Avery’s stylists and hair/makeup professionals prepare her for the gala. One of them confirms that they’re supposed to make Avery’s hair “like the picture we were given” (293). Avery, assuming Alisa gave the team a photo, agrees. The unique hairstyle consists of a complicated series of interwoven braids. To finish the look, the stylists give Avery a statement necklace of white gold and emeralds. While Avery is getting ready, Libby returns to Hawthorne House. She’s crying and apologizes to Avery for not blocking Drake. The girls make up.

On the way to the gala ball, Oren tells Avery that Drake has incriminated himself in the shooting and car attacks. Oren suggests that Drake gained access to the estate through one of the secret tunnels—which someone, likely a member of the Hawthorne Household—would have had to tell him about.

When Avery enters the ball, Grayson sees her and freezes. Avery reveals, “I thought I’d taken his breath away” (299). However, it turns out that the stylists have made Avery look like Emily, particularly with the hair and the necklace. Thea reveals that she’s the one who gave the stylists the photo of Emily to copy. Thea tells Avery, “It’s what Emily would have wanted” (300).