“Mr. and Mrs. Giacomo died in a fire accident...”

The horrific memory echoed violently in my head. I started seeing our old wooden cottage burning into ash, the deafening screams, the unbearable smell of smoke, my absolute terror, and little Adam's endless sobbing.

"Aaahhh!" A low, pained groan escaped my throat as the phone slipped from my numb fingers, clattering onto the gravel.

Your parents are dead.

Ginevera is dead.

The voices collided in my ears, deafening me. I slammed my fist against my chest, struggling for air as image after image of my biological parents' charred bodies flashed behind my eyes.

"Sir! Are you okay?" Rosa's frantic voice sounded...