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

top floor of an

which cuts right through the city, as well as a Ferris wheel and a spectacular

restaurant prepared dishes that looked like

Restaurant came with a hefty

spend at least 15 grand for a single

being a really busy restaurant. You need reservations to get

I

her phone at

got lucky. We don’t need a

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

should be Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

led Lila to the top

scanned their QR code and welcomed Jane and

deference in the waiter’s eyes as he looked

tongue out. “You’re becoming more mysterious by

so

a feeling

had ten

groups of diners at any one

the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would

there were, the rowdier the restaurant

Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of being one of the best restaurants in Stormton City to

of getting a table at the

it was the most popular

Lila got a table by the

oozing from

since I’ve dined at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find

paying for the meal today.

“Okay!”

menu and ordered Jane’s

dishes cost them more than ten

the menu and got a bottle of red wine that cost a

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

Let’s do it! We don’t want that asshole’s money. You don’t need it. You’re doing fine on your own!” Jane’s lips quirked up into

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

that took. Lila wasn’t the sort to speak up

her meek nature because she had wanted to protect Jane.

She was the kind of family

pain. They had hurt and abused

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

mother keeps going on about how pretty and nice you are and how much she

“Sure.”

eyes were bright with unshed

to be the goddaughter

like a great

like dirt while treating Madelyn like the apple of their eye like

had had her share of disappointments in

died

family had

Hugh walking

and Jane chatting happily through the

surprised by the sight. Jane didn’t

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

spotted Jane too.