No Way Back

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.

True to its name, the restaurant was located on the 100th floor.

was the top floor

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

chef hired by the Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes

Restaurant came with a

had to be prepared to spend at least 15 grand for a single

being a really busy restaurant. You need

worry. I

her phone

got lucky. We

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

should be Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

Lila to the top

and welcomed

look of deference in the

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

What’s so mysterious

a feeling that I

Restaurant had ten

could only serve ten groups of diners at

friend of the restaurant owner before the waiting staff would set up an extra table for

there were, the rowdier

had a reputation of being one of the

difficulty of getting a table at the restaurant made it all

most popular restaurant in the

a

opulence oozing from every

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

meal today. Come

“Okay!”

menu and ordered Jane’s

dishes cost them more than ten

bottle of

on me, so

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

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

Lila wasn’t the sort to speak up at

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

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

had ever given her was pain. They had hurt and

best friends. 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 parents whip

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

“Sure.”

bright with

be the

like a great

while treating Madelyn like the apple of their eye like the

Jane had had her share of disappointments in her

had died for

a family

had Hugh walking past Cloudnine Restaurant

Lila and Jane chatting happily through

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

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

spotted Jane