Chapter: 3036

After what felt like an eternity, he still hadn't uttered a single word. The tension in the room had plummeted to a chilling low, the air seeming to crystallize, trapping them in a frozen silence.

Finally, in a stiff, mechanical motion, he reached for the cigarette pack prepared by the restaurant, extracted a cigarette, and struck a match.

The sharp sound of the match scraping against the box was like a muted warning, a signal of impending rupture, sending Rachel's heart into a frantic rhythm.

But the match failed to ignite.

He tried again, his fingers trembling slightly as they fumbled with the match.