Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 60

Zinnia shook her head. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”

Her response was cool, polite, distant—almost too much so.

This wasn’t at all what Landon had imagined.

He’d thought Zinnia would light up with surprise when she received the flowers.

But before he could dwell on it, Landon reached into the inside pocket of his suit and drew out a small box, offering it to her.

“Open it. See if you like it.”

Zinnia obediently opened the box. Nestled inside was a sapphire ring, the stone exquisitely cut.

Delicate ice-like fractures shimmered inside the gem, as if fragments of a frozen river had been captured deep within. As she turned it under the light, those icy veins seemed to melt into rivers of starlight flowing through the stone.

She recognized it. Once, bored on a flight, Zinnia had seen this very sapphire featured in an auction magazine. It hadn’t come cheap—the starting bid alone was a small fortune.

And now, that priceless gem was right in front of her, courtesy of Landon.

She had to give him that—Landon was always generous with her, never once stingy when it came to gifts.

Still, Zinnia slid the ring box back toward him.

“This is too much. You should take it back.”

Landon’s brows knit together. Clearly, he didn’t appreciate having his gift refused.

His gaze turned cold as he looked at her. “You’re my wife. No matter how expensive, giving you a gift is only natural, isn’t it?”

Zinnia heard the irritation in his voice.

He wasn’t wrong—not exactly.

Annoyance flickered across Zinnia’s face at his sudden persistence.

“It’s too much hassle to keep taking it on and off. It’s easy to lose. I keep it in the bedroom drawer,” she said, her tone clipped.

Landon’s expression faltered. He looked as if her indifference had knocked the wind out of him. The chill in his eyes only deepened as he stared at her unbothered face. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse. “You never used to mind.”

Zinnia couldn’t understand why he was so hung up on such a small thing. The irritation she felt started to bubble up again.

“That was then. Now, I do. Is that not allowed?”

Her voice was sharp, edged with impatience, and it left Landon staring at her, stunned, confusion plain on his face.

She knew exactly what he was thinking.

After all, the old Zinnia never snapped at him like this. She’d always been gentle, composed, her voice soft and pleasant—especially when she spoke to him, always with a bright, easy smile.