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 located

the top floor of an office

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 River as they

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

Restaurant came with a hefty

spend at

I recall Cloudnine Restaurant being a really busy restaurant.

I have

her phone at

We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine Restaurant’s

to the top

scanned their QR code and welcomed Jane

deference in the waiter’s eyes as he

leaned toward Jane and stuck her tongue out. “You’re

me. What’s so mysterious

just a feeling that

had

restaurant could only serve ten groups of diners at any one

restaurant owner before the waiting staff would set up an extra table for

more diners there were, the rowdier the restaurant would

at Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of

the restaurant

it was the most popular restaurant in

and Lila got a table by the

lavishly decorated restaurant with opulence oozing from every single detail had Lila

years since I’ve dined at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find

for the meal today. Come

“Okay!”

the menu and ordered

them more than ten

of red wine that cost a

money on me, so let’s spend every

doing fine on your own!” Jane’s lips quirked up into a smile. She tousled Lila’s

you, Lila. You stood up for me and tried to protect me

how much courage that took. Lila wasn’t

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

a sister. She was the

Fowler family had ever given her was pain. They had hurt and abused her and

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

on about how pretty and nice you are

“Sure.”

eyes were bright with

would love to be the goddaughter of

sounded like a great

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

share of disappointments in

died for

yearning for a family had

coincidence had Hugh walking past Cloudnine Restaurant

caught Lila and Jane chatting happily

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

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

and spotted Jane too. He