No Way Back (Jane and Hugh) by Anna Mac novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“Is that Janie?”

Madelyn felt shocked as if her heart had been hit by a hammer.

She clutched her bag tighter subconsciously.

“Impossible!” she thought.

“How can Jane Fowler be so luminous?”

From what Madelyn remembered, Jane had been quiet and kept to herself.

Even when she had come to the Fowler family, she had been reserved and seemed to have no sense of style. She had been insecure and meek.

To be honest, Madelyn had not thought much of Jane.

Compared to Madelyn, Jane had been inferior in terms of academic performance and upbringing.

However, Jane’s relationship with the Fowler family had been complicated, so Madelyn devised a plan to oust Jane from the family.

Although the plan had not gone smoothly, the results had been better than expected.

Madelyn had successfully driven Jane away from the Fowler family. Neither her mother nor father suspected it had been her behind it.

Madelyn had thought she had gotten rid of Jane for good. Since Jane had been the one to cut ties with the Fowler family, it would probably be hard for her to rejoin the family.

With Madelyn acting behind the scenes, crying and making sure the rest of the Fowler family felt sorry for her, she was sure there was no way Jane would be rejoining the family.

However, as she looked at Jane now, Madelyn’s heart thumped loudly in alarm.

Since the incident a few days ago, Jane seemed to have become a totally different person. It did not make any sense to Madelyn.

“It’s her…” Peter muttered.

His lips were pursed.

He was not sure what he was feeling.

Peter thought, “Jane Fowler… Jane… Exactly which is the real you?

“How is there such a big difference?

“It’s as if you have been reborn.”

If it were not for her appearance, no one would believe that this Jane Fowler was the same one from Peter’s memory when she was part of the family. He had found that Jane hateful. She had low self-esteem and had been hungry for familial love.

While in the car earlier Peter had been thinking.

He and Madelyn had been on the way to the University of Oricle.

Peter began to have second thoughts.

Jane was from the same university as he and Madelyn.

In the 15 days that Jane had been a part of the Fowler family, it had never occurred to Peter to have Jane go to school with them.

First, he was afraid Madelyn would be hurt.

Second, he hated Jane, so he did not want her to become part of the Fowler family. He also hated her cowardly nature.

However…

Peter wondered if it was because he felt guilty toward her.

Perhaps things were different now that Jane had left the Fowler family and was no longer a threat to Madelyn.

Peter had calmed down and was now able to think clearly.

He suddenly felt as if he had been too much.

Jane was his biological sister.

She had craved love from her family, yet he had cruelly pushed her away and treated her coldly.

“Peter, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Madelyn asked.

Madelyn looked at Peter, who was staring intently at Jane. She was worried.

She tugged at Peter’s arm and spoke gently, drawing Peter’s attention back to her.

Peter shook his head and patted Madelyn’s head dotingly. He said, “It’s nothing.”

“Peter, you must be thinking about Janie. After all, she is your sister by blood.

“It’s not too late for you to get her to return home. If it’s you asking, she will surely agree,” Madelyn said.

Her eyes reddened as she spoke. She lowered her head and held Peter’s hands tightly.

“It’s too late, sil*y girl. It just as well that she left. With Maddie in the Fowler family, there is no place for Jane.

“This may be the best possible outcome,” Peter consoled gently.

Peter’s lids were lowered. He held Madelyn’s hands in his.

He felt guilty toward Jane.

He also understood that Jane was his long-lost biological sister. It was a fact that had been confirmed through a DNA test.

At the same time, he was well aware of what would happen if Jane were to be allowed back into the Fowler family.

He would never be able to shower as much attention on Jane as he did on Madelyn.

After all, Madelyn was the little sister he had doted upon as they were growing up.

Peter was not the only one who thought that way.

All his other brothers thought the same way.

Even Jack and Anna thought the same way.

Jane did not have a place in the Fowler family.

She would never be as important to the family as Madelyn was.

Returning to the Fowler family under such circumstances would have been nothing but torture to Jane.

Reverting to the way they had been before was a relief both to the Fowler family and Jane.

“Peter…” Madelyn said.

She chewed softly on her lip and sank into Peter’s embrace. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

Madelyn said, “I h*te myself. If I were not a part of the Fowler family, you would not feel so conflicted.

“I should leave. I’m the one who does not belong in the Fowler family. Because of me, Janie…”

Peter put his hand over Madelyn’s m*uth, stopping her from speaking. “That’s enough, Maddie. Don’t say anymore. You’re kind to a fault. As a result, you take all the blame upon yourself. You wouldn’t be upset otherwise.

“It has nothing to do with you. The m*ntal hurdle is ours to cross,” Peter said.