Page 38 of Tito

“Hello?”

Now, we all froze and swung our gazes over to the laptop.

An older couple were on the screen.

“Mom,” Julianna sat down in the chair in front of the table.

Valencia came over and sat next to her.

“Dio mio!” the woman on the screen gasped as she visibly paled.

Chapter Twelve:Tommaso And Bianca

Valencia

I stared at the couple who had raised Julianna. They looked like nice people. A sweet, older couple in fact. Not like people who lied and schemed. Then again, I never knew what Ophelia was capable of either. So, how could I tell?

“Valentina?” the woman whispered as she stared at me.

It felt odd to hear that name. The one on my birth certificate. To me, it was brand new. I’d always been Valencia up until today. Had it only been one day since we found out that we weren’t who we thought we were for our whole lives? It felt like a week. maybe a year. I nodded at her and finally replied, “Hello.” That was all I had right now, as I couldn’t think of what else to say.

Julianna sure could though, “Mom, Dad. Or should I call youTommaso and Bianca?”

At her hard tone, they both froze where they sat.

“What happened?” Julianna demanded.

“What do you mean?” Tommaso asked.

Julianna and I looked at each other then back at the screen. The couple still didn’t seem to realize that we knew.

“You aren’t my real parents!” Julianna exclaimed. “We know that you aren’t.”

The woman, Bianca, gasped and put her hand over her mouth.

“Who told you that?” Tommaso snapped as he genuinely looked angry at the accusation.

Romeo handed Julianna her birth certificate.

Grabbing it from him, she raised it up at the screen to show them. “This is my birth certificate. Myreal one. We got them from a man named Deacon Walker.”

Again, Bianca sucked in a deep breath then she exclaimed in a panic, “Walker? Oh, my God!”

“Are you both okay?” Tommaso asked in concern.

“We are.” I nodded.

“A-are y-you safe from her?” Bianca asked fearfully.

“Her?” I asked in confusion.

“O-Olivia.” Bianca nodded. Then she made the sign of the cross over herself as if to ward off evil.

“She's dead,” Julianna replied in a flat tone.

The couple both seemed to slump in relief. They sure didn’t look heartbroken about this announcement.

“Thank God!” Tommaso said. “That woman is dangerous.”