Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 280

“Of course, Ms. Quinn.”

The shop assistant brought over a design sketch and a contract detailing the requirements for the customized fountain pen, presenting them to Zinnia for her signature.

Once Zinnia had signed, the assistant gathered up the contract.

“Ms. Quinn, your fountain pen will be ready tomorrow. We’ll give you a call when it’s finished.”

“Thank you.”

Zinnia stood to pay, but Arrow stepped in to stop her.

“Zinnia, you’re at my store. How could I possibly let you pay?”

Zinnia nodded politely in response. “Thank you, Arrow. But this is a gift for someone else—there’s no way I’d let you cover it. Please, just charge me.”

As she spoke, she handed her card to the assistant.

The assistant glanced at Arrow for direction, hesitating.

Arrow waved her on. “Zinnia’s right. But next time, let me gift you one in the same style.”

“That’s really not necessary, but thank you.”

Zinnia wasn’t close to Arrow, or to any of Landon’s friends, for that matter.

Not wanting to linger in small talk, she found a polite excuse. “I’ll let you get back to work, I have other errands to run.”

“Alright. Take care, Zinnia.”

With that, Zinnia pushed Dapper’s stroller toward the exit.

Arrow stroked his chin, eyes narrowing as he watched her leave, mumbling to himself, “So she’s getting a birthday gift custom-made for Landon? If he finds out, he’ll be over the moon—he might just spring out of that hospital bed and start dancing.”

With that thought, he called the store manager over.

“Mr. Arrow, is there something you need?”

“That pen Zinnia just ordered—have someone make a matching his-and-hers set, and give them both to her tomorrow.”

“Understood, Mr. Arrow. I’ll see to it right away.”

The instant he saw Noelle, his brooding gaze chilled over with an icy sheen.

“So you’re here.”

His voice was low and flat, betraying nothing, but the air in the room grew impossibly tense.

Noelle didn’t notice. She only saw that Landon had spoken to her—after so long, the familiar way he addressed her made her eyes light up.

“Landon…”

She squeezed past Arrow, rushing straight to Landon. “Landon, Zinnia… uh—”

Before she could finish, a hand closed around her throat, cutting off her words and her breath.

“Landon…”

Feeling the grip on her neck tightening, shock gave way to terror in Noelle’s eyes. She clawed at Landon’s hand, looking up at him in panic and desperate pleading, silently begging him to let go.

But Landon’s expression only grew darker, his grip unrelenting.