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.

the restaurant was located

floor

at Fig River, which cuts right through the city, as well

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

meals at Cloudnine Restaurant came with a hefty

to spend at least

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

worry. I

waved her phone

We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

be Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

led Lila to the

code and welcomed Jane

the

stuck her tongue out. “You’re becoming

What’s so mysterious about

feeling that

had ten

ten groups of diners at any one

owner before the waiting staff would set up an extra table for you. Otherwise, you would be

the rowdier the restaurant

which had a reputation of being

difficulty of getting a table at the restaurant made it all

most popular restaurant in the

and Lila got a

decorated restaurant with opulence oozing from every single detail had

I’ve dined at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself speechless

paying for the meal today. Come on,

“Okay!”

took the menu

dishes cost them more than

bottle of red wine that cost a dozen grand

feel comfortable keeping Dwayne’s money on me, so let’s

You’re doing fine

and tried to protect me when

took. Lila

had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished that

She was the kind of family that Jane had always

They had hurt and abused her and left her

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

and nice you are and how much she

“Sure.”

eyes were bright with

would love to be

like a great

like dirt while treating Madelyn like

Jane had had her share of disappointments in her past

had died

a family had

walking past

Jane chatting happily

sight. Jane didn’t seem like someone

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

spotted