A pin-drop silence fell over the room, so heavy it felt like the air itself had frozen. The sting on my cheek burned hotter than pain, sharper than insult, like a mark pressed straight into my pride. My instincts didn't flinch, but something deep inside me went still, alert, watching every breath in the room.
Slowly, I lifted my eyes to the woman in front of me. Her face was twisted with rage, unstable, like she had been holding it in for too long and finally lost control. The pressure in the room shifted again, that invisible pull between ranks and dominance tightening without anyone speaking a word.
Rebecca grabbed my arm hard, her voice breaking through the silence. "Scarlett, you lied to me!" she shouted, shaking with anger.
