Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 178

“Legally speaking, we’re married. The state and the law both recognize us as husband and wife. If we want a divorce, there are a lot of steps to go through.”

“At least we don’t have to worry about splitting assets. We just go to the courthouse, fill out the paperwork, and once the waiting period is over, we sign the documents and it’s done. It’s not that complicated.”

Zinnia picked up where Landon left off, doing her best to keep her patience.

But Landon only laughed at that.

Zinnia caught something dark and unsettling in his smile.

Sure enough, he said, “And what if I refuse?”

He fixed his gaze on her furrowed brow and repeated, his tone measured but unyielding, “If I don’t cooperate, this marriage doesn’t end.”

Anger flashed across Zinnia’s face. “Then I’ll file for divorce in court.”

“On what grounds?” Landon challenged.

“Irreconcilable differences.”

“And what, exactly, is irreconcilable between us?”

The question was so direct that Zinnia instinctively opened her mouth to answer—only to realize, with a jolt, that she had nothing. No evidence of discord, not even a single argument to point to. Their relationship had been so outwardly harmonious that even if she told a judge otherwise, no one would believe her.

Then something occurred to her. “Your involvement with Noelle—she’s posted everything online. I could use any of that as proof for the divorce.”

Landon’s eyes narrowed. “Really? Just some blurry videos where I barely even appear?”

He let out a cold laugh. “Zinnia, I didn’t think you were so naïve.”

Zinnia thought back to those vague, half-glimpsed videos Noelle had posted and fell silent. In Austerland, getting a divorce was nearly impossible. Even with photos and videos together, unless you caught your spouse in bed with someone else, the courts rarely granted divorces. And she didn’t have any real evidence at all.

Landon was right—if he refused, this could drag on for years, maybe forever. The realization sapped her strength.

It was a miserable feeling.

“I changed my mind. Is that allowed?” Landon ground out between clenched teeth.

Zinnia’s eyes hardened. She shook her head. “No, it’s not.”

She kept him in her sights, refusing to let him look away. “Three years—no more, no less. That’s what you said,” she reminded him. “And the same goes the other way: not a minute longer, either.”

“I believe in honoring commitments. I hope you do too, Mr. Ford.”

When she finished, Landon could only laugh in exasperation.

She’d used his own words—the ones he’d once used to corner her—right back at him.

And now, he had nothing left to say.