Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 272

The police moved quickly, dodging Rosalie’s flailing arms with practiced ease.

The officer in charge didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Rosalie, you’re under arrest for assaulting an officer and obstructing justice. Take her away.”

At his signal, the officers closed in. Before Rosalie could throw another tantrum, they had her pinned to the floor, snapping handcuffs around her wrists in one swift motion.

That’s what Noelle saw when she came home.

“What are you doing? What crime has my mother committed for you to treat her like this?” Noelle demanded, stepping in front of the officers with fire in her eyes.

“Your mother, Rosalie, is suspected of malicious property damage. If you have objections, bring a lawyer to the station. For now, don’t interfere,” the lead officer said curtly.

He didn’t wait for Noelle’s reply. The officers marched Rosalie, still kicking and wailing, out to the patrol car.

Noelle just stood there in the doorway, stunned, watching her mother being driven away. It took a moment for reality to sink in.

Suddenly, she remembered what happened that afternoon—how she’d bragged to Zinnia about Landon getting all those videos about her mother wiped from the internet.

“This is all Zinnia’s doing,” Noelle hissed, her face darkening with rage. “She can’t stand to see Landon being good to me, so she went and called the cops on purpose.”

Fuming, she grabbed her phone, automatically dialing Landon’s number for help.

But as soon as the call connected, the familiar robotic voice informed her she’d been blocked.

The sting of rejection only made her resentment toward Zinnia burn hotter.

Refusing to give up, Noelle switched phones and dialed again.

***

“Not allowed to keep Dapper?” Connor echoed. “That’s it?”

So what? If she said no, she said no. Was that really worth drowning his sorrows at the bar? Connor thought it, but didn’t dare say it out loud. Landon looked so miserable, Connor feared for his own safety if he pushed.

Arrow, oblivious, shrugged. “Didn’t know you were so into dogs. If Zinnia won’t let you keep Dapper, you can borrow Spike for a few days. He’s adorable, too.”

Connor jumped in, nodding. “Exactly! Landon, my sister Sonya dotes on Spike. If Arrow’s willing to lend him out, that means you’re pretty high up in his book.”

“Yeah, man,” Arrow agreed, and the two exchanged a high five.

Chandler just sighed, shaking his head.

Sonya was lucky to have such a brother and husband—even if Sonya herself was a little odd. After all, who else would name a tiny, snow-white, doll-faced Shih Tzu something as tough-sounding as Spike? Only Sonya.