Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 126

Even though Zinnia had no idea what had gotten into Landon lately, she had no intention of wasting her energy worrying about it.

"Since you already know about the dog I've been keeping, I'll be blunt with you," she said, getting straight to the point.

Hearing the tone in her voice, Landon seemed to sense what was coming. His heart suddenly sank.

"For the next two months, I won’t be coming back to Royal Bay. But if you need me to play the part of Mrs. Ford for any reason, I’ll cooperate," she said, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.

Her words made Landon's face darken, his expression turning thunderous. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"So you’re planning to live apart from me now?" His voice shook, and there was a glimmer of moisture in his eyes.

Zinnia nodded.

"I don’t agree!" Landon’s voice was sharp. "Zinnia, I don’t agree!"

He raised his voice, almost shouting. "As long as we’re still married, don’t even think about moving out."

"Are you worried people will find out and it’ll affect Ford Group’s stock price?" Zinnia asked, recalling something she’d heard before: in big corporations, the CEO’s marriage could impact the company’s reputation. In extreme cases, a rumor could wipe billions off a company’s value overnight.

But that wasn’t their situation, not even close. In those companies, both spouses usually held a significant amount of shares, so a divorce would mean splitting assets and upheaval in the leadership—of course that would affect business. But she didn’t own a single share of Ford Group. What impact could her leaving possibly have?

Still, she had been naive then, clinging to girlish hopes and daydreams. She told herself it was a chance, at last, for her silent affection to have a place in the light. She’d chased after him for years, always from the shadows. Now that she finally had the chance to stand by his side, how could she turn away?

She looked quietly at Landon, wanting to tell him that, once, she had been bold enough to move mountains for him. But after being abandoned by him again and again, she’d finally lost her courage. The bravery she once had was buried somewhere under the frozen snows of Norway.

But now? Now he looked at her as if she’d wronged him, as if he were the only one who’d been betrayed.

In this marriage, at least, she had a clear conscience. She’d kept her end of the bargain: never interfering, always doing what was expected of a wife.

"And what about you?" Zinnia asked softly, her eyes steady. "Weren’t you only keeping up appearances too?"