Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 8

She realized the message had been sent to her yesterday.

Thinking back, she remembered she’d already boarded the plane by then, her phone switched off for the flight.

What surprised her was that Landon had actually reached out on his own. In the past two years, aside from a handful of necessary notifications, he’d never once messaged her first. Even when she’d shared snippets of her life in an attempt to bridge the distance between them, he’d either left her on read or ignored the messages altogether.

Or maybe, he hadn’t even bothered reading them at all.

Zinnia stared at her WhatsApp screen for a long while. Part of her wanted to just let it go, but with only two months left before their three-year agreement was up, she typed a quick reply:

[The northern lights were beautiful. I got lost in them and forgot to take any pictures.]

She knew Landon wouldn’t reply. After sending the message, she was about to slip her phone back into her bag when, unexpectedly, his response came through instantly.

[Noelle had a major depressive episode, almost tried to kill herself. And you, Zinnia, after all these days, can’t even be bothered to send a word of concern? Are you serious?]

Every word was sharp, brimming with accusation; even through the screen, Zinnia could picture the look on Landon’s face.

She paused, then sent back a single line:

[I’m sorry.]

No explanations or excuses. With those two words, she tucked her phone away, grabbed her suitcase, and headed out of the airport.

...

Meanwhile, at another entrance across the terminal, Landon stared at her short reply—“I’m sorry”—feeling no satisfaction whatsoever.

He’d waited for her all night, and that was all she had to say? No explanation, no rambling paragraphs like she used to send. Just two words, after half a month of silence.

Landon couldn’t even pinpoint what he was mad about; maybe that was why, out of sheer frustration, he’d sent that barrage of accusations in the first place.

But the moment he pressed send, regret washed over him. After all, she had no way of knowing about Noelle’s breakdown. His anger had no real justification.

She almost laughed at the irony, but had no intention of interrupting their little world. She’d be out of place, and she knew it.

She glanced down at her phone. Her car was almost there.

But just then, she heard Noelle call out, uncertain, “Zinnia?”

Zinnia pretended not to hear, eyes glued to her phone.

“Zinnia! Landon, it’s Zinnia!”

“Zinnia! Zinnia!”

“Zinnia Quinn!”

By the time Noelle had said her full name, Zinnia knew she couldn’t keep pretending. With a resigned sigh, she turned around.