Eva's heart was pounding as she tried to make sense of the chaos unfolding before her. She couldn't bear to meet Karl's eyes, afraid of what she might find there, but she couldn't help glancing at his colleagues who were looking at her with a mix of hostility and curiosity.
She felt utterly helpless, trapped in a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.
Suddenly, everything changed. Gilbert pushed Karl away with surprising force and slapped Eva across the face. Her head snapped back, and she felt a sharp pain shoot through her cheek. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for more, but nothing came.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Karl standing up, his face contorted with anger. In one swift movement, he pushed Gilbert back and punched him in the face.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in the room, and Gilbert stumbled backward, clutching his bleeding nose.
