Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 104

She shot Zinnia a playful look and winked mischievously.

“You wouldn’t believe it. No sooner had you stepped out than he started staring at the door, like some lovesick puppy waiting for his wife to come home. I can’t believe you two have been married for three years and are still so in love. You really keep your secrets well.”

In love?

The words caught Zinnia off guard. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes.

It was the first time anyone had ever described her relationship with Landon that way.

Once, hearing those words might have filled her with secret delight. But now—

All she felt was irony.

She offered the nurse a polite smile, not remotely interested in discussing her marriage. “Don’t tease me. I should get going.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

As Zinnia stepped out of the injection room, she immediately spotted Landon standing silently at the entrance to the ER lobby.

Outside, thick snow was falling, blanketing everything in white.

Zinnia opened her umbrella. “Wait here—I’ll go get the car.”

She had barely taken a step into the snow when a hand—warm, strong, and just a bit feverish—closed over hers, fingers wrapping around both her hand and the umbrella handle.

Maybe his fever had only just broken, because Landon’s palm was still hot enough to make Zinnia’s chest tighten with a strange, prickling sensation.

She glanced at him. Landon’s eyes were dark and unreadable.

“No need. I’ll come with you.”

Zinnia didn’t argue. She tried to steady her racing heartbeat and nodded.

The drive home was silent as the car pulled away from Veridian University Medical Center and headed toward Royal Bay.

She suddenly remembered she’d forgotten to close up the greenhouse before leaving, and hurried toward the sunroom.

But as soon as she turned, Landon grabbed her wrist and held on tightly.

Before she could say a word, he launched into a rushed explanation.

“She barged in, claiming you’d called her a homewrecker. Then she got all worked up, grabbed a knife, and tried to hurt herself. I panicked—I didn’t think, I just tried to stop her. That’s how I got cut.”

He trailed off, realizing something about his words sounded wrong.

Zinnia’s expression was hard to read—strange, thoughtful.

The more he tried to explain, the more flustered he became, his words tangling together.

“I didn’t get hurt for her sake. I just… I was afraid she’d do something crazy here, and the Jensens would blame you. I—”

He faltered, the rest of his explanation catching in his throat as he met Zinnia’s calm, emotionless gaze.