When Rome Finally Snowed, The Don Lost Me Chapter 03

When Rome Finally Snowed, The Don Lost Me Chapter 03

When I walked out of the bathroom, Zayne stood by the floortoceiling window in a tailored suit, reading the morning financial newspaper.

He saw me grabbing my suitcase.

He set the paper down and glanced at the cat on the couch. His voice was low.

“Renee, you don’t have to move out so fast. You and Pumpkin can stay in this mansion.”

“No. I’d rather keep things clean,” I shook my head. “I’ll find a new place within the next couple of days.”

Zayne didn’t say anything else. He turned and went downstairs.

By the time I changed and went down, he’d already made breakfast.

A steaming bowl of herbal tea sat on the table.

“Drink this. The temperature’s been dropping. Be careful.”

I froze. He’d actually believed my stupid lie.

To avoid getting caught, I picked up the bowl and took a few sips.

He smoothly pulled a lemon candy out of the jar, peeled off the wrapper, and held it out for me.

I stared at the candy. A sharp ache pricked my nose.

I hated bitter things.

It was his little reward every time he made me take medicine.

But now.

I couldn’t taste a single bit of sweetness.

“It’s sour and bitter. It’s not good at all.”

I smiled bitterly.

Zayne’s brow furrowed almost invisibly.

Only for a second, though.

He picked up the candy jar and tossed it into the trash. He scoffed.

“Good. Better to get rid of it.”

“Celine doesn’t like candy. The smell makes her sick.”

I stared at the jar in the trash. My heart felt like someone was squeezing it as hard as they could.

The pain was unbearable.

It was a candy wish jar he’d bought for me at a royal auction in Paris when I turned twenty. He’d outbid everyone to get it.

They said every candy you ate brought you more happiness.

If you didn’t… the pain doubled.

As I headed out, Zayne stopped me. He sent a location to my WhatsApp.

“Julian, the second son of the Marino family. He sails. He’s usually out at sea.”

“Remember? He came back just for your birthday and gave you a sailboat model.”

“This is where your date is tonight. There will be paparazzi.”

I understood what he meant.

The Bellandi Family had already announced his business marriage to Celine.

I’d been his for seven years.

Now he needed to clean me up like a ticking time bomb.

The best way was to tie me to another man with rumors—maybe even marriage.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”

I nodded and turned to leave.

Zayne suddenly grabbed my wrist. His eyes were dark and unreadable.

“Renee, I’ve had you for seven years. I won’t leave you emptyhanded. Tell me what you want.”

I looked up at the mole under his right eye and smiled softly.

“I want to be your Donna. Is that okay?”

Zayne froze, then frowned.

Before he could speak, I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and forced a smile.

“I’m just kidding.”

“I’m heading to work. The station’s giving me the Journalist of the Year award. I can’t be late.”