Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 74

Xander was finally moved out of the ICU and into the hospital’s most exclusive private suite.

Once he was settled in, Noelle stayed by his bedside, waiting patiently for him to wake up.

Landon didn’t linger in the room. Instead, he made his way across the campus to the surgical wing—the building where Zinnia worked.

Outside her office, Landon lifted his hand to knock but hesitated, letting it drop again. The memory of how he’d lashed out at Zinnia earlier gnawed at him, a flash of regret clouding his eyes.

After a brief pause, he steeled himself and reached for the door again.

“Looking for Dr. Quinn?” a voice interrupted him.

He turned to see a nurse studying him with polite curiosity.

He nodded coolly. “Yeah. Is she around?”

“Dr. Quinn’s doing her rounds in the inpatient ward,” the nurse replied.

Doing her rounds? He’d just come from there and hadn’t seen her. Frowning to himself, Landon changed directions and headed back toward the inpatient building.

—

The inpatient ward bustled with activity.

“Your blood pressure looks good today, but your heart rate’s still a bit high. Let’s keep an eye on it, okay?”

“No signs of infection at the incision. The stitches are healing nicely.”

“Thank you, Dr. Quinn. Thank you so much.”

After finishing with her patient, Zinnia stepped out of the room and headed for the elevators, planning to check in on the VIP floor.

As the elevator doors slid open, she nearly bumped into Landon, who stood inside, ready to go up.

He looked at her anxiously, searching her face for understanding.

Zinnia gave a small, untroubled nod. Her tone was matter-of-fact. “It happens all the time around here. Family members get upset when they’re worried. I see it every day—I get it.”

Hearing the word “family” again, Landon bristled.

“I told you, I’m not her family.”

Zinnia didn’t understand why he was so hung up on the label. He’d done everything a family member would do—why refuse to admit it?

Well, of course. No matter what, his official status was still that of a married man. Appearances had to be kept up, especially for a family like the Fords. Everything had to look proper.

“Alright, I’ll remember,” Zinnia said easily, nodding as she turned to walk away.

But Landon, as if unwilling to let her have the last word, followed after her, insisting in a low voice—