Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 44

Landon stopped in his tracks, doing his best to calm Noelle over the phone. “Don’t worry, I’m at Veridian University Medical Center right now. Just take your time getting here—I’ll handle things at the hospital.”

Noelle’s sobs faltered for a second. “Landon, why are you there? Did you… did you go to see Zinnia?”

Landon couldn’t understand why, in a crisis like this, Noelle was fixated on something so trivial. He didn’t have the patience to explain. “That doesn’t matter right now. I’m going to check on your brother’s condition first.”

Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call.

At that moment, an ambulance, lights flashing, sped through the hospital gates. The paramedics quickly wheeled out a man covered in blood.

The lead ER doctor barked orders. “Victim was in a car accident twenty minutes ago. Major chest trauma, significant difference in blood pressure between arms—take him for a CT scan, stat! Possible aortic dissection. Page the on-call cardiac surgeon!”

As the team rushed the gurney toward the ER, Landon hurried after them.

He caught a glimpse of the man on the stretcher—it was Noelle’s brother, Xander Jensen.

“Has the patient’s family been notified?” a nurse asked.

“I’m here,” Landon answered, stepping forward.

“Please come with me.”

Meanwhile, across the hospital, Zinnia had just taken the medication Naomi prescribed when the phone in the staff lounge rang.

“Dr. Quinn, there’s a car accident victim in the ER—possible aortic dissection. We need you right away.”

“I’m on my way.”

Not bothering to tidy up the pills on her desk, Zinnia hurried out, jogging toward the emergency wing.

She arrived at the ER just in time to spot Landon in a sharp suit, his brow deeply furrowed as he stood outside the surgery doors, looking unusually grave.

With that, she strode toward the operating room.

She’d barely taken a few steps when Landon caught up and grabbed her arm.

“Is it serious?” he asked.

Zinnia nodded once. “Very serious. His aorta has ruptured—we have to operate immediately. If you have questions, save them for after surgery.”

Her tone was firm, far from the gentle voice Landon was used to hearing from her.

Zinnia had no idea what was going through Landon’s mind. Without another word, she slipped her arm from his grasp and hurried to the OR.

Landon hesitated for half a second, then quickly followed.

The doors to the emergency operating room swung shut. Through the small glass window, Landon caught one last glimpse of Zinnia pulling on her sterile gown, her face bare of makeup and completely composed. Before he could look any longer, the doors closed firmly, shutting her from view.