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

hearts of her loved ones

dead too. Unfortunately, I’m alive and doing

the Fowler family in my

won’t d*e. In fact, my life will become better. I’m so sorry to disappoint you,

to bury her sorrow deep inside

never forgive

Not in this life.

her. The pain, the suffering, and the tears

It would stay with her

the intense h*te burning in

of her blind rage

Her face paled.

Oh my God.

she done? Why had she

anger get

that

never said anything

believe that the first vicious vitriol she had

that nearly drowned Anna in guilt. She was the proud, dignified wife of the chairman of the Fowler Corporation. She should be ashamed of

right, Anna. You don’t need a daughter

had wanted Anna to

a tough fight. She didn’t expect things to turn out her way so easily because of a

“No, Diane, I…”

she tried to explain

meant what

It had been…

the anger talking.

show that was. I didn’t expect to see the true colors of the top socialites of

Luther applauded suddenly.

were as stark as day as he

and Diane.

being a member of the peanut gallery. However, it appeared that even he

and Diane’s behavior must have been genuinely

a manager. You have no right to criticize Anna and

want to speak to your boss. I wish to lodge a complaint. You

fired!”

was pointing their fingers at Diane. They had no idea who they

made a mistake by offending her. A p*thetic manager had had the guts to do the same

aunt wants to speak to the boss and get

he

Hugh?

Diane froze.

with a look

rose to

one hand into his pocket and made his way toward the

sent Lila freezing up like a mouse that had

stopped breathing and hid herself

too overwhelming for

man was

to stay away from

shouldn’t even look at