But Grace Barron didn't see Oakley Ponciano right away.
The moment she stepped through the door, her gaze was drawn to Sabrina Myers, who was waving her over with a smile.
Grace sidestepped a passing waiter and made her way to the table, sliding into the seat opposite. "How long have you been here?"
Sabrina was fiddling with the cutlery. "Just got here. I just finished ordering."
She pointed to the QR code in the bottom right corner of the table. "I got the curry crab bites, truffled green beans, lemon fish, and grilled pork neck. If you want anything else, go ahead and add it."
Grace shook her head. "That's more than enough. My digestion hasn't been great lately—I can't eat much."
The portions at this place were notoriously generous. Even if she were in perfect health, the two of them would likely struggle to finish what Sabrina had already ordered.
"Fair enough," Sabrina said, her tone gently concerned. "What's going on with your digestion? Been swamped lately?"
Grace, ever poised, dipped a teacup into hot water to rinse it, her movements slow and graceful like something out of a tea ceremony. "Yeah, a little. One of the editors at the magazine just left, so a lot of work fell onto my plate. And my dad's company has been hectic, too. I'm technically just a vice president on paper, but I can't just sit around and not learn the ropes, right?"
Her job at the magazine was a passion project. But her father's company—well, that was her eventual responsibility. She had no intention of letting it crumble in her hands.
Sabrina nodded with full understanding. "Makes sense. But don't burn yourself out. You still need to rest and take care of yourself."
"I know. Once this stretch is over, things should ease up." Grace poured the hot tea out of the cup and into the trash bin before looking up. "Actually, there's something I need your help with."
"What is it?" Sabrina picked up her tea, ready to listen.
Grace refilled her cup, steam rising in soft curls from the surface. "I want to sell my current apartment. Could you help me handle it?"
Sabrina raised her brows. "You're moving out?"
Grace nodded. "Yeah. My ex lived there. I don't want to stay anymore."
"I get that. So where are you thinking of moving?"
Grace glanced down, replying to a message on her phone. "The place at Lake Aurelius. It's ready now."
Sabrina gave her a thumbs-up. "Got it. Are you thinking of dating again?"
Grace shook her head. "Not really. I'm tired."
Sabrina frowned. "What about your grandma? Isn't she always hoping you'll settle down?"
That was a tricky situation.
Grace's grandmother hadn't been well lately—drifting in and out of sleep most days—and every phone call ended with her asking about Grace's love life. She said she just wanted to see Grace married before she passed.
Grace wished she could fulfill that wish. But love? Love had become a source of fear so profound she couldn't even imagine opening up again.
After a moment, Grace sighed. "If I could find a woman with the same values, someone who's also just looking to keep the families happy... I'd settle for that."
Sabrina raised a brow. "Have you looked?"
Grace shook her head. "No idea where to even start."
Sabrina thought for a moment. "Why don't you check out the dating forums? Skylark Life has a matchmaking section. It's pretty active. I'm not saying it'll be easy to find someone who checks all your boxes, but how will you know if you don't at least look?"
Grace blinked. "The Skylark forum has a matchmaking section?"
"Yep. One of my friends found her spouse there. If you filter carefully, I bet you could find a decent candidate."
Grace nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, I'll take a look later."
Then, as if something just came to mind, Sabrina leaned forward and asked, "You have really moved on from your ex, right?"
"Mm." Grace picked up a crab bite and dropped it into her bowl, looking up. "Why?"
"You seem... pretty chill. So I guess it's okay if I bring her up?"
Grace shook her head with a small smile. "It's fine. I'm basically a Buddhist monk at this point. Even if eighteen Jessica Brooks tried flirting with me right now, I wouldn't feel a thing."
Perhaps this was what people meant by truly letting go—when someone's existence no longer stirred even the faintest ripple in your heart.
Sabrina smirked as she placed a bite of food into her bowl with practiced elegance. "You know she married that little Crypto goblin after you broke up, right?"
"Mm." Grace met her gaze. "And?"
Sabrina toyed with her food, expression unreadable. "Rumor has it he went bankrupt recently. She couldn't handle it and started flipping out."
Grace's eyes flicked downward, her voice flat. "Oh? Is that so."
"Totally," Sabrina said, a flicker of disdain sparking in her sharp eyes. "They were apparently screaming at each other on the street, tearing into one another like no tomorrow. People tried to separate them, but no one could."
Grace hadn't heard a single thing about Jessica since they'd split. She had stopped keeping tabs a long time ago.
Sabrina chuckled, clapping softly. "Karma really knows how to stage a comeback."
Maybe. But Grace didn't feel much of anything.
She'd often wondered how it would feel to hear her ex got married. Would it crush her?
Turns out—it didn't.
It just felt... distant. Like hearing the current of a windless midnight river. Still. Cold. Unmoved.
Even knowing Jessica was struggling now stirred no joy, no satisfaction.
Just a single thought: Of course. She's my ex, after all. The drama was both unexpected and entirely predictable.
For a fleeting moment, Grace could picture herself living in a temple—chanting sutras, eating vegetarian meals, striking wooden fish bells. No more entanglements.
"That's her path to walk. I've got nothing more to say about it." Grace's tone was even, her chopsticks moving calmly as she resumed eating. "Whatever was between us is over. There won't be any more of it."
Sabrina agreed. "Absolutely. You've had a rough go at love. Just be more careful next time."
Grace lifted her eyes, lips curling into a dry smile. "There won't be a next time."
Her eyes turned colder.
"Let's not talk about her anymore," Grace said, voice soft but firm.
"Alright," Sabrina nodded.
They ate in silence for a moment, then naturally shifted the topic to a newly released game.
As usual, Sabrina ranted about useless teammates. She'd get so worked up it looked like she might pass out from rage. Grace used to advise her to calm down, but now she found it oddly comforting.
To stay that passionate after ten years in a high-pressure world—maybe that was a rare talent.
Then, mid-conversation, Grace looked up—
And saw Oakley Ponciano sitting at a table nearby.
Oakley's makeup was immaculate, her face like a porcelain doll crafted with surgical precision. Everything about her—her figure, her posture—was almost too perfect. She sat poised, eating with the grace of a princess, elegant and utterly still.
Even passersby couldn't help but glance back at her.
Sabrina followed Grace's gaze, then smiled knowingly. "Checking out a beauty? Look at you, Grace Barron, already eyeing girls again. Guess that heartbreak's mostly healed, huh?"
Sabrina's deductions were always a little... unique.
Grace glanced at her sideways. "Cut it out. I know her."
"Ohh." Sabrina raised her brows. "That explains it. Still, she really is gorgeous."
Grace nodded in agreement. Oakley wasn't just beautiful—she was striking. Grace had yet to see anyone outside the entertainment industry come close.
Sabrina asked, "Well, if you know her, are you gonna say hi?"
Grace shook her head. "Nah. She probably doesn't like me much."
Sabrina's jaw dropped slightly. "You? Disliked? You're Grace Barron—Queen of Charisma! Since when do people not like you?"
Grace's lashes lowered slightly. "Not everyone's going to like you. That's life."
Sabrina thought about it. "True. I mean, there are enough people who hate me to form a mountain, and yet... some folks still think I'm great."
Just then, a child ran past—rowdy and full of energy. He bumped hard into Grace, jostling her hand and sending a piece of food tumbling down onto her clothes.
Grace's brows furrowed. She turned to Sabrina. "I'm going to the restroom."
"Go on." Sabrina waved her off with the back of her hand.
Grace said no more, laid down her chopsticks, and walked away.
She was wearing white—anything stained would be painfully visible. Luckily, it was fresh, not stubborn. A quick scrub with soap and water cleared it right up.
She dried her hands, tossed the tissue in the bin, and stepped out.
Just as she was about to head back—
She saw Oakley rise from her seat.
Probably done with her meal, about to leave.
Then Oakley's face twisted, brows drawing together. She clutched her stomach, lips tightening as a wave of pain hit her.
Within seconds, her face turned pale, her posture strained and brittle with discomfort.
Grace's breath caught.
And then she stepped forward, heading toward her without hesitation.