Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 18

Landon had assumed Zinnia would be overjoyed, but as he watched her face for a long moment, there wasn’t a hint of delight in her expression or her eyes.

She was calm—so calm, it was as if nothing could stir the surface of her heart.

A heaviness settled in his chest. When he noticed Zinnia made no move to open the cake box, he couldn’t help but prompt her, “Aren’t you going to try it?”

Zinnia had been on her way to wash up and head to bed, but she paused at his question.

“Oh,” she replied simply, then reached out and opened the box.

Landon silently observed her every reaction.

She was as obedient and accommodating as ever, but the way Zinnia followed his words, acting almost mechanically, made him inexplicably uneasy—like she was a marionette, moving only because he pulled the strings.

She picked up the small dessert spoon, scooped a bit of cake, and was just about to taste it when she noticed the golden cubes of mango nestled in the middle layer. Her hand froze.

For several seconds, she just stared at those perfectly cut mango pieces.

Each one was immaculate—so uniform it seemed someone had measured every side with a ruler.

Clearly, whoever made this cake had poured a lot of care into it.

Zinnia almost felt she’d be letting down the baker’s effort if she didn’t at least try a bite.

Yet at that moment, as she gazed at the cheerful yellow fruit, it felt like even the mango cubes were mocking her, reminding her that she never got even a fraction of that kind of thoughtfulness from her own husband.

The softness of the fruit seemed to sprout thorns, pricking deep at her chest.

Landon noticed the subtle shift in her expression. He followed her gaze to the cake, and a flicker of unease flashed across his face.

He hesitated, then stammered, “Sorry, I… I didn’t know…”

“I didn’t mean to blame you,” he added quickly, voice dry and uncertain.

But Zinnia didn’t seem to care either way. She just nodded, her tone even, “I’m tired after the trip and didn’t feel like doing much.”

She gestured toward the kitchen. “There’s honey water in the fridge. If you’re still not feeling well, you can make yourself a glass. It’ll help.”

Landon’s disappointment was plain as day.

“Alright,” he replied, barely audible, but his eyes lingered on Zinnia’s face.

He remembered how, before, whenever he came home late, even if he hadn’t been drinking, Zinnia would always have a bowl of hangover soup waiting for him.

Tonight, from the moment he walked in, she hadn’t even asked how he was.