Chapter 19: No Way Back

Dwayne hadn’t felt bad when he had brought up the online scandal. That was because he had had no part in it.

Besides, he had been preoccupied with and worried about Madelyn.

This was different. Dwayne had gotten involved.

He had accused Jane of theft when he had had no proof.

Dwayne felt unworthy of the WWE gold medal that he had just won.

“What did you say, Dwayne?”

Madelyn hadn’t heard him.

However, she knew that it couldn’t be anything good.

“It’s nothing.

Dwayne yanked himself out of his thoughts.

It didn’t matter. What was done was done.

There was no point regretting it now.

Besides…

Dwayne wasn’t going to hurt Madelyn just because he felt bad about Jane.

“Dwayne, if you catch up with Janie right now, you can try and convince her to come back to the Fowler family. Janie looks so lonely. I feel so sorry for her.

“We had been misled right from the start and accused Janie of something she hadn’t done. She had every right to be upset and disown the family. If only I hadn’t been part of the family. This wouldn’t have happened in the first place if I never existed.”

Madelyn said with a pained look on her face.

“Silly girl, that’s utter nonsense. You’re a part of the Fowler family. Nobody’s going to change that fact. “You’re right. We were wrong about Janie. But that has nothing to do with you. She’s already made up her mind. We should respect her decision.”

Dwayne said gently, shoving whatever guilt he felt toward Jane to the back of his head as he turned his attention back to a remorseful Madelyn.

Jane took Lila on a long ride in her newly purchased Porsche Cayenne. She felt on top of the world.

Dwayne had given her thirty grand. She wasn’t going to turn down money.

She decided to treat Lila to a meal at the best restaurant in Stormton City.

“Let’s not, Janie. Why don’t we dine at my place instead? We should save the money. You need it…”

“Lila, don’t forget. Half of that money belongs to you too. I’ve never been to Cloudnine Restaurant. I really want to try it. Humor me, please.”

“All right then.”

Lila had decided that she would support Jane in her every decision, no matter what it was. That was what best friends were for.

Jane was having a bad day today, and Lila was going to cheer her up!

They arrived at Cloudnine Restaurant.

Cloudnine Restaurant was the most famous restaurant in Stormton City.

At the height of its fame, it had a waiting list that spanned a month long.

True to its name, the restaurant was located on the 100th floor.

was the top floor of an

at Cloudnine Restaurant could gaze upon the stars and enjoy Stormton City’s lovely nighttime scenery, gazing at Fig River, which cuts right through the city, as

Michelin 5–star restaurant prepared dishes

at Cloudnine Restaurant came with

to be prepared to spend at least 15

a really busy restaurant. You need reservations to get

I

waved her phone at

We don’t need

“Really?”

Lila seemed slightly stumped.

Cloudnine

Lila to

and welcomed Jane

the look of deference in the

tongue out. “You’re becoming more mysterious by the day,

so mysterious

feeling that I

Restaurant had ten

serve ten groups

staff would set up an extra table for you. Otherwise, you would

there were, the rowdier the restaurant

Cloudnine Restaurant, which had a reputation of being one of the best

getting a table at the restaurant made

most

and Lila got a table

restaurant with opulence oozing from every single detail had Lila sighing in

Cloudnine Restaurant. I find myself speechless every time

for the meal today.

“Okay!”

the menu and

dishes cost them more than ten

of red wine that cost

keeping Dwayne’s money on me, so let’s spend every single

do it! We don’t want that asshole’s money. You don’t need it. You’re doing fine on your own!” Jane’s lips quirked up into a smile. She tousled Lila’s

stood up for me and tried to protect me when Dwayne and Madelyn

that took. Lila

meek nature because she had wanted to protect Jane. Sometimes, Jane wished that she had been a member of the

a sister. She was the kind of family that Jane had always dreamed of

her was pain. They had hurt and abused her

best friends. That’s what best friends do. Let’s not talk about that. Drop by my place

going on about how pretty and nice you are and how much she wants you to be

“Sure.”

were bright with

would love to be the goddaughter

sounded like

treating Madelyn like the apple

had her share of

died for

yearning for a family had

coincidence had Hugh walking

and Jane chatting happily through

sight. Jane didn’t seem like

“Something wrong, Hugh?”

leaned in and spotted Jane too. He

“Destiny’s calling, Hugh. Are you going to go say hi?”

“Not now.”

Jane finally noticed someone staring at her.

She turned around.

Sparks flew as Hugh’s and her eyes met.

Hugh’s dark eyes were filled with intimidating intensity.

As Jane stared at his dangerous, piercing gaze, she could feel her soul being drawn out of her body and into

a bottomless abyss.

She shifted her eyes away immediately.

The young woman cursed inwardly.

She had been running into people she had known the whole day.

What terrible luck!

Hugh and Robert got a table that was ideally situated in the restaurant. It was neither too far nor too near Jane and Lila’s table.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a woman resist your gaze, Hugh.”

Robert eyed the beautiful Adonis before him and grinned playfully.

Croft was a rich man and the president of the D.Y. Group.

However, he didn’t have to rely on his status to win the affection of a woman. His looks and charms alone would get him any woman he wanted. If every woman who wanted to fall in bed with Hugh were to get in line, the queue would stretch from Stormton City all the way to Floricia.

Jane, on the other hand, seemed desperate to keep her distance.

Jane was doing the right thing. Hugh was a dangerous, unpredictable man.

Robert, who was one of Hugh’s best friends, found Hugh intimidating sometimes.

Hugh did not say a word.

All he did was stare at Jane.

It was as if he were trying to imprint a mark on his prey.

In fact, it was as if he were trying to lure his prey into a sense of complacency.

Jane felt a sudden sense of discomfort.

“Janie, is there something wrong?” Lila asked curiously.

She had not spotted Hugh and Robert.

She was simply concerned about the strange look on Jane’s face.

Jane was staring at something. Before Lita could turn around and find out what that was, Jane stopped her.

“It’s nothing, Lila,” Jane said.

She stopped Lila from turning around just in time.

Lila was too kind and innocent to get herself involved with Hugh and his world.

She should remain in her own bubble of happiness, where she belonged.

Meanwhile…

Someone had arrived at Cloudnine Restaurant.

“Anna, it took me great effort to secure a reservation here. We’re going to have a feast today.”

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