Chapter 197 Keep the Act Going
Finished
Jean pressed her lips into a tight line, her entire face sharp with tension, like she was walking into battle.
The end of the alley–the street—was right there.
Her footsteps quickened.
And then-
A loud thud.
A hand suddenly clapped down on her shoulder. Not too hard, not too soft–but heavy with purpose, with presence. Her whole body flinched under it.
Her breath caught. Her chest tightened like something had snapped taut inside her.
Jean’s eyes widened instinctively.
So it really happened after all.
She gritted her teeth and turned around without hesitation.
Standing behind her was a tall woman–easily six feet.
Her black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, sleek and sharp.
She had pale skin and a pair of coal–dark eyes that looked like they could cut through bone. She withdrew her hand slowly, sizing Jean up with an unmistakable sense of dominance, like a predator staring down its
prey.
That gaze–it didn’t just look at her. It stripped her bare.
And Jean finally understood-
That unbearable feeling of being watched ever since leaving the haunted house? It had come from this
woman.
The woman wore a tailored black suit–sharp lines, powerful frame. She looked like someone who didn’t just win fights, but chose them.
Jean swallowed the dry lump in her throat.
“Uh, hi, ma’am… do you need something?” she asked, her voice small and uncertain, trembling just enough to sound scared. She looked up with wide, innocent eyes, playing the part of the clueless, harmless teenager perfectly.
She had no choice. She had to keep up the act.
She didn’t know how much this woman knew–was she aware of Jean’s connection to Abyssal Choir? Or had she just followed her for another reason?
Until she figured out exactly what this woman wanted, Jean couldn’t let a single word slip.
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Chapter 197 Keep the Act Going
The woman sneered.
04 ཟྭ 81%4
Finished
“You’re still pretending?” Her chin lifted slightly, and the words left her lips with a distinct edge.
Jean hadn’t expected that. Not so soon.
But her expression didn’t so much as flicker.
“Pretending?” she asked, brows furrowed, eyes confused. “Pretending what?”
She was going to play dumb until the bitter end.
No matter what, she wasn’t going to admit anything first.
“You know exactly what I mean,” the woman said, a cold smile tugging at her mouth.
Jean felt a chill curl up her spine.
This wasn’t going to be easy.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice a little firmer now. “I was just trying to go home. You’re the one who showed up out of nowhere
She didn’t even get to finish.
The woman lunged, fast as lightning.
Her fingers closed around Jean’s collar and yanked. Hard.
Jean felt her heels lift an inch off the ground from the force. The grip was strong–tight enough that Jean had to lift her chin just to breathe.
The woman leaned in close, her voice almost a whisper
“Cut the act,” she said. “I don’t have the patience for your weak little performance.”
Her lips hovered near Jean’s ear.
“Tell me the truth… you’re connected to that secret organization, aren’t you?”
The words hit like a slap.
Jean’s Heart dropped.
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