Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 375

“Alright, wait for me. I’ll bring Dapper and come find you.”

“Okay.”

Yuri’s voice carried a hint of delight.

Zinnia gave Dapper’s rump a gentle pat, shrugged on a jacket, and headed downstairs.

As soon as she stepped out of her building, she spotted Yuri from afar, clutching a small bag filled with all kinds of sparklers.

The two of them, plus one curious dog, left the apartment complex and walked to a nearby patch of open ground where small fireworks were allowed.

They sat down on a row of concrete steps.

Yuri pulled out a few sparklers and offered them to Zinnia. “Here.”

She took them, lit one, and watched as golden sparks fizzed and danced in her hand. For a moment, she drifted off into memory.

She used to love sparklers as a kid. Back when her grandparents were still alive, she was the only child in the family. Every New Year’s, they’d buy her the newest, most exciting fireworks they could find.

Even as she grew older, each year when the holiday came around, they would still stock up on all kinds of sparklers for her—always the latest, always safe and fun.

Then, after she married Landon, things changed. She worried Landon might find her childish. Whenever she saw Leanna waving sparklers in the courtyard at the Old Ford Manor, she’d just stand quietly to the side and watch.

Leanna would insist on dragging her into the fun, stuffing sparklers into her hands, refusing to take no for an answer.

She remembered once, as Leanna tugged her along, Landon scolded her, saying that she was an adult now and should stop acting like a child.

Landon hadn’t meant her, but at that moment, Zinnia felt as if his words were directed right at her.

Later, Landon told her, “If you don’t want to play, then don’t.”

He rummaged in the bag again and pulled out a novelty headband shaped like a zodiac animal, placing it on Dapper’s head, then handed another to Zinnia.

“Come on, let me get a sibling photo of you and Dapper.”

Even as he spoke, he’d already pulled out his camera and crouched a short distance away, ready to shoot.

Zinnia quickly put on the matching headband, wrapped an arm around Dapper, and together they struck all kinds of silly poses for Yuri’s camera.

Maybe it was the freedom, maybe it was Dapper’s eager antics, but without the weight of the “Mrs. Ford” persona, Zinnia found herself doing things she hadn’t in years.

By the end, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing.