When Rome Finally Snowed, The Don Lost Me Chapter 15

When Rome Finally Snowed, The Don Lost Me Chapter 15

When I turned twentyeight, I got an invitation from Sapienza University of Rome for their anniversary 

homecoming. 

The direct flight from France to Rome was nine hours 

long. 

As I packed, I saw the Christmas music box in the 

corner of my closet. 

I thought about it. 

I decided to bring it. 

As the plane was about to land, I stared out the window 

at the Rome Harbor. Memories flooded back. 

Julian’s sailboat had docked right when I fell into the 

ocean. 

He’d pulled me out. 

Before I passed out, I begged him not to let Zayne find 

me. 

I woke up three days later. 

The baby was gone. 

I stayed on Julian’s sailboat for six months. 

He took me to several countries. 

We went skydiving in Queenstown, New Zealand. 

Falling from fifteen thousand feet, I finally forgave the girl who’d loved Zayne with everything she had and ended up broken. 

We went deepsea diving in the Galápagos. 

Swimming alongside wild whale sharks, I finally learned to love myself, put myself first, and accept who 

I was. 

For six months, I felt free and happy like never before. 

In the end, Julian’s sailboat stopped in France for half 

an hour. 

We said goodbye. 

He said, “I respect every choice you make.” 

“The world is big. I hope you spend the rest of your life feeling loved, loving bravely, and enjoying every 

moment.” 

I stayed in Chicago for six months, then changed my name and got a job at NBC in Rome. 

I was good at what I did. I quickly became news 

director. 

Four years later, I was back in Rome. Everything was 

different. 

Bellandi News Network was playing the morning news. 

“Today is December 25, 2026–Christmas. The weather station says it will snow tomorrow. It’s been 

four years since Rome last saw snow. May everyone kiss the one they love in the snow.” 

The next day, after the homecoming event, I walked 

outside. It was actually snowing. 

Rome winters were cold and damp. 

A snowflake landed on my nose. 

I buried my face in my scarf and wiped it off. A deep, 

familiar voice came from behind me. 

“Excuse me. Could you take a photo for me?” 

My body went stiff. I turned around and stared at the man’s handsome, cold face. 

It was Zayne. 

Time had changed him. At thirtytwo, his features were 

even sharper. 

What hadn’t changed was the Don of the Bellandi Family’s arrogant air. Even his umbrella smelled like 

expensive wood. 

“Could you? My wife comes to the homecoming every 

year and takes a photo at this gate.” 

“She’s out of town on business. She couldn’t make it 

this year.” 

“I said I’d take one for her, but I’m bad at photos.” 

Zayne smiled softly and broke the silence first. 

I stood there, numb. 

The cold wind blew my skirt against my legs. I 

shivered. 

I whispered, “Your wife?” 

“Yeah. Her name’s Renee. She graduated from SUP’s 

journalism program. She was a war correspondent. She 

even won a United Nations award for Best Journalist.” 

Zayne spoke proudly, like he was talking to himself. 

I froze. I took his camera and snapped a photo of the 

school gate. 

I found out two years ago that Zayne had jumped into 

the ocean to die with me. 

The Bellandi Family pulled him out and sent him to a 

mental hospital against his will. 

The treatment didn’t work. 

He lost his memory. 

I felt a flash of pain. But I never planned to see him 

again. 

“Thank you. You took it just as well as my wife. She’d 

love you if you met.” 

Zayne took the camera and looked down at me. 

“Miss, what’s your name?” 

I didn’t answer. 

He glanced at my name tag. His deep eyes turned dark, 

like ink. 

“Your name’s Renee too?” 

I was shocked. I was about to speak when several 

bodyguards ran over. 

“Don, you’re having another episode.” 

Zayne pushed them away and shouted angrily. 

“Get lost! I’m not sick. I see Renee.” 

“She’s right here. Talking to me!” 

The bodyguards looked around. The area was empty. 

Snow fell heavily. There weren’t even any footprints on the ground. 

He sighed. 

“Don, you’re really sick.” 

“Miss Renee is dead. Don’t you remember? We found 

her body in the open ocean after you jumped.” 

“We buried her in the Bellandi family cemetery.” 

Zayne’s face turned cold. He was furious. 

“I said I’m not sick! I’m fine!” 

“Renee’s alive. I’m gonna find her.” 

“Whoever stops me dies!” 

But he was outnumbered. They dragged him into the 

car. 

The snow kept falling. 

A Christmas music box sat under the banyan tree by 

SUP’s gate. 

It was soon covered in snow. 

Julian texted me. He was leaving Rome in the morning. 

At five a.m., I went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He was cleaning his sailboat. 

“Julian, can you take me with you one more time?” 

I called out to him. 

He paused and turned around. 

“Miss Renee, where are you going this time?” 

“To find the treasure One Piece left behind.” 

My joke made him laugh. 

“Miss Renee, do you want to be a captain?” 

“No.” 

I held up the compass in my hand. 

“I want to be a navigator.” 

As we sailed away, Rome grew smaller in the distance. 

I smiled and let go. 

The emails I wrote to Zayne were real. Every word was 

true. 

But I didn’t love him anymore. 

Seeing him insane and broken today. 

I knew he’d spend the rest of his life regretting it. 

He’d suffer more than I ever did. 

I left the bad memories behind. 

Time, the sailboat, and me–we were all moving forward.