Chapter 7 - Texting Lucía
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Mariana’s composure completely broke. "Security footage?! This is an outrage! Do you know who we are? My late husband was a senior partner at Delgado & Associates! I will have this establishment shut down by tomorrow morning!"
Álvaro didn't even look at her. "Our cameras record continuously, Señora. The footage will be preserved."
While Rafael argued frantically with the manager, I opened my messaging app and composed a quick text to Lucía—my closest friend from university and one of the top family law attorneys in Madrid.
Lucía. Assaulted by Rafael at Restaurante Aurelia. He threw wine in my face over a bill dispute. Mariana is here. Camera footage exists. Need legal steps right now.
Her reply arrived three seconds later:
Do NOT leave the premises. Demand police presence immediately. Do not sign any receipt or agreement. I am getting in my car now. Stay silent and record everything.
I took a deep breath, feeling the cold weight of the wine soaked into my collar.
The power dynamics in the room had shifted entirely. Mariana was no longer the supreme matriarch controlling the room; she was a loud, embarrassed woman screaming at restaurant staff while fellow patrons recorded her on their phones.
Rafael stepped closer to me, his voice dropping into a desperate plead. "Elena, please. Think about my career. If the police get involved, my firm will launch an internal review! I could lose my promotion!"
"You should have thought about your promotion before you threw alcohol into my eyes," I said.
"If you do this, Elena," Rafael hissed, his tone turning dark again, "it's over. I will divorce you and leave you with absolutely nothing!"
May you like
I looked him dead in the eye, feeling no fear, no regret, only pure liberation.
"That," I said, "is the best news I’ve heard all year."
