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.

restaurant was located on the

top floor

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

restaurant prepared dishes that looked like works of

Cloudnine Restaurant came

be prepared to spend at

busy restaurant. You need reservations to get a

I have that

waved her phone at

We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine

to the top

waiter scanned their QR code and welcomed

look of deference in the waiter’s eyes as he looked

out. “You’re becoming more

me. What’s so mysterious about

feeling

Restaurant had

groups of diners

to be a friend of the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would

there were, the rowdier the restaurant

a reputation of being one of the best restaurants

a table at the restaurant made it

was the most popular restaurant in the

Lila got a table by the

opulence oozing from every single detail had

Restaurant. I find myself

paying for the meal

“Okay!”

the menu and ordered

few dishes cost them more

menu and got a bottle of red wine that cost a dozen grand or

comfortable keeping Dwayne’s money on me, so

it! We don’t want that asshole’s money. You don’t need it. You’re doing fine

protect

knew how much courage that took. Lila wasn’t the sort to

her courage and overcome her meek nature because she had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished

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

her was pain. They had hurt and abused her and

That’s what best friends do. Let’s not talk about that. Drop by my place and have dinner some time. I’ll have my parents whip up

you are and how much she

“Sure.”

bright with

be the

sounded like a great

while treating Madelyn like the

had had her share of disappointments in her past

died for

yearning for a family

Hugh walking past

caught Lila and Jane

surprised by the sight. Jane didn’t seem

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

and spotted Jane too.