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 the 100th

the top floor of an office

the stars and enjoy Stormton City’s 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

the Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes that looked like

at Cloudnine Restaurant came

at

being a really busy restaurant. You need reservations to

worry. I have

waved her phone at

got lucky. We don’t need a

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

be Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

to

waiter scanned their QR code and welcomed Jane and Lila to the

look of deference in the waiter’s eyes as he

leaned toward Jane and stuck her tongue out.

so

a feeling that I

Restaurant had ten

groups

to be a friend of the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would set up an extra table for you. Otherwise, you

there were, the rowdier the restaurant would

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

a table at the restaurant made it all

fact, it was the most popular restaurant in

and Lila got a table by

decorated restaurant with opulence oozing from every single detail had Lila

I find

for the meal

“Okay!”

menu and ordered

dishes cost them more than ten

and got a bottle of red wine that

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!” Jane’s

tried to protect me when Dwayne and Madelyn

how much courage that took. Lila wasn’t the sort to speak up at

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

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

given her was pain. They had

by my place and have

mother keeps going on about how pretty and nice you

“Sure.”

eyes were bright with

be the goddaughter

sounded like a great

while treating Madelyn like

had her share of disappointments

had died for

for a family had died

Hugh walking past Cloudnine

and Jane

the sight. Jane didn’t seem

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

spotted