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 the top floor of an office

upon the stars and enjoy Stormton City’s lovely nighttime scenery, gazing at Fig River, which

by the Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes

meals at Cloudnine Restaurant came with a hefty

spend at least

Restaurant being a really busy restaurant. You need reservations to get

worry. I

waved her

got lucky. We don’t

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

should be Cloudnine

led Lila to the

and welcomed Jane and

noticed the look of deference in the waiter’s

Jane and stuck her tongue out. “You’re becoming more

What’s so mysterious about

a feeling that

had

restaurant could only serve ten groups of diners at any one

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

the

Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of

at the restaurant made

the most popular

a table by the

from every single detail had

years since I’ve dined at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself speechless every time I step inside. It’s

meal

“Okay!”

took the menu and ordered Jane’s

them more than

bottle of red

Dwayne’s money on me, so let’s spend every single dollar of

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

me and tried to protect me

took. Lila wasn’t the sort to

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

sister. She was the kind of family that Jane had always

They had

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

how pretty and nice you are and how much she wants you to be her

“Sure.”

bright with

to be

sounded like a

wouldn’t treat her like dirt while treating Madelyn like the apple of their eye like the Fowler

share of disappointments in

had died for

for a family had died alongside

walking past Cloudnine Restaurant

Jane

surprised by the sight. Jane

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

in and spotted Jane too.