Talia Kemper narrates a “before” scene in which she and Kinsey sit at a Korean barbecue restaurant while Talia’s house fills with gas. Before leaving home, Talia texted Noel that she would be out with a friend and left spaghetti and meatballs on the stove for him to heat, intending that he would light the burner. She reflects bitterly on his supposed infidelity and plans to stay out late to establish an alibi, expecting the police to call her after an explosion.

Kinsey notices Talia’s distraction and asks about Noel. Talia offers curt reassurances while fixating on the open flame at their table, imagining the flames that will engulf Noel. Her phone buzzes, but she ignores it to preserve the alibi and avoid rudeness during dinner.

An elderly stranger approaches and introduces herself as Lisbeth Sharp, a chemist who recently joined Noel’s project. Lisbeth says Noel often talks about Talia and keeps her photo at work, and apologizes for keeping Noel late. Crucially, Lisbeth mentions that things went so well that day she insisted Noel go home early. Talia realizes Lisbeth wears the same perfume she had assumed belonged to Noel’s mistress, suggesting her suspicion was unfounded.

After Lisbeth leaves, Talia checks her phone and finds two messages from Noel sent twenty minutes earlier: he is on his way home and thanks her for the food, followed by “I love you.” Talia panics and attempts to call him, but the calls go straight to voicemail. She fears he may already be home or about to turn on the gas, and that his phone might be off.

Overwhelmed by the possibility that her plan may kill an innocent Noel, Talia abruptly ends the dinner, telling Kinsey she has to go. She rushes out to try to reach home before Noel, determined to stop him from turning on the burner, fearing that if she fails, his death will be her fault.