Before Marianne could say anything, Elena slapped her across the face. Marianne instinctively held her cheek, her eyes wide as they met Elena's. She was confused, unsure of what to do. The slap seemed to have stunned her, leaving her even more disoriented.
“Call an ambulance!” a concerned customer shouted, snapping her back to reality. Scrambling for her phone, Marianne dialed the emergency number with trembling fingers.
As the call connected, Vincent entered the restaurant. His eyes widened as he took in the chaotic scene. He rushed to Marianne, who had just dropped the phone from her ear, her eyes brimming with tears. Everything felt surreal. While a part of her suspected Elena could have orchestrated this, it made no sense.
Moments later, the wail of sirens signaled the arrival of th
