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.

the top floor of an

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 prepared dishes that

Restaurant came with a hefty

to spend at least 15

Restaurant being a really busy restaurant. You need reservations to

worry. I

waved her phone

We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine Restaurant’s busiest

to the top

scanned their QR code and

the look of deference in the

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

What’s so mysterious about

just a feeling that

Restaurant had ten

restaurant could only serve ten groups of

owner before the waiting staff would set up an

there were, the rowdier

prohibited at Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of being one of the

difficulty of getting a table at the restaurant made it all

most

and Lila got a table by the

with opulence oozing from every single detail had Lila sighing

at Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself speechless

for the meal today.

“Okay!”

the menu and

them more

took the menu and got a bottle of red wine that cost a dozen grand

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

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

me and tried to protect

took. Lila wasn’t the sort to speak up

nature because she had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished that she had been a member of the Sutton

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

Fowler family had ever given her was pain. They had hurt and abused her and

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

on about how pretty and nice you are and

“Sure.”

bright with unshed

would love to be

sounded like

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

had had her share of disappointments in her past

had died

a family had died

walking past Cloudnine Restaurant

caught Lila and Jane chatting happily through the

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

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

and spotted Jane too. He