Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 76

She picked up the nurse’s morning chart again, scanning the numbers before speaking.

“Blood pressure’s normal, heart rate’s steady. If things stay stable tonight, we can try letting him sit up for a bit tomorrow.”

Zinnia finally looked up at Landon and Noelle. “He’s still in a critical recovery period. Good post-op care is crucial, so I’ll need the family to be extra attentive.”

That last part was clearly directed at Noelle.

But the word “family” made Landon bristle. He couldn’t help replaying Zinnia’s cool, distant manner toward him, his thoughts wandering. He barely registered her instructions.

Noelle, however, was entirely focused on Landon—her own brother’s medical advice barely registered. She noticed, not for the first time, how Landon’s gaze kept drifting toward Zinnia. A shadow flickered across her face.

To Noelle, Zinnia’s voice gnawed at her nerves, like a scraping from the gutter—something she could hardly stand to hear. She had no interest in anything Zinnia had to say.

When her words were met with silence from both of them, Zinnia’s expression hardened.

Her voice sharpened. “Family.”

Landon sighed in resignation, rubbing his brow. He noticed Zinnia was looking at Noelle. “Did you catch everything she just said?”

Noelle dragged her eyes away from Landon, glancing at Zinnia with undisguised resentment. “I heard.”

She answered through gritted teeth.

Zinnia didn’t press further. She simply turned to Xander and said, “Get plenty of rest,” before leaving the room.

“What’s wrong with here? Your brother just came through a crisis. It’s not the right time to move him around. The doctors at Veridian University Hospital are every bit as skilled as anyone at Enliven. There’s nothing to worry about.”

His words were gentle, meant to reassure, but to Noelle, they sounded like an excuse—just another reason for Landon to keep coming here, to see Zinnia.

That suspicion took root and spread through her like a weed.

“But this is a public hospital,” she insisted. “It’s busy, noisy… not like Enliven, where it’s quieter. I’m worried all the commotion will slow his recovery.”

In truth, she just wanted to keep Landon away from Zinnia. That woman was far too cunning.

But Landon, who once would’ve done anything she asked, stood firm yet again. He shook his head, rejecting her suggestion without a second thought.