Layla and the manager acted fast. While Draco and I were at home eating birthday cake, the topic shot straight into the top ten of the trending list. They must have paid to boost it.

The hashtag #GoldDiggerCursingAWaitressInARestaurant left both my boyfriend and me stunned.

They really had a talent for distorting the truth.

In the video, Layla wore tear-effect makeup with smudged eyeliner and damp, streaked cheeks meant to make her look pitiful at first glance. Tears streamed down her face as she tearfully recounted my alleged behavior.

"I'm just a regular waitress. I just want to work peacefully and earn my money. I didn't expect her words to be so cruel. After she ordered, she called me a pauper, maybe because I don't wear designer clothes like her, so she looked down on me. Every penny I earn is honest money, not like hers…

"Luckily, our manager is a reasonable and kind person and stepped in for me. Otherwise, I can't even imagine whether she would have gone so far as to rip my clothes off."

Her speech came out uneven and broken by tears, but the full version of the events she was presenting was still easy to follow. In addition, she uploaded another video to persuade netizens.

Our family's restaurant equipped each staff member's uniform with a chest-mounted wearable camera. It was meant to protect employees from unreasonable customers and safeguard their legal rights, but now it had become an advantage for the staff instead.

She edited the footage from her body camera very cleverly, cutting it to include only the parts where I clearly and angrily said "Der Penner" to her. It made it look as if I had insulted her as a pauper, followed by scenes of me making things difficult for her.

With both the video and her testimony, netizens erupted in outrage, flooding the trending posts with insults aimed at me as they rushed to defend the working class.

"I hate these women who rely on their looks to make money. They corrupt social values. It's unfair to people like us who work ourselves to exhaustion for just a few thousand a month."

"This video makes my blood boil. What right does a gold digger have to act so superior? She really thinks sleeping with rich men makes her better than everyone else. It's ridiculous."

"She even tried to show off by speaking Virellian. She probably only knows a few sarcastic Virellian phrases her whole life. Acting like some high-achiever."

They even dug up my social media account.

My account contained posts showing gifts my boyfriend had given me, which only reinforced their belief that I was a gold digger.

My comment section and private messages had completely blown up, filled with insults and abuse.

Among the many private messages, Layla's stood out.

"How does it feel, gold digger? This is the price you pay for making things difficult for me at the restaurant. I imagine it doesn't feel very pleasant to be on the receiving end of online harassment, does it?"

"Here's the deal. Post a public apology now, and I'll forgive you and even speak up for you."

"The apology has to be sincere. For example, you should kneel in front of the camera and slap yourself. Only then will I calm down."

I typed a line with a blank expression.

"Who backed you up and made you this bold? Was it Renold Hayman, the store manager? Do you even understand that you've crossed into criminal conduct?"

I had already looked into it. Renold Hayman was the son of my father's distant cousin.

The reply came almost instantly.

"Our manager was personally appointed by headquarters. What makes you think a cheap gold digger like you can compete with us?"

Whether he was appointed by headquarters or secured the role through his father's requests to mine, I knew it very well.

To put it bluntly, he was like a dog barking in front of its owner.

I didn't reply to her any further. Instead, I quickly contacted my father, without explaining what had happened, and asked for access to the restaurant branch's surveillance system.

This was too small a matter to require my father, the CEO, to get involved. However, the moment he did, everyone below him would realize the situation was anything but simple.

Less than five minutes later, the branch's live cloud surveillance feed was sent to my phone.

After opening the surveillance feed, I saw customers flooding into the restaurant nonstop. Most of the customers were attracted by the trending topic and showed up to express their support online.

The restaurant's revenue had surged to an extreme level, reaching what the branch normally made in two months within less than six hours.

I had checked the cameras to collect evidence for a police report, but what I found was far more shocking.

Renold was in the staff lounge, holding Layla in his arms as he proudly boasted about his achievements to his father.

"Dad, revenue has increased dozens of times this time. I've skimmed over three million dollars from it. You and Mom can relax and enjoy your trip…"

After exchanging a few casual words, he hung up the call.

Layla immediately leaned in.

"Darling, this huge surge in revenue wouldn't have happened without my contribution, right? You should get me a few designer bags!"

Renold was in high spirits. "You really are my lucky star. That said, I'm planning to buy a small villa in Westville this month, priced at about four million dollars. With the current revenue, I'm still coming up short…"

Draco's professional instincts kicked in when he saw this, and he couldn't help but comment. "Abuse of authority for personal gain combined with large-scale embezzlement qualifies as a criminal offense. That carries a minimum sentence of three years. They've really got some nerve."

I gave a quiet hum in response. At this point, the matter was no longer just defamation. Since that was the case, everything would be settled together.

Layla pouted.

"If I can come up with the remaining 600 thousand dollars, you'll add my name to the villa ownership, won't you?"

A sly glint appeared in Renold's eyes.

"Of course."

With the promise secured, the two of them happily sank onto the sofa together. Half an hour later, I received a private message from Layla.

"I'll give you one more chance. Transfer 600 thousand to me immediately, and I'll publicly clarify to netizens that you're not a gold digger."

Draco couldn't help but comment, "Extortion layered on top of blackmail only makes it worse. It's rare to see someone so eager to commit a crime."

I smirked slightly and replied, "I'll give you the money, but I need to confirm you'll keep your promise. We'll meet at the restaurant tomorrow morning for the exchange."

At the same time, I reached out to Warren Hayman as the general manager of the Eastonia region.

"I've heard your branch's revenue has increased dozens of times. I'll conduct a personal inspection tomorrow. Come to the company to pick me up."

That night, Warren didn't dare delay for even a moment. He boarded a flight back and headed straight to the company upon landing.

As soon as he saw me, he hurried over and addressed me with respect.

I handed him a black case filled with cash. "This contains 600 thousand dollars in cash. It's meant to be distributed to your staff later."

Warren smiled broadly. "The store's performance has indeed been excellent, but there's no need to reward them with this much. Ms. Cole, you've really gone above and beyond."

I simply smiled and said nothing.

En route to the Rosenhall branch, Layla sent me another private message. "Senior management will be here for an inspection this morning. You can't show up. We'll deal with it in the afternoon."

Warren had likely already given Renold a heads-up. I ignored her message. Whether I showed up was not her decision to make.

All the staff were already lined up to greet us, but Renold was nowhere to be seen. I knew he was likely busy covering his tracks and deleting any evidence of his illicit gains.

At that moment, Layla turned and spotted me. Her eyes widened in shock.

Layla strode up to me in a rage and pushed me back. "Who told you to come here right now? Get lost!"

She then turned to the others and snapped, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and drag this woman out! The manager said the executives' cars have already arrived downstairs. If she runs into them and causes trouble, none of us will be able to take the blame!"

Warren trembled all over in fear and immediately slapped Layla across the face. "Who gave you the nerve to speak like that? You'll resign immediately!"

Layla didn't recognize Warren. She glanced at the black case in his hands, assumed he was on my side, and slapped him right back.

"Old man, who do you think you are? How dare you hit me? Someone, throw this woman's lackey out too!"

A few male staff members rushed forward at once, seized both Warren and me, dragged us to the entrance, and threw us out.

Warren let out a pained groan. "My back…"

I hadn't expected Layla not to recognize Renold's father at all.

"Layla, look closely. I am the executive you've been talking about!" I stated my identity plainly, but it only drew laughter from the surrounding staff.

Layla seized my hair and slapped me again and again. I was held down, completely unable to resist. My vision swam as blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

"Gold digger, how dare you try to get close to our executive? You won't give up until you pay the price, will you?"

"Ms. Cole!" Warren cried out as he saw me being treated that way, but Layla forced a dirty mop into his mouth.

"What are you all waiting for? Hit him hard. Before the executives arrive, give them a proper lesson and then dump them in the public restroom."

Following her orders, the staff restrained Warren as well and began slapping him, escalating the situation into open violence.

At that moment, Renold emerged after finishing his tasks and hurried out. "What's all this noise? Dad?"

He immediately rushed forward, kicking several staff members away. "How dare you touch my father? You're going to regret this."

Warren shouted angrily, "Look! This is the fine staff you hired. They even had the nerve to lay hands on me!"

The surrounding staff went pale in an instant. "No, it wasn't us! Layla gave the order…"

Layla stood frozen in shock. "This is your father? I had no idea. I thought he was with that gold digger…"