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

break the hearts of

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

the Fowler family in my

become

as she tried to bury her

would never

Not in this life.

The pain, the suffering, and

would never forget any of that. It would

the intense h*te burning in

of her blind

Her face paled.

Oh my God.

Why had

her anger get the better

anything that she had

said anything so vicious in her

she had spewed

She was the proud, dignified wife of the chairman of the Fowler Corporation. She

a daughter like her. She’s nothing next

She had wanted Anna to disavow

she knew what Anna was like and had been prepared for a tough fight. She didn’t expect things to turn out her way so easily because of a

“No, Diane, I…”

she tried

what

It had been…

the anger talking.

see the true

Luther applauded suddenly.

his eyes were as

and Diane.

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

must

just say? You’re just a manager. You have no right

speak to your boss. I wish to

fired!”

day. Everyone was pointing their fingers at Diane. They had no idea who they were messing

her. A p*thetic manager had had the guts to do the

aunt wants to speak to the boss and get me

into a smile as he turned his gaze

Hugh?

Diane froze.

staring with a look of incredulity

to his feet

one hand into his pocket and made

of Hugh sent Lila freezing up like a

breathing and

too overwhelming

man was too

her to stay away from men like

even look