No Way Back by Anna Mac

Chapter 19 An Unlucky Coincidence

Dwayne hadn’t felt bad when he had brought up the online scandal. That was because he had had no part in it.

Besides, he had been preoccupied with and worried about Madelyn.

This was different. Dwayne had gotten involved.

He had accused Jane of theft when he had had no proof.

Dwayne felt unworthy of the WWE gold medal that he had just won.

“What did you say, Dwayne?”

Madelyn hadn’t heard him.

However, she knew that it couldn’t be anything good.

“It’s nothing.

Dwayne yanked himself out of his thoughts.

It didn’t matter. What was done was done.

There was no point regretting it now.

Besides…

Dwayne wasn’t going to hurt Madelyn just because he felt bad about Jane.

“Dwayne, if you catch up with Janie right now, you can try and convince her to come back to the Fowler family. Janie looks so lonely. I feel so sorry for her.

“We had been misled right from the start and accused Janie of something she hadn’t done. She had every right to be upset and disown the family. If only I hadn’t been part of the family. This wouldn’t have happened in the first place if I never existed.”

Madelyn said with a pained look on her face.

“Silly girl, that’s utter nonsense. You’re a part of the Fowler family. Nobody’s going to change that fact. “You’re right. We were wrong about Janie. But that has nothing to do with you. She’s already made up her mind. We should respect her decision.”

Dwayne said gently, shoving whatever guilt he felt toward Jane to the back of his head as he turned his attention back to a remorseful Madelyn.

Jane took Lila on a long ride in her newly purchased Porsche Cayenne. She felt on top of the world.

Dwayne had given her thirty grand. She wasn’t going to turn down money.

She decided to treat Lila to a meal at the best restaurant in Stormton City.

“Let’s not, Janie. Why don’t we dine at my place instead? We should save the money. You need it…”

“Lila, don’t forget. Half of that money belongs to you too. I’ve never been to Cloudnine Restaurant. I really want to try it. Humor me, please.”

“All right then.”

Lila had decided that she would support Jane in her every decision, no matter what it was. That was what best friends were for.

Jane was having a bad day today, and Lila was going to cheer her up!

They arrived at Cloudnine Restaurant.

Cloudnine Restaurant was the most famous restaurant in Stormton City.

At the height of its fame, it had a waiting list that spanned a month long.

to its name, the restaurant was located on

was the top floor of an

which cuts right through the city,

5–star restaurant prepared dishes that looked like

came with a hefty

prepared to spend at

a really busy restaurant.

worry. I have that

her phone

lucky. We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

to the top

and welcomed Jane

in the waiter’s eyes

her tongue out. “You’re becoming more mysterious by

What’s so mysterious

feeling that I

Restaurant had ten

only serve ten groups of diners at any

of the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would set up an extra table

the rowdier

of being one of the best restaurants in Stormton

difficulty of getting a table at the restaurant made

most popular restaurant

and Lila got a table by

with opulence oozing from every single detail had

at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself

for the meal today.

“Okay!”

the menu and ordered Jane’s

cost them more

and got a bottle of red wine

keeping Dwayne’s money on me, so let’s spend every

do it! We don’t want that asshole’s money. You don’t need it. You’re doing fine on your own!”

to protect me when Dwayne and Madelyn accused me

Lila wasn’t the sort to

nature because she had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes,

be amazing to have Lila as a sister. She was the kind of family that Jane had

They had hurt and

Let’s not talk about that. Drop by my place and have dinner some time. I’ll have my

mother keeps going on about how pretty and nice you are and how much she wants you to be her

“Sure.”

eyes were bright with unshed

to be

like a

Madelyn like the apple of their

had had her share of disappointments in her

died

yearning for a family had died

coincidence had Hugh walking past Cloudnine

caught Lila and Jane chatting happily through the

was surprised by the sight. Jane

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

and spotted Jane too. He