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.

name, the restaurant was located on the 100th

the top floor of an

Cloudnine Restaurant could gaze upon 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

the Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes that looked like works

at Cloudnine Restaurant came with

prepared to spend at least 15 grand

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

worry. I have

waved her

lucky. We don’t

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine

to the top

scanned their QR code and welcomed Jane

in the waiter’s eyes as he looked

and stuck her tongue out. “You’re becoming more mysterious by the day,

so mysterious

feeling that I

had ten

restaurant could only serve ten groups of diners at any one

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

diners there were, the rowdier the

a reputation of being one of the

at the restaurant made it

it was the most popular restaurant

got a table by the

with opulence oozing from every single detail

at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself

paying for the meal today. Come on,

“Okay!”

the menu and

cost them

the menu and got a bottle of red wine that cost

me, so let’s spend

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

tried to protect me when Dwayne and Madelyn accused me of being

took. Lila wasn’t the sort

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

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

given her was pain. They had hurt and abused her and

we’re best friends. That’s what best friends do. Let’s not talk about that. Drop by my

on about how pretty and nice you are and how much she wants you to be

“Sure.”

were bright

love to be the goddaughter of

like a

dirt while treating Madelyn

her share of

had died

a family had died

coincidence had Hugh walking past

caught Lila and Jane chatting happily

Jane didn’t seem

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

leaned in and spotted Jane too.