After Owen's explanation, everyone stared intently at Zuri's clothes, jewelry, and handbag. She was the epitome of a rich and beautiful woman. The idea that such a wealthy heiress would steal seemed extremely unlikely, while the assistant appeared more suspicious.
All eyes turned towards the female assistant.
The assistant, unnerved by the probing and suspicious stares, felt a mix of panic and anger. "I didn't steal anything, nor did I falsely accuse her. Just because she's rich doesn't mean she wouldn't be tempted or wouldn't steal."
Owen frowned, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.
"You're right. Being rich doesn't mean I didn't steal. But I dislike being suspected." Zuri handed her handbag to the assistant. "You can check it yourself to see if the mask is inside."
Zuri calmly extended her handbag, showing no signs of worry or guilt. Her composure earned her the trust of many onlookers.
The assistant reached out but then hesitated and pulled her hand back. "You should do it yourself."
Noticing Owen's displeased expression, she wisely retracted her hand.
Without a word, Zuri unzipped her bag and prepared to empty its contents.
Suddenly, a hand grasped hers, stopping her. She followed the arm to its owner.
Owen's face was slightly cold, but his eyes were gentle. "You don't have to do this."
He trusted his judgment. She wasn't the thief.
Owen looked up, his cold eyes sweeping over everyone present. His voice was icy and stern, "I don't care who hid the mask. If you bring it out now, I'll let it go. But if I find it, don't expect any mercy."
Owen rarely got angry, but when he did, someone always paid the price.
Isaac added, "This is your one chance. Make the most of it."
Owen's cold gaze scanned the room. He couldn't let Zuri, whom he invited, be wronged.
Searching her bag was an insult to her and a challenge to him.
The surrounding staff exchanged uneasy glances, each looking innocent and shifting their eyes away.
"Nobody's admitting it?" Owen's voice grew colder.
Isaac sighed inwardly. Someone was in for it now.
"Isaac, retrieve the item," Owen ordered.
Isaac was momentarily stunned but then realized what Owen meant. He had almost forgotten about the hidden cameras in Owen's dressing room. These were installed after incidents where actresses tried to create scandals for publicity.
Gender issues could be ambiguous, but with such rumors, people would typically assume the woman wouldn't want to tarnish her reputation and would conclude that Owen must have initiated it.
To prevent such incidents, a hidden camera was always in his dressing room. Over time, Isaac had nearly forgotten about it.
Isaac retrieved a bag from the private lounge and returned.
The surrounding people looked at the bag with curiosity.
Isaac, trying to keep things discreet, offered a final reminder, "This is your last chance. Step forward now, and we can let it go. But once we present the evidence, there will be no leniency."
Zuri's gaze scanned the crowd and stopped on a small, dark-skinned young man.
After Isaac's warning, there was still no response.
Seeing no one confess, Isaac set up a computer and inserted a memory card to access the surveillance footage. He rewound to fifteen minutes earlier. The video showed the assistant placing the wooden box on the table and leaving.
Soon after, a masked woman wearing a baseball cap hurried in and out within a minute. After she left, the assistant returned.
Despite the mask and hat, Isaac and others recognized the woman.
The assistant was shocked, "Axia, how could it be you?"
All eyes turned to Axia.
Axia panicked, instinctively denying, "I-I didn't."
"The video shows everything. Stop denying it. Where's the mask?" The assistant was furious—angry that an innocent person almost got blamed and angrier that her friend had betrayed her trust.
Owen gave Axia a cold glance and instructed, "Call the police and get the corridor footage."
Hearing this, Axia panicked, "I-I'll show you where it is. Please don't call the police."
Stealing something worth millions was a serious crime.
Axia led them to a rest room, retrieved an inconspicuous bag from a corner, and opened it, only to find it empty.
"It's gone," Axia said, panicked.
This room was accessible to all staff. With people constantly coming and going, and no surveillance inside, finding the mask again would be extremely difficult.
"I really put it here. It was here. You have to believe me," Axia said, tears welling up as she repeated her plea, fearing they wouldn't believe her.
All the staff stood silently, none speaking up, none stepping forward. They exchanged guilty glances and then looked away.
"No one's going to admit it?" Owen's voice grew even colder.
Isaac sighed inwardly. Someone was about to get in trouble.
"Isaac, retrieve the footage," Owen ordered coldly.
Isaac was momentarily stunned but then understood. He almost forgot that Owen's private dressing room had hidden cameras. This precaution was taken after several incidents where actresses attempted to create scandals to gain publicity.
Gender-related rumors are hard to clarify, and if they spread, most people would instinctively believe the woman wouldn't damage her reputation unless the man initiated it.
To prevent such incidents, a hidden camera was always in his dressing room. Over time, Isaac had almost forgotten about it.
Isaac retrieved a bag from the private lounge and returned to the scene.
The surrounding staff looked at the bag with curiosity.
Isaac, trying to keep things discreet, offered a final reminder, "This is your last chance. Step forward now, and we can let it go. But once we present the evidence, there will be no leniency."
Zuri's gaze swept across the crowd and stopped on a small, dark-skinned young man.
After Isaac's warning, there was still no response.
Seeing no one confess, Isaac set up a computer and inserted a memory card to access the surveillance footage. He rewound to fifteen minutes earlier. The video showed the assistant placing the wooden box on the table and leaving.
Soon after, a masked woman wearing a baseball cap hurried in and out within a minute. After she left, the assistant returned.
Despite the mask and hat, Isaac and others recognized the woman.
The assistant was shocked, "Axia, how could it be you?"
All eyes turned to Axia.
Axia panicked, instinctively denying, "I-I didn't."
"The video shows everything. Stop denying it. Where's the mask?" The assistant was furious—angry that an innocent person almost got blamed and angrier that her friend had betrayed her trust.
Owen gave Axia a cold glance and instructed, "Call the police and get the corridor footage."
Hearing this, Axia panicked, "I-I'll show you where it is. Please don't call the police."
Stealing something worth millions was a serious crime.
Axia led them to a rest room, retrieved an inconspicuous bag from a corner, and opened it, only to find it empty.
"It's gone," Axia said, panicked.
This room was accessible to all staff. With people constantly coming and going, and no surveillance inside, finding the mask again would be extremely difficult.
"I really put it here. It was here. You have to believe me," Axia said, tears welling up as she repeated her plea, fearing they wouldn't believe her.