Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 209

Zoey, who heard Landon’s remark as well, didn’t bother to hide her disdain and rolled her eyes dramatically.

Brother-in-law? Who the hell do you think you are? Assigning yourself roles in other people’s lives now?

Does Dapper even acknowledge you as Zinnia’s partner?

Zinnia, though, had her entire attention fixed on Dapper. Watching him shivering in that filthy water, her eyes filled with pain—she couldn’t care less about whatever Landon just said.

Landon carefully scooped Dapper out of the grimy water.

A whimper escaped Dapper’s mouth as pain shot through him.

“Hey, easy, I’m right here,” Landon murmured, his voice soft as he tried to comfort the trembling dog. “Don’t be scared, Dapper. We’ll have you out of here in no time.”

Chandler, standing off to the side, covered his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to watch.

He treats that dog better than he ever treats Zinnia, Chandler thought. Wonder what Zinnia would say if she saw this.

Of course, he had no idea that right now, Zinnia’s mind was completely blank—her only concern was getting Dapper to safety.

At last, with the stench of sewage clinging to them, Landon climbed out of the manhole, Dapper cradled in his arms. Dirty water dripped steadily from the dog’s fur.

“Dapper!”

The dog whimpered again, trying to burrow into Zinnia’s arms, but the movement sent another wave of pain through him and he let out a low cry.

Zinnia slipped off her down jacket and gently wrapped it around Dapper, her voice soothing and sweet. “It’s okay, it’s all over now. We’re taking you to the vet, so just hang in there, Dapper.”

Landon shot Chandler a look, silently urging him to do something useful for once. “Would you mind getting the car?”

Chandler gave him a look of utter disgust as he sized up Landon’s sewage-soaked shoes. “You reek, you know that?”

He recognized Dr. Warner immediately—that was the man he’d seen chatting and laughing with Zinnia outside the hospital the other day, the one who reeked of cologne.

So… he was Dapper’s vet? Was Zinnia really just talking to him about Dapper back then?

Even if that were true, seeing Zinnia laughing and smiling with the doctor now was enough to make Landon’s chest tighten.

“Mind if I ask—how does it feel to realize you’re competing with a dog for Zinnia’s affection?” Chandler’s voice was slow and dripping with amusement, every syllable oozing with schadenfreude.

Landon shot him a glare, cold and sharp, but didn’t answer.

How did he feel?

Honestly, it was complicated.

Back when he was scrambling to get Dapper out of that manhole, he hadn’t had time to think about anything else. But now, with a moment to breathe, it hit him—he’d been fighting for Zinnia’s attention with a dog all along. And the feeling was… well, complicated didn’t even begin to cover it.