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.

its name, the restaurant was

was the top floor

at Fig River, which cuts right through the city, as well as a Ferris wheel and a spectacular bridge across

chef hired by the Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes that looked like

Cloudnine Restaurant came with a

at least

recall Cloudnine Restaurant being a really busy restaurant. You need reservations

worry. I have that

her phone at

lucky. We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

should be Cloudnine

led Lila to the

and welcomed Jane and Lila to the

look of deference in the

her tongue out. “You’re

me. What’s so mysterious about

a feeling that

had ten

ten groups of

before the waiting staff would set up

diners there were, the rowdier the restaurant

at Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of being one of the best restaurants in Stormton

a table at the restaurant

most popular restaurant in the

a

oozing from every single detail had

Cloudnine Restaurant. I find

the meal today. Come on,

“Okay!”

took the menu and

them more

menu and got a bottle of red wine

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

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

up for me and tried to protect

that took. Lila wasn’t the sort to

wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished that she had

She was the kind of family that Jane had always

had ever given her was pain. They had hurt and abused her and left her to

that. Drop by my place and have dinner some time. I’ll have my parents whip up something

how pretty and nice you are and how much she wants

“Sure.”

bright

be the goddaughter

like a great

like dirt while treating Madelyn like the apple of their eye

had her share of disappointments in her past

died for

for a family had died alongside

walking past Cloudnine

caught Lila and Jane chatting happily through the

man was surprised by the sight. Jane didn’t seem like someone

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

leaned in and spotted Jane too. He