Chapter 59 The Martinez Family Cannot Afford It, The Johnson Family Can Always Afford It
"You've got some nerve..."
Kismet was about to say more, but she caught sight of Michael standing beside Amelia and bit her tongue.
What was Michael doing here with Amelia? Did they know each other? How did Amelia manage to know someone like Michael?
Kismet had a million questions but glared at Amelia, pointing to the unconscious Vaughn on the bed. "You’re asking me? Do you even realize what you've done?"
"Mr. Williams has been in poor health for years, but he’s never been like this—throwing up blood and passing out right after a meal."
"If it weren't for this, I wouldn’t have known that you, a mere high school student, had the audacity to prescribe medicine to Mr. Williams. And he actually took it!"
"Now look at this mess. The hospital can’t find anything wrong, and Mr. Williams is still unconscious. If something happens to him, can you handle the responsibility?"
Kismet unleashed her fury.
Niamh, who had been holding Vaughn's hand by the bed, stood up and looked at Amelia with a gaze sharp enough to cut. Niamh appeared to be in her forties or fifties, dressed in luxurious attire, with a jade pendant on her chest that screamed wealth.
Her demeanor was both elegant and commanding, clearly someone not to be trifled with. This must be Niamh.
"So, you’re the fiancée my father insisted Quentin get engaged to?" Niamh sneered at Amelia. "My father actually thought highly of someone like you, and you repay him by trying to kill him."
"I’ll tell you this: if anything happens to my father, I don’t care if you're just a kid. I will not let you off."
"Who are you calling lowly?" Tobias couldn’t hold back and exploded. "Does everyone in the Williams family have such foul mouths? You accuse Amelia of intentionally harming Mr. Williams without knowing the facts. Do you think the Martinez family will just stand by?"
"Shut your mouth!" Niamh snapped, her eyes like daggers aimed at Tobias. "Not knowing the facts? The servant Uma said my father’s diet and routine haven’t changed, except for taking the medicine Amelia prescribed. His condition visibly worsened day by day."
"My father even said Amelia warned him about possible side effects but assured him he’d be fully recovered after the fifth dose."
"Today, he took the fifth dose and look at him now—vomiting blood and unconscious. And you tell me we don’t know the facts?"
"And you, a junior member of the Martinez family, think you can speak to me like this? Who do you think you are?"
"You..." Tobias was speechless, and Chris’s expression darkened.
Just then, Kevin’s voice came from behind them.
"Tobias may not have the right to speak to you, but I, as the head of the Martinez family, certainly do."
Amelia turned to see Kevin, dressed sharply in a suit, entering the room with a middle-aged man in a black coat.
"Mrs. Kismet Williams, Ms. Niamh Williams, I called my siblings here to find out what happened to Mr. Vaughn Williams, not to listen to your insults."
Kevin, tall and imposing, looked like he had rushed over. His sharp gaze fell on Niamh, clearly having heard her previous comments.
"Mr. Vaughn Williams is in trouble, and I understand Ms. Niamh Williams is upset. But Tobias is right; we need to get the facts straight before accusing Amelia."
"And regardless of Amelia’s background, she is now part of the Martinez family, a sister we cherish deeply."
"If it turns out Amelia is responsible for Mr. Williams’s condition, the Martinez family will take responsibility. If not, I expect the Williams family to give Amelia a proper explanation."
"Take responsibility?" Anna scoffed, stepping forward. "If something happens to my grandfather, how can the Martinez family take responsibility? What can you possibly offer?"
In just a few minutes, the room’s atmosphere had become intensely charged. Prominent figures in River City were now embroiled in a heated argument.
Amelia’s eyes turned cold, ready to speak, but Michael squeezed her hand gently, as if telling her not to worry.
"If the Martinez family can't take responsibility, the Johnson family sure can."
Michael suddenly spoke up, "If Amelia really did harm Mr. Williams, I'll compensate the Williams family with one percent of the Johnson Group's shares."
"Now, can we let the doctor Kevin brought examine Mr. Williams?"
Michael's calm tone belied the shock of his words.
One percent of the Johnson Group's shares?
The Williams family, who had been aggressive moments ago, fell silent.
Michael's offer was staggering. Based on the current valuation of the Johnson Group, one percent of its shares would be worth around two billion dollars.
Two billion dollars!
If Vaughn's condition was indeed caused by Amelia, Michael was offering two billion dollars to the Williams family.
Kismet's eyes widened with greed. Two billion dollars! Even split among several families, her share would be at least five or six hundred million dollars.
What was Michael's relationship with Amelia that he was willing to offer two billion dollars to resolve her trouble?
Kismet glanced at the unconscious Vaughn, her eyes gleaming with avarice.
Michael's words had everyone in the room reconsidering.
In large, extended families, personal ties often grow thin. Despite appearing close-knit, each family had its own interests, always calculating how to gain more.
With two billion dollars on the table, even Niamh, Vaughn's daughter, momentarily entertained the idea of Vaughn's demise to secure the money.
Niamh felt a pang of guilt, realizing she was contemplating money over her father's well-being.
But at least the pointless arguing had ceased.
Everyone turned their attention to Francis Vasquez, the unassuming man Kevin had brought.
Niamh took a deep breath, refraining from further accusations against Amelia. She asked, "Who is this?"
Kevin replied, "I heard from Kismet on the phone that Vaughn had been to the hospital but they found nothing. So, I brought Mr. Vasquez."
Francis?
Kevin had brought Francis?
Francis was well-known in River City.
Everyone knew that Celestria's chief healer, Royce, had retired years ago, leaving behind only two apprentices.
The first, Demetrius Kramer, was now in his fifties, living in Border Ridge City. He rarely saw patients anymore.
The second apprentice remained a mystery, with no known name, age, or gender.
Francis was Demetrius's student, reputed for his medical prowess, able to cure even the most challenging ailments with his prescriptions.
Upon hearing Francis's name, Niamh stood up respectfully. "Mr. Vasquez, I've heard of your reputation. Please examine my father. If you can help him recover, I'll pay you ten times your fee."
"Ms. Williams, there's no need. Mr. Martinez has already paid, and I won't charge extra." Francis politely declined and approached the bed.
He bent over to closely examine Vaughn's condition, then sat by the bed to check Vaughn's pulse.
The room was eerily quiet, everyone holding their breath, waiting for Francis's diagnosis.
Tobias was especially tense, ready to whisk Amelia away if her prescription was indeed the problem. He couldn't let Amelia fall into the hands of the ruthless Niamh and Kismet.
With Kevin, Chris, and even Michael willing to offer two billion dollars, they could surely resolve the situation.
Francis's frown deepened as he checked Vaughn's pulse, his expression growing more serious.
After a while, he looked up and asked Uma, who usually served Vaughn, "Do you still have the prescription Amelia wrote?"
"Yes, I kept it as soon as Mr. Williams fell ill." Uma quickly handed the prescription to Francis.
Francis's eyes widened as he read it. He took a deep breath, seemingly needing to confirm something. "Do you still have the remnants of today's medicine?"
"Yes," Uma nodded, "I didn't have time to dispose of it. I'll get it from the kitchen."
Uma returned with a bowl of the leftover medicine. Francis sifted through it, then glanced at the pale Vaughn on the bed, sighing deeply. "I'm sorry, Ms. Niamh Williams. Mr. Vaughn Williams... I don't think I can save him."