched her.
He started to lean back, to create space, but Amelia caught his tie and pulled him closer—close enough that their breaths mingled.
"About the other night," she murmured, her voice a blend of tease and challenge, "I was jealous… so I'm going to punish you."
Michael's dark eyes locked on hers, his breathing uneven. "Punish me… how?"
Her lips curved. "Punish you by not letting you dodge… kiss me."