Elena lay on the ground, struggling to catch her breath as she reached helplessly toward her fallen crutches. Vikram sneered down at her, warning her to get out of his sight, entirely convinced that an ordinary woman in a modest coat had no means to fight back against his violence. However, the tense atmosphere in the market vanished in a fraction of a second when two sleek, black, armored SUVs screeched to a sudden halt at the market entrance. The heavy doors flew open instantly, and several muscular security personnel wearing dark suits and tactical earpieces flooded the scene, quickly fanning out to form an impenetrable perimeter around the fruit stand.
A tall man in a tailored suit rushed out of the lead vehicle, bypassing the stunned vendor entirely, and dropped to his knees on the dusty ground beside Elena. "Madam President, forgive me for arriving late..." he said urgently, his voice trembling with deep concern as he carefully helped her sit up and signaled for medical staff. A senior female official in an immaculate black suit stepped forward, holding Elena’s crutches and ensuring her safety as security officers surrounded the market aisle.