Hey guys!!!! Happy President's Day Weekend! I hope you enjoy this chapter and please don't forget to comment and vote! :D

Song: Not Afraid Anymore x Halsey 

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Shit. If it weren't for the troublesome Tristan Park.

"Um, I was actually...the thing is..." Valentina stuttered. She couldn't expose herself now or else julian wouldn't want to work with her. But then again, this could be a good thing that she ran into Tristan.

The door to the hallway that they were standing on opened revealing Julian's stature. "Valentina, we need to talk about—" he stopped mid sentence when he saw Valentina and Tristan together.

"Julian, would you mind explaining to Tristan what's going on?" Valentina pointed out gritting her teeth.

Julian cleared his throat and was about to speak when more people entered the room of Julian's mother.

A short fashionable woman walked into the room and shrieked in glee. "Ayy, mi Julito!!!! How good it is to see you!!!" she said walking up to Julian and kissing him on the cheek. It was a funny sight. Julian had to lean forward so she can reach for his kiss.

"Tia Lucia, it's good to see you as well." he said simply.

Her cheerful eyes moved towards Valentina and her smile faded. "Who is this?" she asked Julian.

Oh crap. More people has seen Valentina. She knew this was supposed to be a one time thing and Julian wouldn't want to hire her after the night she came to visit his mom.

"Actualy, she's my..." Julian began before he was interrupted again.

"My daughter..." a voice croaked. It was soft that no one would be able to hear it unless they listen closely.

"My daughter...where is she?" Julian's mother cried.

Julian cursed under his breath.

This was Valentina's cue to secure her position as Julian's sister. "I'm here mother!" she cried surprising Tia Lucia.

"Is she...she can't be." Tia Lucia said putting a hand over mouth.

Valentina sauntered to the bed of Julian's mother and kneeled while taking her hand into hers.

"I'm here Mom." she said consoling the woman.

Julian's Mom turned to her voice, slowly opening her eyes. "My Juliet, I couldn't believe that I'd still live to see you."

"Me too, Mom." Valentina agreed tearing up. It's not that she was tearing up because she felt sorry for the woman. In fact, it was far from it. She hated the woman already. Valentina was thinking of her deceased mother and how good it would feel to hear her say those words again.

She can here the doors closing and opening again as more people filed into the large hospital room of Mrs. Avano.

"What's going on here?" Multiple voices queried.

Tia Lucia took her hand off her mouth. "Julian has finally found her. He finally found his sister, Juliet."

Valentina turned to face the group that were staring into her back. She stood from her position and introduced herself.

"Hello," she began. "I'm Valentina Sanchez, it's nice to meet you all."

The group that filed in with ages that varied from early 20s to mid 60s remained silent. It was Tristan who broke the silence.

"Wait a second, you're the long lost Avano sister?" he said incredulously.

Valentina looked at Julian for permission to speak. Julian was pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked at her and nodded.

Valentina smiled to herself. Of course he would have no choice but keep up this charade. His mother is still living which means he's going to continue paying her.

"I think this entire family have a lot to talk about." Tia Lucia suggested.

The entire family, meaning the group of people who filed in earlier were actually some of Julian's family members and closest friends.

Julian pulled Valentina aside and they hid behind a wall far away from the family. "This is going to go too far." he stated.

"No shit Sherlock." Valentina replied.

"What are we going to do?"

Julian let out a theatrical sigh. "We're going to keep pretending that you're my sister. MY mother already saw you and she believes that you're already her daughter because you look so much like her when she was little."

"So just go with it then?" Valentina asked.

"Basically, that's all we're going to do. We can talk about how you're going to keep up this charade later."

"Alright, sounds good." she nodded.

Valentina walked ahead of Julian and followed Tia Lucia to one of the love seats in the lounge of the hospital. It was a private lounge with soundproof glass that surround the small lounge. It was perfect for talking without the media hearing what's going on.

Julian and Valentina sat next to each other with Tristan across from them. He was looking at Valentina with curiosity and amusement. Valentina glared back at him but stopped herself because she couldn't afford literally, to make any enemies.

"How did you find Juliet, I mean Valentina, Julian?" Tia Lucia asked her nephew.

"It's a long story Tia Lucia," Julian said. "One that I prefer to keep to myself because it took a lot of hard work, dangerous and illegal actions to find my sister." he finished.

Tia lucia couldn't find the words to say next and Valentina couldn't help but applaud Julian. Damn, he's good at lying and avoiding questions.

"And how about you Valentina?" Tia Lucia turned to her. "Weren't you the least bit shocked that you turned out to be an Avano?" she interrogated her, suspicion coating her voice.

Oh so she's testing me, Valentina realized. She already knew the words she's going to say next.

"Actually, I didn't want to be an Avano sister although the blood test results proved that I am an Avano sister." Valentina replied which caused a loud intake of breath from Tia Lucia to come out.

"I see, and why not?" she continued her questions.

"Because I know what being an Avano entails." Valentina replied. "Paparazzi, scandals, stress to keep the company number one in tech production, need I say more?" she asked Tia Lucia.

Julian stared at her speechless. Of course Valentina did her homework on the Avanos before she decided to take the job as Julian's sister.

The Avanos are a group of family businessmen that created Avano Tech, a computer, phone, and other tech production company in the Bay Area of California. They are number one so far in tech production but with serious consequences to the reputation of the Avanos.

Tia Lucia was speechless. It was a long time before the silence was broken again. "Do you plan on staying for Dahlia?" one of Julian's cousins asked her.

Valentina didn't know who Dahlia was until she realized that was Julian's mother's name.

"Of course," Valentina agreed. She looked at Julian for help.

"Valentina will stay until mother gets better and then she'll take her leave."

That sounded like a perfectly good idea to Valentina. That's going to be enough time to plot her revenge on the Avanos and gain money at the same time.

"And how long would that be?" Tia Lucia asked the both them. Man, this woman really seemed as if she wanted to get rid of Valentina.

"A couple of months." Julian answered. "As I've said before, until at least mother feels better."

Tia Lucia and the rest of the group nodded in agreement. That settled it then. Valentina is officially a part of the Avano family.

Valentina returned to Dahlia's room where she was sitting upright with a doctor talking to her.

"It's a miracle, that you found this large surge of strength." The doctor commented.

"It was all thanks to my daughter, Juliet." Dahlia smiled towards her. Valentina gave her a fake smile back.

IF only she knew that Valentina wasn't here to take care of her. Valentina wanted to make sure that this woman sees the downfall of her entire family just as Valentina's crumbled before her eyes.

"If you're done doctor, I would like to talk to my daughter." Dahlia said.

"Of course, Mrs. Avano." the doctor, an old man with a balding head replied.

The doctor closed the door behind him leaving Valentina and Dahlia by themselves. Valentina made sure that the next few words that will come out of her mouth would make Dahlia believe even more that she's really her daughter.

Valentina isn't that worried. Dahlia lost juliet when she was only nine years old so she wouldn't know her daughter's likes and dislikes or the new mannerisms that she will develop as she grows up. She was set.

Dahlia patted the empty space on the bed next to her. "Come sit," she said.

Valentina walked towards the bed and sat down next to Dahlia.

She grabbed Valentina's hand to hers. "We've been looking for you for so long." Dahlia told her.

I know, Valentina thought to herself.

"Where have you been? Tell me about the place you grew up in. It must have been horrible since you were ripped away from us at such a young age." Dahlia presumed.

Valentina's blood began to boil. The place she grew up in wasn't that terrible although the standard of living wasn't as great as the living in san francisco. How dare Dahlia assume that she didn't grow up in a good place with a loving family?

"I grew up in San Bernardino," Valentina explained. "It was dangerous living there but my Mom—" she stopped and looked at Dahlia.

"It's okay," she said. "You considered the woman who raised you as your mother. I completely understand."

"My Mom raised me along with my brother. I had a good childhood." she explained. She didn't want to evaluate her real childhood to this woman. In reality, she didn't have a good childhood. Valentina spent many nights going to bed starving because her father wouldn't work but instead drink his entire paycheck at the bar while her brother had to result to stealing food for her family so they could just eat.

"I'm glad that she raised you into a beautiful woman." Dahlia smiled warmly.

"I'd love to meet her."

Valentina shook her head sadly. Every time someone mentions her mother, tears start to well up behind her eyes.

"She passed away a long time ago." she informed Dahlia as a ball in her throat began to grow.

Dahlia's shoulders slumped a little. "I'm so sorry." she said. "What about your brother she asked Valentina.

Dead, as well because you and your family killed my entire family, Valentina thought to herself.

"He passed away as well." she whispered.

Dahlia put her hand over her mouth.

"You've been living all by yourself then?" she asked again.

Valentina nodded. "They were all I had, and now they're gone."

Dahlia pulled her into a hug suddenly and rubbed her head. "I'm happy to have found you. You haven't lost your family yet. We're here. Julian and your little brother Justin are here."

Valentina hugged Dahlia back smirking to herself. Just wait, Mrs. Avano, Juliet thought. You're going to lose everything you love in a matter of months. 

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter of Sweet Oblivion! Please let me know what you think and don't forget to comment and vote :D

Xoxo,

Angelique <3