The evening lights of Singapore shimmered like falling stars.
The Global Culinary Gala had officially begun — chefs, entrepreneurs, and artists from across the world filled the hall, every table dressed in gold and glass.
Maya stood near the grand display of desserts, her chef's uniform exchanged for a soft ivory gown. Her hair framed her face gently, and for the first time in a long while, she looked like herself — confident, radiant, free.
Across the room, Adrian couldn't look away.
He had seen her in aprons, in the chaos of kitchens — but never like this.
Tonight, she wasn't just the girl who left him.
She was the woman who had become everything she dreamed of."Still staring?" a teasing voice broke his thoughts.
Adrian turned — it was Lila, in a blue dress that shimmered with mischief.
"You look like someone who forgot to blink," she whispered.
He sighed, pretending to ignore her.
"She's… different."
Lila smirked. "Different? Or still too much for you to handle?"
Before Adrian could respond, Max walked in, greeting a few chefs before his gaze found Lila.
Their eyes met briefly — polite, curious.
"You must be Adrian's sister," he said warmly. "He talks about you often."
Lila arched a brow. "Oh really? Hopefully only the good things."
He chuckled. "Mostly the complaints."
She laughed, and something about her energy — bold, unpredictable — made Max's calm exterior soften.
It was the beginning of something he didn't see coming.
---
Meanwhile, Maya's dessert presentation was about to begin.
She stood before a crowd of judges and guests — Adrian, Max, and Lila among them.
Her hands didn't tremble as she spoke:
"Every flavor tells a story. Mine is about mistakes that turned sweet."She unveiled her dish — Crème Blossom, the one she'd once created in Paris but never finished.
This time, it was perfect — balanced, elegant, alive.
The audience applauded.
But what struck her most wasn't the praise — it was Adrian's gaze across the room.
He wasn't clapping loudly.
He just looked at her — eyes full of something quiet, proud, and deeply personal.
For a heartbeat, the noise around them disappeared.
It felt like they were back in the kitchen again — two people, one dream, and a love that never really ended.
---
Later, when the crowd thinned, Adrian approached her.
"You finally perfected it," he said softly.
Maya smiled. "You once told me — perfection needs soul. I guess I finally found mine."
Their eyes locked, a fragile silence blooming between them.
Then someone called Maya's name from behind — it was Max, holding a bouquet.
"You deserve this," he said warmly. "The chef of the evening."
Adrian stepped slightly back, the smile on his face faint but forced.
Lila noticed immediately.
"Oh boy," she muttered under her breath, "here we go again."