No Way Back

Chapter 20 I Don’t Deserve To Be A Fowler

Diane’s voice was soft as she smiled brightly at Anna and tugged her arm lightly.

“Sure…”

Anna replied reluctantly.

Her face was lined with weariness.

“Come up, cheer up. I know you had an argument with your daughter. But it’s for the best, right?

“Your family has never cared for Jane. You already have Maddie. Now, her place in the Fowler family will be

secure.

“This is God’s will. Jane simply isn’t destined to be a part of the Fowler family. Don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, she’s alive. Besides, your family gave her a chance to come back. She was the one who rejected you.”

Diane said patiently.

Diane and Anna had been best friends for decades.

They had known each other in school.

Friendships like that were hard–won, and Diane treasured hers with Anna deeply.

Diane had married into the Croft family. Hugh’s uncle, the legendary Raymond Croft, was the head of the Croft family.

After her marriage, Diane remained close friends with Anna.

She often visited the Fowler family and spent time with Anna.

Diane had watched Madelyn grow up.

She loved Madelyn and was adamant about having Madelyn as her daughter–in–law.

Diane knew everything there was to know about the Fowler family.

She didn’t want a money grabber like Jane, who had come out of nowhere to tear her best friend’s relationship with Madelyn apart and turn the Fowler family upside down.

Diane had persuaded Anna not to recognize Jane as her daughter.

She had been missing for 19 years and had never received the education of an elite. Young women like her

were irredeemable.

She wasn’t worthy of being a member of the prestigious Fowler family.

The Fowler family had been doing fine until Jane appeared out of nowhere. The nobody ruined their lives.

Diane had seen it coming from a mile.

Fortunately, Jane had only spent two weeks with the Fowler family.

That was too little time to do too much damage.

In fact, she ended up doing her family a favor by disowning them.

“Diane, I know you have my interests at heart. But Jane is still the daughter I carried for nine months in my womb. She was taken from me when she was born and spent 19 years away from home. How can I pretend

now that

ones who wronged Jane without digging deeper. She got upset and

Anna grimaced.

idea where Jane had gone

Anna considered sending

been when

did not have Jane’s

even have

heart had sunk

stared at the countless texts in her My

texts were

but think

her own

do that to her

much more

blood, but Anna raised Madelyn and grew

and was tied to her by blood, she was like

Anna shared with Jane could not compare

she didn’t feel guilty about it

let it go. Tonight, we’re going to have a feast and

an unpredictable element. The sooner she was out of the picture, the

agreed to a marriage between Jane and Layne. Maddie had turned down Layne multiple times because of this. Now that we know that Jane is alive, Maddie

have to step in. Jane has disowned the Fowler family. That means that Maddie doesn’t have to worry about her anymore. I watched Maddie grow up. She’s the best daughter–in–law I can ever hope for. You have to

to the marriage if her son had

family were their family friends. Jane had never received the education of an elite. Diane would never

froze in her

look of

are

first, Anna thought that

couldn’t possibly afford to dine

a second look and realized she hadn’t been

“What?”

Diane seemed similarly stunned.

disowned

alone wouldn’t get you a table

into the Croft family, had to make a reservation two weeks in advance to

table at the restaurant!

an ordinary person like Jane

did not spare a single glance

that she didn’t know the woman

Anna a little. “Unless my eyes are seeing things, you’re Jane. I’m your mother, Jane. Why

Fowler, please

nothing to do with each other now. Don’t be too eager to

say that? That’s enough, Jane. Must you hurt me with

Jane burst into laughter.

What irony.

in her eyes was utterly

have no mother than a mother like

love for Madelyn. I can’t possibly shoulder the weight of

commotion caught Hugh’s

is arguing with someone. Isn’t the other woman Jack Fowler’s wife? Isn’t that your aunt,

across Robert’s