Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Jessica Keller Resents Cecilia Croft

Cecilia Croft led Big Mason to a table farther away, wanting to avoid Jude Sheridan and Manager Quinn so she wouldn’t be so disgusted she’d lose her appetite.

However, she had barely sat down when Jude Sheridan came over with his tray and casually sat down beside her.

Big Mason shot up to stop him.

Jude Sheridan frowned and said in a low voice,

"I need to talk to you about work."

Without sparing him a glance, Cecilia Croft simply picked up her tray and shifted to the seat on Big Mason’s side.

"Go on."

Jude Sheridan was clearly provoked by Cecilia’s action, and his expression turned sour.

’Cecilia would rather sit next to a fat guy than next to me!’

He couldn’t hide the anger on his face as he glared sullenly at Cecilia Croft.

Cecilia Croft paid his mood no mind. She crossed her arms, leaned back slightly in her chair, and regarded him with an indifferent expression.

"President Sheridan, if you’re not going to talk, I’m going to eat."

Jude Sheridan swallowed his anger, doing his best not to lash out at her.

"Cecilia, we can talk while we eat."

As he spoke, he moved some of Cecilia’s favorite dishes from his tray to hers, putting on a show of being gentle and considerate.

Cecilia Croft didn’t even glance at her tray, showing no intention of picking up her chopsticks.

"It’s hard for me to eat with you here."

Jude Sheridan’s grip on his chopsticks tightened. He looked up at Cecilia, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes—a mixture of hurt and displeasure.

"Cecilia, don’t provoke me. My head is already killing me, and the wound still aches."

He hoped the wound on his forehead would make Cecilia soften toward him.

But ever since they entered the cafeteria, Cecilia hadn’t even noticed the gauze-wrapped wound on his forehead.

Only now that he mentioned it did she raise her eyes for a glance.

Seeing her gaze finally land on his forehead, Jude Sheridan felt a knot of anxiety loosen.

’They were together for seven years. There’s no way Cecilia doesn’t care about me at all.’

"Cecilia, it’s okay. I don’t blame you. I know you were just angry. I love you, so I won’t hold it against you..."

He looked at Cecilia with a tender expression as he spoke, but he saw no trace of concern in her eyes.

Her beautiful eyes were smiling now, but it was a mocking smile.

His words caught in his throat.

The knot of anxiety that had just loosened in Jude Sheridan’s chest tightened again, and a dull ache spread through him.

’Cecilia shouldn’t be acting like this.’

’Before, she’d get so worked up if I got even the smallest scratch.’

’How can she look at me with such cold eyes now?’

"Cecilia..."

Cecilia Croft rubbed the back of her ear, her patience clearly gone.

"Jude Sheridan,"

she said, calling him by his full name.

Jude Sheridan immediately sat up straighter, looking at her.

"I’m here."

Cecilia Croft sneered.

"You seemed to be having a great time when you were cheating, didn’t you? So why are you pestering me with all this now? It does nothing but make me sick."

The color drained from Jude Sheridan’s face as he listened to Cecilia’s words.

He gripped his chopsticks tightly, his eyes fixed on Cecilia’s face, stubbornly searching for any crack in her expression.

’She’s just bluffing.’

’She has to be.’

Jude Sheridan frowned. The people around them seemed to sense the tense atmosphere, occasionally glancing their way.

He took a sharp, deep breath. His fingers were trembling, so he quickly set down his chopsticks to hide his emotions, not wanting anyone to see his fear.

Cecilia, however, ignored him. She picked up her chopsticks and removed every piece of food he had just placed on her tray.

She performed this task with a blank expression. Jude’s face had grown so dark it looked like a thundercloud.

He watched her with a deep frown.

Cecilia, however, had completely lost her appetite.

"I hope, President Sheridan, that next time you won’t show up in front of me during my meal. Otherwise, I’ll honestly be too disgusted to eat."

With that, Cecilia Croft stood up from her seat.

Jude Sheridan took a deep breath, his face stiffening as he finally failed to suppress his rage.

"Cecilia, do you really think you bear no responsibility for how things ended up between us?"

Cecilia Croft frowned, looking down at Jude Sheridan, who was still seated.

’He’s even more disgusting now.’

’Sebastian Hawthorne was right.’

’I was blind.’

’Blind for seven years.’

Seeing that Cecilia was about to leave, Big Mason quickly shoveled a few more mouthfuls of rice into his mouth. He clearly hadn’t eaten his fill.

Cecilia paused when she saw him, then said,

"It’s fine. Take your time."

Big Mason shook his head and got up as well.

"My job is to be your close protection."

Cecilia raised an eyebrow. She knew that men of his size usually had huge appetites.

He had been standing guard outside her office all morning. She couldn’t let her issues with Jude prevent those around her from eating properly.

She immediately sat back down.

"Go on and eat. I’ll wait."

Jude Sheridan froze. His pupils contracted, and his breath hitched the moment he saw Cecilia sit back down. He was clearly beyond provoked.

’Cecilia is showing more concern for an outsider than for me!’

’She can’t see the forehead she injured, but she can notice a bodyguard who hasn’t had his fill!’

Big Mason was taken aback and was about to refuse, but when he saw Cecilia sitting calmly, he fell silent for a moment. Deciding not to be polite, he quickly sat down and started shoveling rice into his mouth. After a few bites, he didn’t forget to shower Cecilia with praise.

"Miss Croft, you’re the most beautiful and kindest boss I’ve ever had."

"Someone as beautiful and good-hearted as you is always in the right. As for the kind of man who would betray you and then try to sling mud, he’ll get what’s coming to him sooner or later."

Cecilia raised an eyebrow, clearly appreciating Big Mason’s words.

Jude Sheridan’s face grew even darker, erasing any trace of his former handsomeness.

He shot up and stormed away, only to stop after a few steps.

Cecilia looked up. As her gaze swept back, she saw Jessica Keller standing at the cafeteria entrance. Jessica’s face was haggard, as if she were recovering from a serious illness.

Jude couldn’t resist glancing back at Cecilia. Seeing that she too was looking at the entrance, clearly aware of Jessica Keller’s presence, he said immediately,

"Cecilia, trust me, I can handle this."

With that, he strode toward the entrance and roughly dragged Jessica Keller away.

As she was being pulled away, Jessica Keller’s eyes were locked on Cecilia, filled with pure hatred.

If looks could kill, Cecilia would be riddled with daggers from Jessica’s glare.

Cecilia met her gaze calmly, her own expression unreadable.

’Looks like Jessica blames me.’

’How could she blame me?’

’I let her be the star of the wedding. I fulfilled her wish and made sure Jude Sheridan would never forget her at his own wedding. How could she possibly blame me?’

’If she’s going to blame anyone, it should be Jude Sheridan.’