Chapter 27: Naomi — Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens in December 2022, five months before Naomi's death. Naomi has been spending every night that week at Liam's place, losing herself in their physical relationship to avoid thinking about Greystone. She feels guilty about this avoidance but cannot seem to stop. On Friday evening, after dinner at Sterling, Liam tells Naomi he has a meeting and asks to borrow her keys, claiming he left his phone in her room. Naomi hands them over, noticing a strange look on his face as he leaves.

Naomi then meets Amy at Firestone Library. Amy reveals that she convinced Professor Fiona Williams—Naomi's own thesis advisor—to speak off the record. Williams told Amy that Lila, before her death, had been gathering information for a reporter at The Prince about unfair admissions practices. Specifically, Greystone alumni were paying the dean of admissions to secure spots for their children, and the society covered up its involvement, letting the dean take the fall. Amy shows Naomi a laptop screen with articles linking former Greystone members to public scandals: the BP Oil Spill, Bernie Madoff, and Bear Stearns. Words like fraud, bribery, and insider trading are circled. Amy explains that these are only the cases that made the news; Greystone has used threats, lawsuits, and blackmail to keep other crimes quiet.

Amy also tells Naomi she contacted Lila's brother again. He does not believe Lila would have wandered off alone, especially with a storm approaching. Amy concludes that Lila was murdered because she was on the brink of exposing Greystone. She shows Naomi a photograph of Professor DuPont with Lila, taken at Sterling. Lila stares directly into the camera, looking like someone holding a secret. Naomi goes cold, thinking, Who killed you?

Naomi warns Amy to be careful, insisting that if the article is not airtight, Greystone could come after her. Amy acknowledges the risk. Naomi grabs Amy's hand and promises she will not let that happen. Amy tears up. Naomi turns back to the photo of DuPont and Lila, resolute, and says, “All right. Let’s burn this place down.”

Key Events

• Naomi spends the week nights with Liam, deliberately avoiding thoughts about Greystone.

• On Friday, Liam claims he has a meeting and borrows Naomi's keys, saying he left his phone in her room.

• Amy meets Naomi at Firestone Library and shares her findings.

• Amy reveals that Professor Fiona Williams spoke off the record about Lila's investigation into unfair admissions.

• Amy shows Naomi evidence of Greystone members' involvement in major scandals (BP, Madoff, Bear Stearns).

• Amy tells Naomi that Lila's brother doubts Lila wandered off alone, and Amy believes Lila was murdered.

• Amy shows Naomi a photo of Professor DuPont with Lila.

• Naomi warns Amy to be careful and pledges to protect her.

• Naomi and Amy resolve to expose Greystone.

Character Development

Naomi undergoes a significant shift in this chapter. At the start, she is actively avoiding the truth about Greystone, using Liam as a distraction and feeling guilty about it. When Amy presents the evidence, Naomi's denial cracks. She recalls odd incidents—Zee being asked to vouch for a stranger, Liam receiving an anonymous stock tip—but she had convinced herself that belonging to the society did not make her complicit. Now she sees that Greystone's philanthropy is a cover for systemic corruption. Her final decision to help Amy expose the society marks a turning point from passive avoidance to active resistance.

Amy emerges as a determined investigator. She has taken risks to gather information, convincing a professor to speak off the record and contacting Lila's brother. She is aware of the danger but refuses to back down. Her emotional response to Naomi's promise shows her vulnerability and her need for an ally.

Liam remains an ambiguous figure. His request for Naomi's keys is suspicious, especially given his connection to Greystone and DuPont. Naomi chooses not to tell him about Amy's research, fearing he might try to stop her. His strange look as he leaves hints that he may be hiding something, but the chapter does not confirm his intentions.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Corruption and Cover-up: The chapter exposes Greystone's pattern of bribery, blackmail, and concealment. The dean of admissions took the fall while the society escaped scrutiny, and former members are linked to major financial crimes.

Legacy Admissions and Privilege: The unfair admissions scheme highlights how wealth and connections buy access to elite institutions, reinforcing systemic inequality.

Philanthropy vs. Crime: Greystone's charitable foundation is contrasted with its criminal activities. Naomi realizes that the society's good works are funded by exploitation and theft.

Secrecy and Trust: Naomi keeps her investigation secret from Liam, fearing his loyalty to Greystone. The chapter explores the tension between personal relationships and moral obligations.

Murder and Investigation: Amy's belief that Lila was murdered elevates the stakes. The photo of DuPont and Lila suggests a direct connection between the professor and the victim, hinting at a deeper conspiracy.

Guilt and Complicity: Naomi's guilt about avoiding the truth and her past membership in Greystone drives her to act. She recognizes that silence makes her complicit.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the novel. It reveals the central conspiracy—Greystone's corrupt admissions scheme and its history of covering up crimes—and establishes the investigation that will drive the plot. Naomi's decision to join Amy in exposing the society sets her on a dangerous path, and the chapter foreshadows the consequences that will lead to her death. The suspicious behavior of Liam and the photograph of DuPont with Lila introduce key questions that will likely be answered in later chapters. The chapter also deepens Naomi's character, showing her transformation from avoidance to commitment, and raises the stakes by suggesting that Lila was murdered for her investigation.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Naomi choose not to tell Liam about Amy's research?

Naomi does not tell Liam because he is a member of Greystone and close to Professor DuPont. She fears that if he knows, he might try to stop her or get involved in a dangerous situation. She also does not want to put him at risk, just as she does not want to involve her sister. Her secrecy reflects her growing distrust of the society and her determination to act independently.

1. What evidence does Amy present that convinces Naomi to join the investigation?

Amy presents several pieces of evidence: Professor Williams's off-the-record account of Lila's investigation, articles linking former Greystone members to scandals like BP, Madoff, and Bear Stearns, and a photograph of Professor DuPont with Lila. Amy also shares Lila's brother's belief that Lila would not have wandered off alone, leading Amy to conclude that Lila was murdered. This combination of corruption, cover-up, and potential murder convinces Naomi that Greystone is dangerous and must be exposed.

1. How does the chapter use the theme of philanthropy to contrast with Greystone's crimes?

The chapter highlights Greystone's Legacy Foundation, which finances children's hospitals and cancer research, as a public face of goodwill. However, Naomi realizes that this philanthropy is built on stolen money and exploitation. The society uses charitable works to mask its illegal activities, such as bribery and insider trading. This contrast underscores the theme of hypocrisy and the idea that privilege is often maintained through harm to others.

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