The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy

CHAPTER 2

“You think I'm nothing? After everything we’ve been through, Cora?” Jeffrey said furiously as he barged into the room.

“Jeffrey, what the hell—” Cora shrieked, clutching the quilt to her chest to cover her naked body.

“Don’t. Even. Speak.” Jeffrey’s voice cracked with rage. His eyes darted between her and Aadam, who sat up in bed with a casual smirk.

“Whoa, calm down, buddy. No need for dramatics.”

“You shut your damn mouth!” Jeffrey snapped. “This is between me and my wife.”

“Wife?” Cora’s expression turned cold. “Don’t act like I owe you anything, Jeffrey. Look at yourself! You’re pathetic—a dead-end clinic dragging me down.”

Jeffrey’s chest heaved. He had expected her to show some remorse, but this? “Dragging you down? I gave you everything! Love, loyalty—”

“Loyalty?” Cora interrupted with a bitter laugh. “What good is loyalty when you’re a failure? Do you think that pays the bills? Gets us anywhere? You’ve been holding me back for years!”

Aadam chuckled, throwing an arm around Cora. “She’s got a point, pal. She deserves better.”

Jeffrey’s glare shifted to Aadam. “And you? A trust fund leech with no morals? You think you’re better because your daddy gave you a seat at the table?”

Aadam’s smirk widened as he kissed Cora’s cheek. “Say what you want, loser. She’s already made her choice.”

Cora took off the silver bracelet from her wrist—the one Jeffrey gave her on their wedding day—and tossed it at his feet. “I don’t need this anymore. I want a divorce. You’re nothing to me now.”

Jeffrey’s gaze dropped to the bracelet, memories flashing through his mind—smiles, laughter, and promises made in better times. He picked it up and stared at Cora, feeling immense disappointment.

“Cora, when did you start prioritizing wealth above all else?”

Jeffrey once had a successful career as a physician, and his life with Cora had been nothing short of beautiful.

However, all that changed when his clinic was exposed for patient abuse, embroiling him in a public relations crisis. His career suffered severe setbacks, and everything he worked for crumbled.

Despite his best efforts to revive his reputation and prove his innocence, people still held prejudices against him and his clinic.

It was during this time that Cora’s attitude began to change, until Jeffrey could no longer recognize the woman he had married.

Aadam laughed at Jeffrey’s expression, pulling Cora back to him. He kissed her neck, his eyes locked on Jeffrey. He pulled the quilt off her, revealing her naked body. “Why don’t you stick around? Enjoy the show. Maybe take notes—you might learn something.”

“You bastard!” Jeffrey roared. Before he knew it, his fist collided with Aadam’s jaw.

Aadam winced in pain as blood trickled from his nose. “Damn it! You’re dead, you hear me? You’re fucking dead!” He retaliated with a punch of his own.

The two exchanged blows, but it was obvious Aadam was at a huge disadvantage. Though he trained occasionally, his inconsistency left him no match for Jeffrey.

Soon, Aadam was knocked down again, with Jeffrey pinning him to the floor.

“Bastard, let go of me this instant!” Aadam cursed, his bruised face swollen and immobile under Jeffrey’s grip.

“Jeffrey, stop it!” Cora screamed, stepping between them. She knelt beside Aadam, shielding him with her body. “Are you insane?”

Seeing his wife rushing to protect Aadam made Jeffrey’s anger flare even more. He clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth.

“Cora, why? Make me understand. Why would you go for someone like him?” He pointed at Aadam. “I’m sure you’ve heard of his disgusting reputation. So tell me, why would you stoop so low?”

“Enough!” Cora cut him off with a glare.

“You’re just jealous because Aadam is everything you’re not—rich, successful, powerful. He’s the heir to Whitmore Industries, a multinational corporation worth millions. Do you know what that means, Jeffrey? Influence. Prestige. Stability.”

Cora sneered. “You’re just a man clinging to a failed clinic, a reputation destroyed beyond repair. You’re nothing but a shadow of the person I married—a man who promised me a future and gave me nothing but humiliation.”

Aadam, his face bruised but his arrogance intact, leaned against the bedpost. “She’s right, pal. You’re just a washed-up nobody. Meanwhile, I manage millions and have the world at my feet. You can’t compete with that.”

Jeffrey stared at the woman he loved for years, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He knew now she was truly gone, and no amount of words could bring her back. He couldn’t compete with Aadam in any way.

Jeffrey’s jaw tightened, his pain turning into seething anger. “You’ll regret this, Cora. One day, you’ll see what you’ve lost.”

Cora crossed her arms. “The only regret I have is wasting so many years on you.”

Aadam chuckled. “Go on, man. Walk away. It’s over.”

Jeffrey turned and stormed out of the room. As he reached the door, it opened, revealing Grace Miller, Cora’s mother, who had come to see her daughter.