Anna picked up the broken glass with trembling hands.

One tiny shard cut her finger.

She didn't complain.

She simply wrapped the wound with a napkin and continued cleaning.

Victoria watched with satisfaction.

“That's better.”

Daniel Whitmore stood across the room.

He was the owner of the estate and the host of the charity gala.

He had seen wealthy people behave badly before.

But something about Victoria's cruelty disturbed him.

He walked toward Anna.

“You're bleeding.”

Anna looked up.

“I'm fine, sir.”

“You're not fine.”

She quickly stood.

“I can continue working.”

Daniel shook his head.

“No. Go to the kitchen and have someone treat your hand.”

Anna hesitated.

Victoria interrupted.

“She can work.”

Daniel turned toward her.

“Victoria.”

She smiled.

“Daniel.”

“This is my event.”

“And?”

“And you don't get to decide how my staff are treated.”

The smile disappeared from Victoria's face.

The people around them suddenly became very interested in their champagne glasses.

Victoria walked away.

Anna lowered her eyes.

“Thank you.”

Daniel looked at her.

“What is your name?”

“Anna Carter.”

“Anna, why didn't you defend yourself?”

She gave a small smile.

“People like her don't listen.”

Daniel frowned.

“You shouldn't have to tolerate that.”

Anna looked toward Victoria.

“You don't understand.”

“Then explain.”

Anna shook her head.

“I need this job.”

Daniel didn't push her.

But later that night, he discovered something unusual.

The catering company had hired Anna only three weeks earlier.

Yet her employment records contained almost no personal information.

Daniel became curious.

He asked his assistant to investigate.

The answer surprised him.

Anna wasn't simply a waitress.

She had once been a top accounting student at a prestigious university.

She had won several academic awards.

Then her father died unexpectedly.

Her family lost almost everything.

Anna dropped out of university and began working to support her younger brother.

But there was something else.

A confidential financial report showed that Anna's father had worked for Victoria's father.

And shortly before his death, he had discovered irregularities in the company's accounts.

Daniel stared at the report.

“What kind of irregularities?”

His assistant hesitated.

“Millions of dollars.”

Daniel looked toward the ballroom.

Victoria was laughing with several powerful guests.

Suddenly, the incident with Anna didn't seem accidental.

Maybe Victoria had recognized her.

Maybe humiliating Anna had been deliberate.

Daniel ordered his assistant to find every document connected to Anna's father.

Meanwhile, Anna entered the employee changing room.

She opened her handbag.

Inside was an old photograph of her father.

Beside it was a small black USB drive.

She touched it carefully.

Her father had given it to her shortly before he died.

He had only said one thing.

“If anything happens to me, never give this to the Blackwoods.”

Anna had kept that promise for three years.

She had never opened the drive.