Laura's health is deteriorating and she has been given a month to live. Science has failed to cure her bone dust inhalation condition. She comes across an ad from a woman in Shang Simla claiming to have answers. Laura steals money to travel there, hoping for a cure. Her family is distracted by their own issues and does not notice her leaving.

1. The Hardy Family Chronicles IV A Tale of Several Sims Settling down? - Part 3

2. Laura’s condition is critical. The doctors have told her she has a month to live at the most.

3. Laura loves logic and science, but cannot accept she has to die. Science had failed her, it was time to seek alternatives.

4. Her behaviour at home grew increasingly erratic as she worsened. No one understood. In her more lucid moments, even the evil Laura saw her maniacal side was getting out of control.

5. One night, researching herself and her condition on the internet, Laura stumbled across something interesting. There was a woman in Shang Simla offering her services to ‘a young woman, draped in scarlet, her mind a twisted web of shadows and bright lights, devolving into the chaos of ancient bones. The modern way of her homeland has failed her, I Sing Pu, have the answers.” It was close enough to entrance her. Laura wore red, her mind was battling insanity due to bone dust inhalation and science could offer no cure.

6. But how to get to Shang Simla? It was on the other side of the world, that was a lot of money to steal from her parents. While her sisters were oblivious, Laura worked out how to get the money from the various accounts, assets and bonds at her disposal without it being noticed.

7. She chose her moment carefully, and left. Her entire family was busy with their own issues, perhaps they wouldn't notice her disappearance until there was no way for them to track her.

8. Rachael wouldn’t notice. Things were hotting up with her boyfriend/fiance Leo. They were meeting up all the time.

9. Even in the middle of the night. They had to be sneaky to be sure none of Leo’s fathers goons were watching them.

10. It didn’t look like marriage would be too much of a stretch for the two of them.

11. Hannah, Laura's mum wouldn’t notice either. After weeks of watching she was convinced neither her brother or Holly were fit parents. Angelica had been screaming for hours, with no one in the house. Hannah tried to phone Holly or Jake, but they didn't pick up. The never picked up.

12. It was with a heavy heart that she called child services. Holly was clearly in the living room ignoring her child and the phone. Enough was enough. Perhaps a social worker would take them in hand, give them parenting lessons or something.

13. Angelica could certainly do with some help. With Jake at work, and Holly unexpectedly inept at parenting, she was often alone and ignored.

14. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, child services had on record that Jake’s first child had gone missing with his wife with no explanation, and that Holly had been in therapy for years for not being able to cope with life. Holly panicked when child services rang, for good reasons. They were bound to take a hard line with them.

15. Jake and Holly clung to one another as the latest tragedy in Jake’s life took place. At least they still had each other.

16. But no one could have predicted that they would take Angelica away, no one. Not even Hannah – who now felt awful. Perhaps she should have been paying more attention to her own brood.

17. Jesse was. Or at least he was trying to. It’s difficult to lecture your daughter about her increasing fear of going outdoors when you are a burglar.

18. Jo-anne was fine with the way things were. She liked silence and security and being indoors.

19. She had one friend who understood her issues, and had no problems with hanging out with her after school in her house.

20. Richard was the only one he’d allow to visit him, out of shame. But he would get angry and defensive if Richard offered any help. He swore his job at the stadium was enough, and he’d make the team soon.

21. His attempts to impress his brother were weak. But the twins were so close, neither of them acknowledged it.

22. Richard accepted an invitation to stay the night, it had been so long since they had properly hung out with each other.

23. But once Andrew was asleep, Richard allowed his doubts about his brother to surface. What could he do to help when Andrew seemed incapable of helping himself?

24. Things were far worse than even Richard suspected, Andrew had lost his job, and was barely managing to pay his bills with what little he’d saved up. He was scavenging from bins, unable to pay for groceries.

25. And as the son of the Blue Diamond, how long would it be before the paparazzi caught up with him?

26. Unaware of any of this, Richard was only twisting the knife in Andrew’s chest every time he mentioned his own life – as the comparisons between their lives were so painful.

27. This was Laura’s chance. She snuck out of the house and cycled to the outskirts of town.

28. From there, she would be able to hitch a lift to the airport. Goodbye Sunset Valley.

29. Lee Hardy m. Kathy Lawes Family Tree Jake Hardy Heidi Kirsgaard m. Holly Alto Hannah Oseguera m. Jesse Oseguera Arthur McKenzie m. Shauna Garrett Mortimer Goth m. Dana Landgraab Richard Oseguera m Sadie McKenzie Andrew Oseguera Rachael Oseguera Laura Oseguera Joanne Oseguera Angelica Hardy Bjorn Hardy m Kirsten Goth Arun Goth