As Thomas stepped off stage after his final bow, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers, punctuated by a vibrant fireworks display. Backstage, the tension finally broke as all staff exchanged relieved smiles. Weeks of preparation had paid off, and the show had ended perfectly. Seraphina, fresh-faced after removing her makeup, was about to leave when she remembered Evelyn's request. She asked staff for a pen and a piece of paper, then walked over to Thomas. "Can I get your autograph?" she asked, holding out the paper. Thomas blinked, momentarily surprised. Everyone around them froze, eyes wide in disbelief. Standing nearby, Milo frantically gestured for Seraphina to stop. Thomas was known for refusing autographs—he'd signed less than a handful in his entire career, and each one was considered priceless.Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Seraphina hesitated and started to pull back her hand. To everyone's shock, Thomas took the pen and paper without hesitation. "Where do you want me to sign?" Seraphina pointed, and his signature was done with a few quick strokes. "Thanks." She then took the signed paper and pen. Just as she turned to leave, his voice stopped her. "Hold on." She turned back, her expression calm but questioning. "Is there something else?" "You haven't received your pay yet," Thomas replied casually. Standing nearby, Michael narrowed his eyes. Something about this doesn't sit right. Thomas is unusually warm and generous today—far too enthusiastic for his usual demeanor. Pay? Since when does Thomas care so much about payment? A nagging suspicion crept into his mind. Is he… interested in her? The more Michael thought about it, the more it bothered him. He felt an urge to pull Thomas aside and demand some answers. Seraphina held up the signed paper and replied, "This is good enough for me." Though she didn't fully understand the staff's earlier reactions, she could tell the signature was valuable. Since Thomas had already given it willingly, she felt it was fair to let it go at that. Yet, Thomas shook his head. "An autograph is just an autograph. Pay is something else entirely. Your performance deserves proper recognition. Leave your phone number, and I'll have Michael send the payment to you." Michael mentally rolled his eyes. Right. The phone number. Smooth, Thomas. Really subtle. Seraphina hesitated but eventually agreed. She thought, It wouldn't make sense to refuse. Who truly believes they have enough money? And frankly, I could really use it. Just as she was about to leave after giving her number, a female assistant rushed towards her and called out urgently, "Miss Whitewood, please wait!" She stopped, curious. The assistant approached, looking a little uneasy. "The fox mask—it's not in the sandalwood box you gave me. Did you perhaps forget to include it?" Her words were carefully chosen, but no one was naive enough to miss the hidden implications. Seraphina frowned, confused. "The mask isn't there?" The assistant nodded, her thoughts swirling. As I was getting ready to lock the box, I took one last look and found it was empty. No one else has touched it since she handed it to me. The only explanation is that Miss Whitewood didn't return the mask before giving it to me. The silver fox mask is worth over a million—it's not just an accessory. It wouldn't be surprising if someone were tempted by its value.