Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 205

Landon sat there, listening as the guys talked about him and Noelle as if he wasn’t even in the room.

Did they really think he couldn’t hear them? Or had they just decided he might as well be dead?

First she’s just a friend, then suddenly she’s like a little sister, and now she’s his sweetheart?

When Landon heard that last part, his whole expression twisted in disbelief.

He’d always just been kind to Noelle, that was all. The things he did for her, the way he looked out for her—it was nothing more than returning the favor for what she’d done for him all those years ago. Did everyone have to assume there was something more between them?

His life—his mother’s life—weren’t those worth more than anything he’d done for Noelle in return?

Was this why Zinnia never believed that things between him and Noelle were innocent?

For a moment, Landon had no idea what to say. He didn’t even know how to express just how speechless and frustrated he was. It felt like he was being wrongly accused and there was no one to listen to his side.

Everyone around him seemed convinced that he had some special feelings for Noelle.

After a long silence, he finally gritted his teeth and muttered, “Fine. Maybe I should just marry Noelle and be done with it.”

He was fuming.

“Yeah, why not?” Connor blurted out without thinking, only to be met with a frosty glare from Landon.

In the end, it was Chandler who finally stepped in, unable to watch his friends bumble through this any longer.

“Alright, alright, we get it. You don’t see Noelle that way.”

Landon’s face was like stone, and he didn’t say another word—just kept brooding into his beer, taking one long drink after another.

“But… Weren’t we supposed to be figuring out how to get Noelle out of holding tonight?” Chandler piped up, glancing around.

Landon just shot Connor another icy look, grinding out, “Who the hell told you I was going to bail her out?”

Connor stared back, completely confused.

Arrow jumped in, “Told you so—Landon doesn’t need us to brainstorm if he really wanted to spring someone. He’d have it done in a heartbeat.”

With Connor gone, the rest of the guys—pulled in by him—also started making their excuses.

“Yeah, uh… My mom doesn’t like me out this late, so I’m gonna head out.”

“My wife said I shouldn’t hang out with idiots—uh, I mean, I shouldn’t stay out messing around. So I’m leaving too.”

One by one, they all scattered.

Only Chandler stayed behind, his fate tied to Landon’s, scrolling absently on his phone as he watched Landon drown his frustration in another swig.

“You’re really not going to help look for Dapper?” Chandler finally asked.

Landon froze mid-drink, shooting Chandler a look like he’d just said something completely insane.

Zinnia’s new fling had gone missing, and the guy she’d dumped was supposed to help find him? Was he the crazy one, or had the whole world lost its mind?

“Who knows,” Chandler continued, “maybe if you help find Dapper, Zinnia might actually start treating you better.”