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.

would never

never break the hearts of

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 will

my life will become better. I’m so sorry to disappoint you, Mrs.

as she tried to bury

would never forgive

Not in this life.

pain, the suffering, and the tears she had

any of that. It would stay with

stared at the intense h*te

out of her blind

Her face paled.

Oh my God.

had she done? Why had she said all those

her anger get

that she

had never said anything so vicious in her

vitriol she had spewed in her life was directed at her

Anna in guilt. She was the proud, dignified wife

a daughter like her. She’s

had wanted Anna to disavow Jane all

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 chance

“No, Diane, I…”

stammered as she tried to

hadn’t meant what she

It had been…

the anger talking.

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

and Diane.

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

behavior must

manager. You have no right to criticize Anna

to your boss. I wish to lodge

fired!”

be her unlucky day. Everyone was pointing their

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

wants to speak to the

as he

Hugh?

Diane froze.

turned toward where Luther was staring with a look of incredulity in

to his feet

one hand into his pocket and made his way toward the

sight of Hugh sent Lila freezing up

stopped breathing and

was too overwhelming for people like

man was

stay away from men like

even