I Love You More Cade by Coral Hume ( Nydia and Jackson) Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Nydia immediately recognized those shoes. They belonged to Cade.

She halted abruptly and lifted her head.

Cade cast a brief, arrogant glance at Nydia before turning his attention to Troy Miles with a look of superiority.

Troy caught the warning and disdain in that glance and smiled, moving to sit next to Alison.

Alison stiffened as if shocked, sitting up straight, too afraid to even breathe loudly.

The atmosphere, lively just moments ago, was now awkwardly silent due to Cade’s presence.

‘Oh! Spoilsport!‘ Nydia thought, frowning in displeasure.

Cade settled next to Nydia without a word. His piercing green eyes were coldly fixed on Troy, who met his gaze with a smile.

Nydia sensed an inexplicable tension in the air. ‘Are these two for real?‘ she wondered silently.

Eager to break the ice, Nydia ventured. “Mr. Jackson, have you had lunch yet?”

Cade shot her a chilly look and simply replied, “Yes.”

Feeling a chill down her spine and puzzled about what she did to upset him this time, Nydia decided to remain silent and ignore him.

Soon, the meal was served, and the trio ate in silence.

Cade leaned back lazily, arms crossed and legs casually crossed, seemingly looking for trouble.

Just as Nydia was about to enjoy a crab leg, Cade frowned in disgust. “Crabs are allergenic food; eating too much can lead to arthritis.”

He emphasized “arthritis,” glancing mockingly at Troy.

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Troy paused, offering a wry smile without a word.

“Who says eating crabs causes arthritis? Cut the nonsense,” Nydia glared at him, defiantly picking another crab leg.

Cade snatched it with his fork and tossed it into the bin, teasing, “Don’t believe me? Ask Mr. Miles.”

“My legs are fine,” Troy responded coolly.

“Is that so?” Cade retorted, his skepticism evident. “Maybe it’s just biding its time. Let’s see how Mr. Miles fares when he hits fifty.”

Nydia was both annoyed and embarrassed by his blatant disrespect. She pinched Cade under the table, whispering, “Lay off his age. You’re not getting any younger either. And he doesn’t look old, so cut it out.”

Cade frowned, raising his voice. “You think mentioning his age hurts his pride? It’s the truth. I don’t see a problem.”

Nydia silently cursed inwardly, ‘Has this guy lost his mind? When did I ever say anything like that? How can he make stuff up like this?‘ Nydia bit back her anger, wishing she could silence him once and for all.

Troy struggled to continue eating with his fork.

Cade raised an eyebrow, feigning concern. “Mr. Miles, had enough? Makes sense. My grandad barely eats, too, Older folks need to cut down, or they’re at risk for all sorts of health issues.”

Nydia gritted her teeth and hissed. “Cade!”

Cade shot her an annoyed look. “Why the yelling? I’m 27, not hard of hearing.

Troy, usually so composed, found himself irked by Cade’s provocations. Nonetheless, he remained unruffled.

“I have things to attend to at the company. I’ll be leaving first,” Troy said, standing up with a polite smile after slowly wiping his mouth.

Nydia felt awful about how the meal had turned sour. Troy was not just a friend but also her employer, having offered significant help with her divorce.

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She had hoped this meal would be a small token of her gratitude, but Cade’s interference had spoiled the atmosphere.

Troy gave Nydia a reassuring smile, signaling that it was okay.

“Take care, Mr. Miles.” Nydia stood up, apologizing as she bid him farewell.

Troy nodded, addressing Cade with a courteous farewell. “Mr. Jackson, I enjoyed hearing your insights at the summit. I believe, with young talents like you, Carbonland will become the world’s focal point.”

Despite his polite words, Cade remained indifferent.

“Of course, we’ll keep ourselves fit to support the younger generation,” Troy added, emphasizing “younger generation” as a subtle jab at Cade’s earlier provocations, painting Cade’s behavior as childish antics in front of an elder.

But Cade remained unfazed.

“Let’s hope, Mr. Miles, you’re working on your fitness for work, not just to impress someone else’s wife,” Cade shot back with a cold smirk.

Troy’s smile tightened momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure and walked away.

Alison gazed longingly as Troy walked away, clearly not ready to part.

Nydia, seeing this, quickly suggested, “Alison, could you see Mr. Miles out for me?”

Alison’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously before rushing off.

Cade chuckled scornfully. “Seems like old men today excel at nothing but. wooing young girls.”

Nydia was so infuriated she was lost for words, sitting back down with a huff and glaring at him. “Why are you always so harsh? Troy has done nothing to you.”

Cade’s mood improved slightly, but when he recalled how she had smiled at Troy, his heart was still burning with anger..

Chapter 72

Just eat,” he said, casting her a cold glance.

“You said this causes arthritis,” Nydia shot back.

“I’m rich enough not to let you go lame,” Cade said coolly.

Nydia wished she could see inside his head to understand his relentless need to agitate her, turning her days into a series of unrest.

Angered, she ate voraciously, perhaps converting her frustration into appetite.

Cade didn’t bother her further, quietly watching her finish her meal.

As they were leaving, Nydia intended to join Alison, but Cade stopped her.

“Come with me,” he said.

“Where to?” Nydia frowned.

“Just come,” Cade replied, his tone icy.

Rolling her eyes, Nydia got into the car.

Cade drove them to an upscale mall.

“What are we doing here?” Nydia asked, puzzled.

“After you,” Cade said, closing the car door behind her, “You need better clothes for tonight’s closing ceremony. Can’t have you embarrassing me.”

This was the second time in just three days in Mewarting City that Cade had criticized her dress sense.

Nydia didn’t think there was anything wrong with her fashion sense. His comments were just another way to annoy her.

In the past, Cade did not even look at her. ‘what’s been up with him lately? Never mind, then I’ll not stand on ceremony, Nydia thought.

She deliberately chose the most expensive items, picking several pieces, much to the delight of the sales associate, who couldn’t stop singing her praises.

“Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Jackson is so good to you,” the sales associate said, holding

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Chapter 72

the clothes with an envious look.

“You know us?” Nydia asked, surprised by the associate’s enthusiasm.

“Of course. Anyone online knows Mr. Jackson,” the sales associate replied, then quickly added, “And you, Mrs. Jackson,” with a significant pause.

That pause was quite telling.

Nydia was well aware she was only in the spotlight because of her association with Cade.

“The internet is full of videos and stories about you and Mr. Jackson. My friends and I are all fans of your love story,” the sales associate added.

Nydia was taken aback by the mention of a “love story,” thinking to herself, ‘What love story between Cade and me?‘