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W e d n e s d a y, 10/4/19

Dear Diary,

I was so mad I felt like my brain was about to explode.

How dare Andrea waltz into our house! Our lives! Our story! How dare she lie to Dad and pretend that she cared for him! How dare she try and steal, not only his heart, but his money!

If it wasn't for Spencer restraining me, I would've ran straight back into the house and slapped that bitch senseless.

As Rick led a completely oblivious Daisy out onto the water, Spencer and I huddled together on the sand beneath the clefts.

"Okay, this settles it," Spencer announced gravelly. "We have to get rid of Barbie."

"But how?" I yelped. "Dad's away, so we won't be able to show him the video! And all of our leads, the notebook, the furniture seller, the crazed man's house, have come to dead-ends! What are we going to do?"

Spencer laid a comforting hand on my shoulder and assured me, "I would rather die than let Lane marry that witch! Don't worry. I have a plan, a plan that I should've carried out long ago."

"Well?"

"I'm hiring a private investigator," she explained. "We show him what we've found and he can dig up the rest. In the meanwhile, we can keep a close eye on the two Barbies and stay out of trouble and out of reach of knives. It's a win-win."

I heaved a deep, unsettled breath before nodding, "Do what you have to do. As it is, we don't have much time. The wedding is scheduled within three weeks. If we don't dig up something in that time, I'm going to have a step-sister and a step-mother permanently."

Spencer grimaced. "I'll do what I can. Actually, I'm gonna head home and make a call right now."

I nodded. "Speaking of which, I'd better go back and relieve Luna, the poor thing."

As Spencer stood up to go, I grabbed her arm and gazed appreciatively at her, "Thank you, Spence, really. I don't know what I'd do without your help."

Spencer smiled before pulling me into a tight hug. "I promise that we'll get rid of Andrea," she whispered into my hair. "Don't worry."

Bidding Rick and Daisy, who were almost finished their first lesson, good-day, Spencer and I both walked back to our respective homes.

As I slipped through the back door and made my way into the kitchen, I heard a barrage of raised voices sound from within the dining room.

Alarmed, I went to see what was going on, only to see a most horrifying sight!

Luna was standing near the exit of the building. She was wearing her big, floppy hat that was pinned to her thick truffle of hair and was carrying a few suitcases loaded with her things. Towering over her stocky figure was Andrea, her eyes ablaze with rage and her lips parted in a string of curses. Right behind her was Tiffany, trembling and crying like a baby.

"What the hell is going on?" I shouted, raising my voice above the noise. Addressing Andrea, I demanded harshly, "What do you think you're doing?"

Andrea whirled around and glared angrily at me. "Y-your maid is a useless, lazy, sloppy piece of junk!" she spluttered. "She spilled my tea all over my daughter's best silk dress! It's the one your father had made and shipped from India especially for her! It can't be replaced! So, I'm getting rid of her!"

"You're getting rid of Luna?" I gasped. "You can't do that! It's not your decision! That's my father's!"

"Yeah? Well, he's not here, is he?" Andrea snarled. "And if he was, he would most definitely support me in this. Go!" she screamed, right in Luna's face. "Get out! Get out!"

"No!" I cried as I lunged towards Andrea. Seizing her arm in a vice-like grip, I pulled her back. "You can't do this! You can't fire her! She did nothing wrong!"

"How dare you touch me like that!"

The next thing I knew the back of Andrea's hand had cracked across the side of my face. Shocked, I stumbled backwards, holding my throbbing cheek and trying to keep the bile from rising up in my throat.

"Jo!" Luna dropped her bags and rushed over to me. "Jo! It's okay. Don't fight this. I'm not worth it. I'll find another job in the city. I've plenty of experience and a good resume behind me. I'll be fine."

Tears filled my eyes and I clung to her in desperation. "If you leave, I'll be all alone here," I sobbed. "Please...Luna..."

Shaking her head sadly, Luna pulled away from me before backing out the door. Shooting Andrea a deathly glare, she spun around on her heel and stormed away.

Mumbling curses under her breath, Andrea pronounced, "I'll arrange for another maid to arrive straight away," before stalking proudly out of the room.

As Andrea and Tiffany waited for the new maid, that would replace Luna, to arrive, I grabbed a cardigan and a pair of slip-on shoes before hurrying from the estate.

I needed to get the hell out of there!

Probing my bruised cheek, I slowly shuffled down the side of the road until I came across a small, eighties-style diner. As I walked in and heard a string of bells announce my arrival, I bowed my head and quickly ducked around the side of a pastry stand.

Heaving a deep breath, I lifted my eyes and scanned the rows of breads, meats and sweets lining the far wall.

Before I could make another move, though, a calloused hand was placed on my elbow. Without having the chance to resist, my entire body was swivelled around to face the person standing behind me.

I gulped.

Oh no.

Camden.

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