Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 29

Zinnia opened her mouth, wanting to deny it, but Zoey cut her off.

“Don’t even bother denying it,” Zoey said. “The place you were staying—there’s no way you weren’t caught up in the avalanche. And you finally managed to get some time off to go there; it’s not like you’d just sit around at the hotel. Something must have happened, right?”

The moment the words left her lips, Zoey’s eyes brimmed with tears, and they spilled over uncontrollably.

Zinnia could only sigh, reaching out to pat Zoey’s shoulder. “Hey, look at me—I’m standing here, aren’t I? They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Maybe I’ve got some good luck coming my way now.”

She remembered the words of the round-faced girl she’d met on the plane and borrowed them to comfort Zoey. But her response was as good as admitting that Zoey’s suspicion was right.

Which made Zoey cry even harder.

“I knew it, I just knew something happened! Landon is such a bastard—how could he just leave you there and not even check in? Meanwhile, he’s off traveling with Noelle, acting like you don’t even exist! What does he take you for?”

Zoey’s sobs grew louder as she unleashed a tirade of curses on Landon.

Zinnia could only nod in agreement, busying herself with dabbing away Zoey’s tears.

“Please stop crying—everyone’s staring at you. I’m really fine, honestly, that’s all that matters. It’s okay now.”

Comforting people had never been Zinnia’s strong suit, and she found herself repeating the same reassurances.

Eventually, Zoey managed to calm down, though her eyes were still red as she glared at Zinnia in exasperation.

“After all this, don’t tell me you’re going to forgive Landon?”

Zinnia paused, then shook her head with a small smile. “There’s nothing to forgive, really. It’s not like he was obligated to go on vacation with me.”

She wanted Zoey to understand that things between her and Landon weren’t as close as she thought, that he wasn’t worth the trouble.

Zoey stared at her in stunned silence. A full thirty seconds passed before she finally managed to speak.

“So… you two aren’t really married?”

Well, they had a marriage certificate, but in every way that mattered, it was fake.

“And the contract’s up in two months?”

Zoey pressed further.

Zinnia nodded.

“So there’s only two months left. I don’t want to waste any more energy on anything to do with Landon—love, anger, whatever. It’s all just a waste of time. I’ve got to start looking forward, right?”