2024-12-23 03:51:05Late at night, in the underbelly of the city, Jeffrey was slowly walking through the empty streets.
He had gone to a local bar and had a drink, trying to forget his sorrows, even if only for a little while.
He had nowhere to go now.
Suddenly.
"He's over there, boss."
"He's drunk. Catching him will be easy."
"He's headed for the alley—let's corner him there."
“Good! This money comes so easy.”
"Fuck... What’s the problem?"
Jeffrey blinked, trying to make out the figures in front of him.
The uneasy sense of danger sobered him slightly.
With the help of a flickering streetlight, he saw four men.
Whoever they were, they certainly weren’t here with good intentions.
"Who we are don’t matter at all, but we know exactly who you are," the leader said, stepping forward as the other three surrounded Jeffrey, cutting off any escape.
Jeffrey tried to stay calm. They must want to rob him. He shouldn’t stay out this late.
“Just go away. I don’t have any money on me.”
None of them replied. One even chuckled at his words.
It seems they are not robbers.
But why did they block him in the alley in the middle of the night?
"Ok, we don’t have to do this, bro."
Jeffrey took a step back, trying to find an opportunity to leave.
"Heh. It’s not up to you, man. " the leader cackled.
“The Luke family is quite generous. They are willing to pay thirty thousand dollars to cripple you. Kid, you've offended the wrong people.”
"What?" Jeffrey lifted his head in shock but was kicked hard by the leader’s boot, sending him sprawling.
It was Adam!
"You’ve nothing to worry about," the leader said, laughing.
"Your life isn’t in danger. But I’m afraid you’ll have to live the rest of your days as a cripple."
"Reo, Max, Troy—get him. Don’t let him move. Let’s get this over with and get our money."
By now, all traces of alcohol had fled Jeffrey's system.
He forced himself to stay still, waiting for the right moment to act.
Jeffrey's body was very agile.
The three people rushed forward to try to catch him, but Jeffrey did not dodge; instead, he stood his ground and swung a powerful punch at one person's chin.
That person cried out in pain and fell to the side, exposing a gap.
Now’s my chance.
Without wasting a second, he bolted toward the end of the alley.
"That bastard's getting away! Go get him!" the leader shouted, cursing as they gave chase.
But Jeffrey was already nearing the exit.
Seeing they wouldn’t catch him in time, the leader stopped and pulled out a gun, aiming at Jeffrey’s back.
Jeffrey ran toward the street, where safety was within reach.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed.
The shot rang out, and Jeffery stumbled forward, clutching at the wound as blood stained his shirt.
He staggered a few steps before his legs gave way, collapsing onto the asphalt.
At that exact moment, a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom purred to a stop a few feet away.
The car’s tinted window rolled down, revealing a young woman with striking features.
She had long, wavy black hair, delicate features, and a temperament that screamed nobility.
Rita Stirling frowned as she stared at Jeffery's unconscious body.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“It looks like he's been shot. Could be trouble, Miss Stirling. We better leave now.” the driver responded, glancing in the rearview mirror.
“Wait.”
Rita’s voice was firm.
She turned to the bodyguard seated next to the driver.
“Get him into the car.”
“Miss Stirling, there could be danger—”
“I won’t repeat myself.”
The bodyguard exchanged a reluctant glance with the driver but obeyed, stepping out of the car.
“Stay back, I will shoot you if you dare move.” the bodyguard barked, scanning the alley before crouching, picking up Jeffery, and carrying him into the car.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 4
The bodyguard placed Jeffery carefully onto the backseat opposite Rita. His breathing was shallow, and blood seeped through his shirt, staining the seat.“Drive,” Rita ordered, and the car zoomed away from the alleyway.She stared at the man in front of her, her brows furrowing even tighter as she remembered her grandfather's instructions.Ever since she had entered Oakdale City, she had felt the silver bracelet on her wrist growing increasingly hot, especially when she sat close to this man.She adjusted the bracelet on her wrist, wincing as it grew hotter, and her grandfather's words echoed in her mind.“Your top priority in Oakdale isn't family business, although that’s important. It is to find your fiancé.”She had asked her grandfather for further details, like his name and where he stayed, but he never provided any useful information, only hinting that the silver bracelet would reveal the answers when she met him.“Could it be him?” she muttered, studying Jeffery's unconscious f
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 5
“You’re awake! How do you feel?”Rita clapped her hands together in relief.She walked over to him, carefully scrutinizing his body as if she were examining a work of art.“I’m sorry... Who are you?”Jeffery asked nervously, sitting up on the bed.“Rita.” Her lips curled into a small smile.“You passed out on the streets from a gunshot wound yesterday. I was the one who brought you to the hospital.”Rita said, folding her arms. “When I rescued you, you had a severe gunshot wound on your back. But strangely, after taking you to the hospital, the doctors informed me that nothing was wrong with you. The wounds even disappeared. Why is that so? It’s unbelievable!”Jeffery furrowed his brows, sensing a strange yet powerful force swirling within him.Not only that, he began to feel a natural affinity with the elements around him.It felt as though he could manipulate and control them effortlessly, with just a wave of his hand.The sensation was truly astonishing.Jeffery snapped out of his
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 6
Rita hesitated, eyeing Jeffery with a suspicious glare.His “methods” were unlike any she had experienced. It sounded like he was just a pervert trying to get a glimpse of her body, but the sincere expression on his face said otherwise.“You fucking pervert, how dare you!”The doctor flared up in anger upon hearing Jeffery's “methods.”To him, Rita was a noble lady of extremely high standing. For this strange and seemingly perverted man to even dare suggest such a thing was… pure insanity.Even the guards glared at Jeffery, their eyes burning with hostility, as if they wanted to tear him apart.Rita furrowed her brows, staring at Jeffery as she weighed her options.After a few minutes, she made her decision.“All of you, leave us,” she commanded, waving her hand at the doctor and the guards, who stared at her, startled.“But—”“Do as I say,” she interrupted.Reluctantly, the guards and the doctor left, leaving only the two of them alone in the room.Rita sighed, removing her outer shi
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 7
Jeffrey's hand tightened around the phone as Cora's voice sliced through the silence like a razor.“You’re really pathetic, Jeffrey. You should have done this years ago. But don’t worry, if you don’t hurry up and get your ass down to the courthouse, Adam will make sure you regret it.” Her laugh was sharp, cruel.The words hit him like a slap. His jaw clenched, and his pulse hammered in his neck. He wanted to scream, to throw the phone across the room, but instead, he kept his voice low, controlled.“You’ll regret this, Cora,” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “Every choice you make, you’ll regret it.”Cora’s laughter echoed in his ear before she hung up. He stared at the phone, his hand trembling. This was it. The final straw. He had tried for years to make it work, but the constant mockery, the endless manipulation—he was done.Rita, who had been sitting quietly in the corner of the room, watching Jeffrey with concern, stood up.She was gentle, offering him an escape, her voice
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 8
The spectacle of the luxury cars lined up outside the courthouse was enough to turn heads. Pedestrians on the sidewalk stopped in their tracks, eyes wide with disbelief. They gawked at the polished vehicles, murmuring to each other in hushed tones. Some even fumbled for their phones, snapping pictures of the procession as if it were some kind of celebrity arrival.Cora stood tall, a satisfied smirk plastered on her face. She basked in the attention, her eyes scanning the crowd as she straightened her posture. This was what she had been waiting for. Adam’s surprise had arrived, just as he promised. The opulence of the cars, the envy of the onlookers—it was all hers to claim, a symbol of her victory.She glanced over at Jeffrey, still standing near the entrance of the courthouse, his face a mask of indifference. She couldn’t resist. The urge to gloat was too strong.With a loud, triumphant laugh, she called out to him. “Looks like someone knows how to make a grand exit, huh, Jeffrey? To
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 9
The air was thick with tension as Jeffrey stood there, watching the unfolding drama between Cora and the driver. Cora’s face was twisted in confusion, her pride unraveling before a growing crowd of onlookers. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected him to have any sort of support—let alone someone who could command such attention.The driver, still standing firm beside the car, turned to Jeffrey, his expression softening as he spoke. “Sir, Ms. Rita asked me to pick you up. She’s expecting you.”Jeffrey blinked, slightly taken aback by the mention of Rita. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of the situation. “Rita…?” he repeated.The driver smiled, his tone now warmer. “Ms. Rita, yes. You’re all set to go.”Cora, still perched on the side of the vehicle, froze. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion filling her gaze. “What’s going on here?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “You’re telling me he knows someone who could afford all this?” She gestured wildly to the line of luxury cars that had l
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 10
“Have a wonderful night, Jeffrey.” Rita smiled at him, waved, and drove off.As she drove back to her mansion, a whirlwind of complex emotions brewed within her, all thanks to Jeffrey.After spending just a day with him, she had begun to develop positive feelings toward this man who, by a stroke of fate, had found his way into her life.Powerful, skilled in the art of medicine, quiet, respectful, and cloaked in an aura of mystery, he piqued her curiosity in ways no man had before.He seemed flawless. Well…except for being married to a trashy wife. But they were divorced now.At the same time, Rita felt a certain strangeness within her. Her bracelet had been giving strong signals upon meeting Jeffrey, but now...That reaction had faded, as if it had never happened in the first place.Instinctively, she reached and touched the bracelet on her wrist, confused by the situation. Without another reaction, how could she be sure Jeffrey was her destined fiancé?After a few minutes of thinking
The Ascent of Jeffery Flamel; Restoring Alchemy's Legacy CHAPTER 11
“Jax, how could you be so incompetent? Why is Jeffery still alive and well? I’ve given you too many chances, and clearly, you’ve started taking me for granted. I will not tolerate another failure next time! Do you hear me?”Without wasting a second, Aadam vented his frustrations into the phone as soon as the call connected.No response. A vein nearly popped on Aadam’s forehead as his anger surged.“You fucking bastard! Answer me this instant, or I will break—”“Excuse me,” a strange voice interrupted Aadam’s tirade. “Jax Decker is currently indisposed. He suffered a severe illness last night and is being treated in the hospital. I am his doctor, and he won’t be able to respond for the time being.”Aadam was stunned. “That’s... alright. Could you please give him the phone? I have an urgent matter to discuss with him.”He was irritated by the unfortunate coincidence.He had spent almost five hundred thousand dollars employing Jax to turn Jeffery into a cripple. But now, as if karma were
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 30
Aadam’s jaw tightened as Cora continued her tirade. Her voice grated on him, and he couldn’t help but wonder, for the hundredth time, how he’d ever been involved with her. He glared at her, his eyes sharp with warning, but she ignored him, her lips curling into a smug smile.Rita’s gaze flicked to Cora, her expression calm but her eyes cold. “Is that so?” she said evenly, stepping down from the stage.The room went silent. All eyes were on Rita as she crossed the floor.She stopped in front of Cora, her presence commanding.“What did you just say?” Rita asked quietly.Cora smirked, tilting her chin defiantly. “I said—”Before she could finish, Rita’s hand connected with her cheek in a sharp slap. The sound echoed across the room. Gasps rippled through the crowd as Cora’s head snapped to the side, her hand flying to her stinging cheek.The room remained heavy with silence, the sharp sound of the slap still ringing in the air. Rita’s gaze didn’t waver as she stared down at Cora.“
CHAPTER 29
Jeffery’s gaze settled on the man, calm and unshaken by the pressure in the room. He studied him for a moment, his sharp eyes taking in subtle details.“Have you been feeling unwell lately?” Jeffery asked, his tone even. “Maybe a cough? Or some chest pain?”The older man frowned, his expression hardening. “What are you implying? Are you a doctor?”Jeffery gave a small shrug. “No, not exactly. I used to be a vet.”A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. The man’s face twisted with outrage, but he held his composure, likely out of respect for Rita.“A vet?” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “You expect me to take medical advice from someone who treats animals?”Jeffery met his scornful gaze without flinching. “I understand your hesitation,” he said calmly. “But I’d still suggest getting your lungs checked. Delaying could lead to something serious.”The man scoffed, his irritation barely concealed. “For your information, I had a full-body checkup just last week. Every
CHAPTER 28
All eyes turned to Cora. Her face turned bright red, her expression frozen.She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.Whispers spread quickly through the crowd. Some people muttered that she must be crazy. Others whispered about how embarrassing it was.Rita didn’t wait for the room to settle. She walked to the microphone, her eyes locked on Cora.“Miss Cora,” she said sharply. “If you’re going to insult someone, at least stand by your words. Go on. Say it again—if you’re brave enough.”Her words hit hard, and the crowd grew silent. Rita’s glare was cold and fierce, daring Cora to respond.Cora’s mouth opened as if she wanted to argue back. Anger flashed in her eyes, but before she could say anything, Aadam grabbed her arm and covered her mouth.His face was pale, and he was clearly panicking. “She didn’t mean it,” he said quickly. “You know how she gets sometimes. Please, Miss Stirling, forgive her.”Rita raised an eyebrow and gave a cold laugh.“Control your dog, Aadam,” she said, he
CHAPTER 27
Cora shook her head, forcing herself to believe she hadn’t made a mistake. I didn’t choose wrong, she thought. Jeffery was just a pretty face with no real worth. She glanced at Aadam, her confidence wavering but clinging to the choice she had made.Jeffery would never amount to anything.The room buzzed with whispers, everyone focused on Jeffery and Rita. Then, Rita did something unexpected.She turned to face Jeffery and reached out, adjusting his crooked bowtie.The crowd froze. Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire. The young men in the room stiffened, their faces showing shock and disbelief.Questions rippled through the crowd, hushed murmurs and surprised glances exchanged. Who was this man? The idea of Rita Stirling, always so poised and untouchable, being so gentle and intimate with someone like Jeffery was unthinkable.As the attention shifted to him, Jeffery’s cheeks flushed. He shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the gaze but quickly masked his uncertainty.Rita n
CHAPTER 26
Rita’s gaze swept across the room, her smile calm, every movement intentional. Aadam sat up straighter, his chest tightening with excitement. When her eyes lingered on him, he felt sure—he was the one.The room fell silent, everyone waiting. Aadam’s mind raced. This was it. All his planning, charm, and effort were about to pay off.Rita’s voice was steady, her words clear. “The young man I am referring to is…”She paused, her tone filled with purpose. “He is both innovative and talented. He represents the future of leadership.”Aadam’s confidence grew. Her gaze hadn’t left him, and he relaxed slightly in his seat."It’s me," he thought. "It has to be."The idea of someone else, especially Jeffery, being chosen was ridiculous. Aadam glanced at him—standing stiffly near the back with a drink in his hand. Jeffery Flamel? A nobody. He had no backbone and let women walk all over him. Aadam smirked. There was no competition.Even if, somehow, it wasn’t him, Aadam told himself he’d adapt. He
CHAPTER 25
The microphone crackled, and the room fell silent. Cora turned toward the stage, her eyes narrowing as Rita Stirling stepped into the spotlight.Rita stood tall and confident, her shimmering dress catching the light. She looked flawless, drawing everyone’s attention with ease.“She’s beautiful,” someone whispered nearby.“A true goddess,” another added.Cora’s fists clenched as she listened. She hated how effortlessly Rita commanded the room, how everyone seemed to adore her.Rita raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. “Thank you all for being here tonight. It’s an honor to welcome you.” Her voice was clear and graceful.The crowd watched her, captivated. But Cora’s focus shifted to Jeffery, standing near the stage. He smiled at Rita, the kind of smile Cora hadn’t seen in years.Her stomach churned with jealousy. “Bitch,” she muttered under her breathThe word was quiet, but the room was so still that a few people nearby heard it. Gasps followed, and heads turned to look at her.The a
CHAPTER 24
Luca shoved Aadam back, his hand darting up in a middle finger. “Fuck you, Aadam. Are you wishing for a death sentence?” he growled in fury.Aadam blinked, bewildered by the sudden shift. “What? What’s your problem?”Luca stepped closer, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “The Rita you’re talking about—the one you want to ‘deal with’—she’s the princess of the Stirling family. One of their heirs. Are you out of your mind?”Aadam’s smirk faltered, his confidence cracking under Luca’s glare. “That’s not possible,” he stammered, trying to laugh it off. “You’re pulling my leg, aren’t you? Come on, Luca. Don’t joke about something like this.”Cora gasped audibly, clutching Aadam’s arm."No, it can’t be true,” she said in disbelief. Her eyes darted between Luca and Rita, desperation creeping into her voice. “Jeffery wouldn’t be acquainted with someone like her. There’s no way. Perhaps you’re mistaken, Luca.”Luca turned his gaze to her, his expression darkening with pure disgust. “Mi
CHAPTER 23
Aadam called out. “Luca, wait!”Luca stopped, turning with a raised brow, his expression curious.Aadam jogged to him, his tone shifting to one of deference. “I apologize for what happened back there. It was... unnecessary. I hope it didn’t bother you.”Luca shrugged, the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes. “Not at all. What do you want, Aadam?”Aadam hesitated, his words measured “I heard a rumor... that you and your father have already reached a cooperation with the Stirling family. Is it true?”Luca’s smirk deepened. “Yes, it’s true.”Aadam’s face lit up with exaggerated admiration."That’s incredible. Your family has always been remarkable—far superior to the Stirlings, in my opinion. Your achievements in Oakland City are unmatched, your influence unparalleled.”Luca’s expression cooled, and he raised a hand, stopping Aadam mid-sentence. “Don’t say that,”he said flatly. “My family is nothing compared to the Stirlings. The only reason we secured this cooperation is our status
CHAPTER 22
Cora and Aadam erupted into mocking laughter.“You’re delusional,” Aadam sneered. “Me? The heir to Whitmore Industries, beg her? Stop being delusional. I’m surprised she’s even putting up with you. Sooner or later, she’ll come to her senses and leave you in the dirt where you belong.”He stepped closer, his voice dripping with arrogance. “And just so you know, you’re standing in the Stirling family’s manor. If I feel like it, I can speak to the head of the family and have you thrown out—or better yet, jailed for trespassing.”Jeffery stared at him, momentarily stunned by the sheer stupidity of his statement. Did he not realize what he’d just done? The audacity to insult Rita—Rita Stirling—in her own home was almost impressive in its ignorance.Jeffery’s lips twitched, threatening a smile. “Your brain,” he muttered under his breath, “must have stopped developing somewhere in the womb.”Aadam’s laughter faltered. “What did you just say?”Jeffery ignored him, shaking his head slowly. He
