Olivia's words were sharp and resolute, causing Caroline to pause for a moment. A few passengers around them turned to look, their faces showing a mix of curiosity and hesitation. Some seemed to feel sympathy for Olivia, while others deliberately turned away, avoiding her gaze as if trying to distance themselves from the situation, deepening the pain of Olivia's wounded pride.
Noticing the attention from other passengers, Caroline tried to regain her professional demeanor. But this time her coldness carried an edge, as if she wanted to assert her absolute power in first class.
"Ma'am, this is a request from us, and it has nothing to do with personal matters. If you do not cooperate, we reserve the right to refuse service and ask you to vacate this seat for another passenger. I don't want to make things difficult for you, but this is my responsibility."
Richard, standing next to Caroline, subtly nodded in support, his face showing a barely concealed smirk. To him, Olivia was nothing more than an inconvenient guest causing unreasonable trouble. Diane, from a distance, also threw Olivia a contemptuous look, as though she were watching an amusing spectacle.
The tension in the first-class cabin had now reached its peak. Other passengers began to whisper among themselves. Some openly expressed their discomfort with Caroline and her colleagues' blatantly discriminatory behavior. But no one dared speak up for Olivia, afraid of getting involved in the complicated situation.
Olivia could feel the gazes from the crowd, pity mixed with indifference from those who usually sought to avoid trouble. This hurt her more than the harsh words Caroline had directed at her. Over the years, life had taught her that the silence of those around her was far more terrifying and damaging than any direct cruel words.
Still, Olivia was determined not to back down so easily. She looked directly at Caroline once more, and with all the dignity she had left, she spoke loudly and clearly, so that all the passengers in the cabin could hear.
"I refuse to present personal identification just to prove something you already know. I have presented my valid boarding pass, and I have done everything any normal passenger would do when boarding a plane. Asking for additional ID from me alone is utterly unreasonable and unfair. This is clearly an act of racial discrimination and prejudice."
Olivia's clear and firm words left Caroline and Richard momentarily stunned. A hint of awkwardness flashed across their faces, as Olivia had just mentioned two words they always tried to avoid: discrimination and prejudice.
The atmosphere around them suddenly thickened, and no one dared speak. Even the passengers who had been whispering stopped abruptly. Caroline quickly regained her icy composure, deliberately ignoring Olivia's direct accusation.
She turned to Richard, speaking quietly yet firmly. "If she refuses to cooperate, contact the ground crew to prepare for the worst-case scenario."