He didn’t raise his voice.

He simply walked toward us, adjusting the cuff of his black suit as though nothing unusual had happened.

But every step made the room quieter.

Ethan Caldwell swallowed.

“Mr. DeLuca. I didn’t realize you were dining here tonight.”

Victor ignored him.

He stopped beside me and extended his hand.

“Miss, can you stand?”

I nodded, although my hip was throbbing.

He helped me up carefully, then turned toward Marcus.

“Get her a chair. And call a doctor.”

Marcus practically ran.

Victor looked at the broken glᴀss scattered across the marble.

Then at the water soaking my uniform.

Finally, his eyes settled on Ethan.

“Did you push her?”

Ethan gave an uncomfortable laugh.

“It was an accident. She spilled water on me, and things got a little out of hand.”

Victor tilted his head.

“Interesting. I watched the entire thing.”

Ethan’s smile disappeared.

“Well, you don’t understand. She damaged my jacket. It’s worth five thousand dollars.”

Victor glanced at the garment.

“Five thousand?”

“At least.”

Victor slowly reached into his jacket and removed his phone.

“Then perhaps you should be more careful with it.”

Ethan frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“It means that if you believe a five-thousand-dollar jacket gives you permission to put your hands on a woman, you’ve misunderstood the value of money.”

One of Ethan’s friends suddenly stood.

“Mr. DeLuca, we’re sorry about the scene. Ethan’s had a little too much to drink.”

Victor finally looked at him.

“Did I ask you?”

The man immediately sat down.

I was still standing beside the table, trying to understand what was happening.

I had seen Victor DeLuca’s pH๏τograph in newspapers.

He owned H๏τels, shipping companies, construction firms, and properties throughout New York.

But there were other stories about him.

Stories nobody discussed loudly.

I wanted to thank him, but my voice wouldn’t cooperate.

He noticed.

“Sit down, Miss Martinez.”

I stared at him.

“How do you know my name?”

He pointed toward my employee badge.

For the first time that evening, I almost smiled.

He pulled out a chair.

“Are you hurt?”

“My hip. And my elbow.”

“Then you’re going to the hospital. Your shift is over.”

I shook my head.

“I can’t afford to lose my job.”

Victor looked toward Marcus.

“Is that how this establishment treats its employees?”

Marcus immediately stepped forward.

“Absolutely not, sir. Anna is one of our best employees. Her medical expenses will be covered.”

Victor nodded.

“Good.”

Then he turned back toward Ethan.

“Now, let’s discuss what happened.”

Ethan straightened his jacket.

“Look, I’ll pay for whatever damage she claims she has. There’s no reason to make this bigger.”

Victor’s expression remained unchanged.

“You’re still worried about your jacket.”

Ethan’s jaw тιԍнтened.

“What do you want from me?”

“An apology.”

Ethan looked genuinely offended.

“To her?”

Victor didn’t blink.

“Yes. To her.”

For several seconds, Ethan stood motionless.

Then he turned toward me.

“Fine. I’m sorry.”

Victor’s voice cut through the silence.

“Look at her when you say it.”

Ethan’s face reddened.

“I’m sorry, Anna.”

I didn’t answer.

Not because I wanted revenge.

Because I had spent years apologizing to people who treated me badly, and suddenly I didn’t know what to do when someone else was being forced to acknowledge it.

Victor seemed to understand.

He turned away from Ethan.

“Come with me. The doctor is waiting outside.”

But before we could leave, Ethan spoke again.

“You think this makes you some kind of hero, DeLuca?”

Victor stopped.

Slowly, he turned around.

“Choose your next words carefully.”

Ethan laughed nervously.

“My father has business interests all over this city. You can’t just embarrᴀss me in front of everyone and expect nothing to happen.”

Victor slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“Richard Caldwell and I have known each other for twenty years.”

Ethan’s confidence returned slightly.

“Exactly.”

Victor looked at him.

“Then you should ask him what happened to the last person who mistook my patience for weakness.”

Nobody spoke.

At that moment, Victor’s phone vibrated.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed for the first time that evening.

“Put him through.”

A familiar voice came through the speaker.

“Victor? I heard there was an incident at La Bernardine. Ethan tells me there’s been some misunderstanding.”

Victor looked directly at Ethan.

“Richard, your son pushed a waitress to the floor in front of eighty witnesses.”

Silence.

Then Richard spoke.

“Victor, whatever happened, I’m sure we can settle this privately.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

He paused.

“Because there’s something else you need to know.”

Richard’s voice became cautious.

“What?”

Victor looked at me.

“Her name is Anna Martinez.”

The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.

Then Richard asked something I never expected.

“Anna Martinez? Did you say that was her name?”

Victor frowned.

“Yes. Why?”

Richard’s breathing became audible.

Then he said:

“Victor… don’t let her leave. I need to speak to her.”

I looked between them.

“Why does he want to speak to me?”

Victor didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he ended the call and studied my face.

“Anna, I need to ask you something. Did you grow up in Queens?”

I nodded slowly.

“Yes. With my mother.”

“What was her name?”

“Isabel Martinez.”

Victor’s expression changed.

For a moment, the powerful man who had silenced an entire restaurant looked almost shaken.

“Isabel…”

He repeated the name quietly.

Then he stepped closer.

“Anna, how much do you know about your father?”

My stomach тιԍнтened.

“My mother told me he died before I was born.”

Victor looked down at the floor.

Then he said something that made my blood run cold.

“Your mother lied to protect you.”

I stared at him.

“What?”

He looked directly into my eyes.

“Your father didn’t die, Anna. And the reason your mother disappeared from New York twenty-six years ago has everything to do with the Caldwell family.”

Before I could ask another question, Victor’s phone rang again.

This time, the caller ID displayed a name I had never seen before.

ISABEL MARTINEZ.

Victor looked at the screen.

Then at me.

“Anna, there’s something you need to understand before I answer this call.”

He took a breath.

“Your mother has been trying to keep you away from this family your entire life.”

And suddenly, I realized that the accident involving Ethan Caldwell might have been the least important thing that happened that night.

Because the man at Table 23 knew a secret about my family that could change everything I believed about my past.