Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 284

Because she loved him, she’d wrapped him in a golden glow, putting him so high above her that he seemed untouchable.

That’s why she had always humbled herself to win his favor—bending over backward, shaping her every move around his likes and dislikes, until she’d nearly forgotten the person she used to be.

Back then, she couldn’t understand why loving someone, caring for someone, would make her a “doormat.”

What was so wrong about having feelings for someone?

Didn’t loving someone mean wanting to treat them well?

But it wasn’t until she’d almost died in that avalanche that it finally hit her—

There’s nothing wrong with loving someone.

Nothing wrong with being good to them, either.

The real mistake was making yourself small in a relationship that was supposed to be equal.

She’d been so caught up in loving him, she’d forgotten to love herself.

The thought made Zinnia let out a long, rueful sigh.

Looking back, those three years—she’d been just like one of those “doormats.”

She reached down to ruffle Dapper’s head, the little mutt gnawing on his rubber ball in the stroller as they wandered the mall.

Just then, Zinnia’s phone buzzed. It was a call from the courthouse.

Rosalie’s side wanted to negotiate a settlement over the issue with Dapper, but Zinnia refused without a second thought.

“I’m not interested in mediation. Let the court decide,” she replied crisply.

After hanging up, a wry smile tugged at her lips.

Cases this minor would normally take days to schedule in Veridian City, but her lawsuit against Rosalie had been fast-tracked.

So, being “Mrs. Ford” still has its perks, she thought.

There was a sudden, awkward silence on the line.

“Zinnia…” Xander hesitated, clearly struggling to find the words. “About what my mother did to your dog—I’m so sorry. I just found out, and I wanted to apologize.”

Zinnia could guess where this was headed, so she let him continue.

“If there’s anything we can do—if you’d be willing to accept a settlement—we’ll cooperate, whatever you want.”

He sounded anxious, almost desperate for her answer.

Zinnia only felt more sympathy for Xander.

Instead of responding directly, she changed tack. “Mr. Jensen, your sister almost got you killed just to set me up, and you’ve barely woken up. Out of everyone in your family, they send you—the one who’s just come back from the brink of death—to call me? Are your parents really not afraid I’ll snap at you so hard it puts you right back in the ICU?”

On the other end, Xander fell silent, thrown off by her casual, almost teasing tone.

“Mr. Jensen, if you ask me, you must’ve been adopted.”