Revenge is best served cold

Chapter 1857

When Fiona got home from school and spotted the note on the kitchen table, it felt like her whole world had just imploded.

In big, carefree handwriting, it simply said: "Off on an adventure, don't bug us unless it's an emergency." At the end, her mom had cheekily added a smiley face emoji.

Fiona dashed to her parents' room, only to find it completely stripped bare. It was like Sophie and Colby had vanished overnight, leaving not a single trace behind.

From the window of the Costello family's home, Fiona heard a car horn blaring. Alec had already pulled up at the mansion's entrance.

With a stormy look on her face, Fiona rushed downstairs, ready to vent to Alec: "It's over! My parents have disappeared!"

Alec, however, seemed unfazed: "Big deal. My parents did the same thing!"

darkened even more.

Colby were already soaring

gotta admit, since leaving the house, my guilt's been off the charts," Sophie said, trying not to laugh at the thought of their

mother, but she had to admit, it was a bit

up now; they need their own space to grow. We don't need to hover over them

wasn't worried about Alec. After all, Jenna and

Alec, she pretty much let him fend for himself. By seven,

watched some movie that made her paranoid about leaving Alec in the care of staff, fearing wild scenarios like corporate espionage. So she always drilled into Alec's head: "To be a real man, you've got to learn to live on your own." The first part sounded reasonable, but then she'd add: "Other kids, by three, are already washing dishes. By five, they're cooking meals for their parents. You're a bit behind, so we won't push too hard. Just make sure that by seven, you're

Sophie rubbed her forehead. Compared to Alec, Fiona's childhood seemed pretty normal.