Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 299

She’s not back yet?

It’s so late—why isn’t she home?

Landon’s mind kept replaying those photos: Zinnia at dinner with another man, the pictures Connor had shown him on his phone.

Even though reason told him there was nothing going on between Zinnia and that man—Zinnia would never betray him, not while they were married—those images still stoked a fierce jealousy inside him, burning hotter with every passing minute.

After a long while, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Find out where Zinnia is.”

***

On the other side of town—

“Someone’s looking for you? Is it something urgent?” Yuri asked, noticing that Zinnia had declined several calls in a row.

Zinnia shook her head. “No, nothing important. Just someone not worth worrying about.”

She had no idea what had gotten into Landon tonight, calling her over and over again.

Suppressing a tiny frown, she turned to Yuri. “Are you just visiting for vacation this time? My schedule’s wide open, so I can show you around Veridian City if you’d like.”

Yuri smiled warmly. “Not a vacation—I’ve transferred back for work. I probably won’t be returning to Norway anytime soon.”

“Really? That’s wonderful. I’ll finally have more chances to play host.”

Zinnia’s eyes lit up. “Have you decided which hospital you’ll be working at?”

Yuri shook his head. “I’m not practicing medicine anymore. I’ve taken a teaching job instead—gives me a bit more free time.”

Zinnia nodded, understanding. “Doctors are always so busy. Since you just got back, you should take some time to adjust to the local pace.”

After dinner, when Zinnia reached for the check, the server told her Yuri had already paid.

She decided not to argue over dinner anymore. “Alright, next time we’re out, I’m treating—you’re not allowed to sneak off and pay again.”

Yuri lowered his gaze, chuckling softly. “Alright. Next time, I promise I won’t fight you for it.”

After dinner, Yuri headed back to his hotel, while Zinnia took Dapper and drove home.

She rode the elevator up. When the doors slid open and she wheeled Dapper out, the hallway lights flickered on—activated by the sound of a hoarse voice.

“You’re back?”

Zinnia jumped, startled.

Looking more closely, she realized it was Landon.

He was sitting on the floor by her apartment door, slumped against the wall. He looked utterly defeated, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. There was no hiding the raw misery and frustration in his eyes.