Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 142

She bit down hard on her lower lip, her face full of reluctance.

But when she caught the growing impatience in Landon’s eyes, she had no choice but to drag her feet over to Zinnia.

“No need.”

Zinnia cut her off before she could even speak.

A flash of smugness danced in Noelle’s eyes.

She knew Zinnia wouldn’t dare make her apologize. Landon had always spoiled her; this was just for show, since the entire thing was being streamed online. Zinnia was beneath her, unworthy of an apology.

She shot Zinnia a look that said, “You know your place.”

But her triumph lasted only a second. Before she could even fully retract her gloating expression, Zinnia went on:

“I don’t accept your apology.”

Her gaze was cold and steady as she looked right at Noelle’s twisted, furious face.

“Noelle, you know better than I do why there wasn’t enough anticoagulant in Xander’s IV.”

Zinnia’s words wiped the arrogance right off Noelle’s face. Panic flickered in her eyes.

“W-what are you talking about?”

Zinnia hadn’t been sure herself—she was bluffing, hoping to catch Noelle off guard. She remembered the odd reaction from the nurse last night when Xander’s condition had suddenly worsened. If the hospital’s staff was off the hook, that only left the private caregivers.

That nurse had no reason to risk her job—or Xander’s life—just to set Zinnia up. But Noelle’s open hostility toward her? That was motive enough.

Still, it had just been suspicion—until Noelle’s panicked eyes confirmed it.

“Noelle, Xander is your brother. No matter how much you hate me, risking his life to get back at me is going too far.”

Finally, he spoke. “Juniper, you have my word. Zephyr promised three days, so three days it is. If there’s no answer then, I’ll take responsibility myself.”

Juniper decided to let it rest. “Since you say so, I’ll trust you. But I have just one request: we want a different doctor.”

He glanced at Zinnia, his voice tense. “Even if the investigation isn’t done, we can’t trust Xander’s care to Zinnia anymore. I hope you can understand how we feel as parents.”

Landon, clearly irritated, waved dismissively. “Fine. We’ll get someone else.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, every eye in the room turned to him.

Zephyr looked particularly upset. “Landon, do you think Zinnia made a mistake in Xander’s treatment?”

Landon paused, his hand pressed to his brow, glancing automatically at Zinnia.

Compared to Zephyr’s anger, Zinnia looked almost indifferent—her calm, steady eyes showing that she’d seen this coming all along.