Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 125

She’d been thinking about this for a long time.

But she’d never figured out how to bring it up with Landon.

Especially since she knew—Landon hated dogs.

Wanting to end their marriage with some dignity, she’d done everything she could to keep Dapper a secret, sticking to the principle of parting on good terms.

But now that Landon knew about Dapper—now that everything was out in the open—well, there was no point in hiding anymore. She might as well come clean while she had the chance.

“The contract’s ending soon,” she said, calm and matter-of-fact. “Whether we’re living together or not doesn’t really affect it.”

She kept her tone gentle, almost businesslike. “Don’t worry. Until it’s over, I’ll keep up appearances wherever you need me to. I won’t make things difficult for you.”

Of course. Not only did she want to keep her lover outside, now she was actually asking to live apart?

Landon couldn’t say what he was feeling in that moment.

He just knew it felt like a stone pressing hard on his chest—tight, aching, almost suffocating.

He opened his mouth, ready to snap at her.

But in the end, his voice came out softer than he expected, as if he’d made some painful decision.

“If you give him up, I won’t hold anything else against you.”

His voice trembled faintly.

He’d never imagined he could lower his standards this far for anyone.

Never dreamed that one day, he—Landon—would sound this broken in front of Zinnia.

But the moment Zinnia heard the words—so harsh, so cold—a spark of anger flared right up inside her.

“What did you just say?”

After everything she’d done to save Dapper, the first thing out of Landon’s mouth was for her to give him up?

Maybe it was easier to say something pitiful the first time. Because the second time, it just slipped out.

Eyes rimmed red, Landon repeated himself, voice strained—“If you let him go, if you promise never to see him again, I won’t care about…about the fact that you kept him.”

Zinnia nodded without hesitation.

“Mr. Ford, I’ve never let him bother you, and you have no right to demand I give him up.”

Since everything was already on the table, Zinnia decided to lay it out plainly.

“We agreed when we signed the contract not to interfere in each other’s personal lives. So keeping a little pup is my business. I expect you to respect that.”

Landon listened in silence, his crimson eyes locked on Zinnia’s steady, determined expression, as if he could burn holes right through her.

Truthfully, Zinnia was a little baffled.

He didn’t look angry—if anything, he looked…hurt?

Was he actually upset because she chose the dog over him?

The thought flashed through her mind, absurd and almost funny.

She and Landon weren’t real lovers. Would Landon really be heartbroken because she picked a dog instead of him?