No Way Back

Chapter 22

Anna’s nails bit into her palm as she glared furiously at Jane.

“Your father was right. Compared to Maddie, you’re nothing but a failure.

“I can’t believe I gave birth to a daughter who turned out to be as selfish and unreasonable as you are.

“I felt so guilty about what had happened to you, but all that guilt is gone now. It’s all thanks to you, Jane.

“I wish I had never given birth to you. I wish I had never tried searching for you. I wish that you had died 19 years ago. Why did you appear in my life again?”

Jane had driven Anna mad with anger.

Harsh words spilled from her lips without control.

This was the only way she could express her utter rage.

“Janie…”

Lila’s face paled as she listened to Anna’s gush of vitriol.

She couldn’t be bothered to argue with Anna at all. Instead, she turned her concerned gaze toward Jane.

She was worried about how badly Jane would take Anna’s words and that they would break her best friend’s heart into irreparable pieces.

Lila could feel her chest tighten and her heart shatter as she listened to Anna, even though Anna was nothing but a stranger to her.

How would Jane, Anna’s own daughter who yearned so badly for her family’s love, feel?

All humor fled Jane.

Her face stiffened into an expression devoid of any emotion.

Her heart, on the other hand…

hurt.

Why was she so weak?

She had had enough pain and disappointment in her past life.

She had decided not to get her heart broken over people who didn’t deserve her love in this life.

But…

Jane wasn’t as strong as she had thought she was.

A healed wound remained a wound.

You could hide it with a bandage, but the scar was still there.

It would hurt once in a while, the pain a reminder of the humiliating past that Jane had suffered.

This was the last time.

Jane would never show her weakness before a stranger again.

never be

would never break the hearts of her loved

I would rather be dead too. Unfortunately, I’m alive and doing

suppose this is God’s will. Without the Fowler family in my life, my life

d*e. In fact, my life will become better. I’m so sorry to disappoint you,

out as she tried to bury her sorrow deep

would never forgive

Not in this life.

to her. The pain, the suffering, and the tears she had shed every night because of

any of that. It would stay with her until her dying

the intense h*te burning in Jane’s

of her blind

Her face paled.

Oh my God.

Why had she said all those

let her anger

anything that she had said

said anything

believe that the first vicious vitriol she had spewed in her life was directed at her

in guilt. She was the proud, dignified wife of

need a daughter like her. She’s nothing

wanted Anna to disavow

tough fight. She didn’t expect things to turn out her

“No, Diane, I…”

stammered as she tried

meant what she had

It had been…

the anger talking.

impressive show that was. I didn’t expect to see the true colors of the top socialites of Stormton City’s two most upstanding

Luther applauded suddenly.

in his eyes were as stark as day

and Diane.

a member of the peanut gallery. However, it appeared that even he couldn’t stomach what had

and Diane’s behavior must have

just a manager. You

boss. I wish to lodge a complaint.

fired!”

be her unlucky day. Everyone was pointing their fingers at Diane. They

made a mistake by offending her.

aunt wants to speak to the boss and get me fired. I’m

as he turned

Hugh?

Diane froze.

toward where Luther was staring with a look of

rose to his

hand into his pocket and made his way toward

freezing up like a mouse that had spotted a

and hid

was too overwhelming for

was too

her to stay

even look at