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

floor

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

Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes that looked

at Cloudnine Restaurant came with a hefty price

to be prepared to spend at least

a really busy restaurant. You need

worry. I have

her phone at

lucky. We

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

be Cloudnine

Lila to the

waiter scanned their QR code and welcomed Jane and Lila

in the waiter’s eyes as he looked at

toward Jane and stuck her tongue out. “You’re becoming more mysterious

so

a feeling that I

had ten

could only serve ten groups of diners at any

had to be a friend of the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would set up

more diners there were, the rowdier the restaurant

had a reputation of being one

difficulty of getting a table at the

fact, it was the most popular

and Lila got a

from every single detail had Lila

two years since I’ve dined at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself speechless every time I

for the meal today. Come on,

“Okay!”

menu and

them more than ten

took the menu and got a bottle of red wine

on me, so let’s spend every single dollar of

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 a smile. She

to protect me when Dwayne and Madelyn

knew how much courage that took. Lila wasn’t the sort

meek nature because she had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished that she

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

pain. They had hurt

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

nice you are and how

“Sure.”

were bright with

love to be the goddaughter

like

dirt while treating Madelyn like the apple of their

had had her share of disappointments in her past

had died

family had died

coincidence had Hugh walking

and Jane chatting happily

surprised by the sight. Jane didn’t seem

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

spotted