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

top floor of an office

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 wheel and a spectacular bridge across Fig River as they

Michelin 5–star restaurant

meals at Cloudnine Restaurant came

prepared to spend at least 15 grand for a

busy restaurant. You

worry. I have

her

got lucky. We don’t need a

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

led Lila to the

QR code and welcomed

noticed the look of deference in the

stuck her tongue out. “You’re becoming more

so

just a feeling that

had ten

could only serve ten groups

be a friend of the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would set up an extra table for you. Otherwise, you would be turned

more diners there were, the rowdier the

a reputation of being one of

the restaurant

the most popular restaurant in

a

from every single detail had Lila sighing in

at Cloudnine Restaurant. I

the meal today.

“Okay!”

menu and ordered Jane’s

dishes cost them

menu and got a bottle of red wine that cost

me, so let’s spend

don’t need it. You’re doing fine on

protect

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

she had gathered her courage and overcome her meek nature because she had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished that she had been a member of

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

They had hurt and abused her and

Let’s not talk about that. Drop by my place and have dinner some time. I’ll have my parents whip up something nice for

and nice you are and how

“Sure.”

eyes were bright

would love to be the

like

treating Madelyn like the

her share of disappointments in her

had died for

yearning for a family had died alongside

had Hugh walking past Cloudnine

caught Lila and Jane

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

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

spotted Jane too.