Chapter 323 Cracks in the Mask
“Look at her face… there’s something on it…”
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With the spotlight and the massive screen, everyone could now see the issue with Naomi’s face.
There appeared to be faint scars beneath her skin–hidden under the synthetic mask she wore–barely noticeable at first.
But her skin had turned red, and around the edges of the mask, angry hives had spread like a rash.
It made people visibly uncomfortable just to look.
Emma caught on immediately.
She suddenly burst out laughing. Of course–how could Naomi’s face be fine? She knew Naomi had done something shady behind the scenes.
As expected, Naomi had tampered with herself.
“Don’t look at me! Stop looking!”
Panicked, Naomi tried to run off the stage.
But right then, the entire arena went dark.
In the very next second, Naomi felt something tear the synthetic skin right off her face.
And when the lights came on again, the big screen clearly showed the scars marring Naomi’s face.
Gasps rippled across the entire arena.
No one had expected Naomi’s face to look that bad.
As Naomi looked up at her distorted reflection on the screen, she collapsed on the spot.
Because of the spectacle, the concert didn’t even finish. It was shut down early.
Below the stage, Eliza calmly watched the entire scene unfold.
Soren really didn’t hold back.
He’d gone so far as to humiliate Naomi in front of thousands.
After this, Naomi might never recover.
The school hadn’t expected such a serious incident during what was supposed to be a simple concert. In the end, Naomi was rushed to the hospital.
Just as Eliza was about to leave and head backstage, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist from the shadows.
The next second, she was pulled into the darkness.
“Who’s there?”
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Chapter 323 Cracks in the Mask
Eliza tensed and turned sharply toward the figure.
It was Matteo,
The moment she saw his face, her expression darkened.
“Mr. Matteo. Is there something you need?”
“Was that your doing tonight?”
His voice was cold and measured, as if he already knew the answer.
Eliza feigned ignorance. “What does that have to do with me?”
“So you know Soren, too.”
Matteo’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.
Eliza felt a sinking feeling in her chest.
Matteo was dangerous–and whatever he had just realized, it wasn’t good.
In that short moment, he’d probably come up with half a dozen twisted ideas.
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“I only have a professional relationship with Soren,” Eliza replied. “No different from the one I have with you. If you’re thinking of using me to reach Soren, I suggest you drop it now.”
“You forget? You owe me three favors.”
That instantly put Eliza on alert. “I said I’d do what I can–but nothing that harms my friends or crosses a moral line.”
“I thought you just said you were only professional contacts?”
Matteo gave a casual shrug. “Relax. It’s nothing major.”
He sounded light, but Eliza knew better.
“Let me be clear. I’ll only do what’s within my means. If your requests cross the line, I have the right to
refuse.”
“I don’t need much. Just help me make an introduction.”
“An introduction?”
“You know Soren. And probably Nolan, too. I want to meet one of them. I need th. for me.”
to prepare something
“They’re not me. I said I’d help you, not get others involved. What if what you need is dangerous?”
A man like Matteo wasn’t looking for household supplies.
“I need this.”
He raised a hand–and shaped it into a gun.
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Chapter 323 Cracks in the Mask
Eliza’s brow furrowed.
“The Hayes family doesn’t deal in weapons.”
“You underestimate them.”
Matteo gave a low chuckle. “Even Tyson–who’s barely related to them–can get his hands on gear like that. Let alone Nolan. And Soren… he’s no angel either. They can both get what I need. It’s just a matter of who you’d rather beg.”
A chill crept down Eliza’s spine.
Nolan and Soren’s relationship was a closely guarded secret–not even Henry knew. How could Matteo know?
Had he been planning to make a move on the Hayes family this whole time?
Eliza’s mind raced.
In her previous life, Matteo had killed Nathaniel and taken over the Hartwell family.
see now, Nathaniel had always been wary of him. He would’ve never given Matteo weapons.
But from what she could any men–or access to
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