Chapter 22

As I settled into the car, a deafening silence filled the air, a silence so thick that it felt like it could be cut with a knife. I stole a quick glance at the three men, sitting around me, and could feel the weight of their gaze upon me. Despite my best efforts to break the ice and initiate conversation, my attempts were met with only short and unenthusiastic responses. The car ride felt like an eternity, the awkwardness hanging over us like a dark cloud.

Louise's beaming smile never faltered throughout the journey. It was clear that the setting didn't bother him in the slightest. In contrast, both Alex and I loathed it equally. The discomfort was palpable as we struggled to find a way to adapt to the situation. Despite our unease, Louise remained unwavering in his joyous demeanour, seemingly impervious to the discomfort that plagued us.

There were so many cars travelling with us that it seemed unnecessary for us to be squeezed together in such a confined space. I shifted uncomfortabl