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 top floor of an office

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

restaurant prepared

Restaurant came with a hefty price

to spend at least

a really busy restaurant. You need

I have

her phone at

lucky. We don’t

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

should be Cloudnine Restaurant’s

to the

code and welcomed Jane and

noticed the look of deference in the waiter’s eyes

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

me. What’s so

a feeling that I

had

restaurant could only serve ten groups

before the waiting staff would set up an extra

more diners there were, the rowdier the

prohibited at Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of being

the restaurant

it was the most popular restaurant in the

and Lila got a table by the

opulence oozing from every single detail had Lila

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

the meal

“Okay!”

menu and ordered

dishes cost them more than

bottle of red wine that cost

me, so let’s spend every

You don’t need it. You’re doing fine on your own!” Jane’s lips quirked up

stood up for me and tried to protect me when Dwayne and Madelyn accused me of being a

Lila wasn’t the sort to speak up at

had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane

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

pain. They had hurt and

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

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

“Sure.”

were bright with unshed

would love to be the goddaughter of

like a

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

had had her share of disappointments in

died

for a family had

walking past Cloudnine Restaurant

and Jane

sight. Jane didn’t seem like

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

leaned in and spotted