Cassia gets takeout with Ellis, Mica, and Ozzie. The children are delighted by Ellis, and Cassia again notes her comfort with him. Finally, Cassia cuts the night short so that she can put the children to bed. At the door, she tells Ellis that she is going on a date with Daniel tomorrow. Surprised, Ellis says goodnight and leaves without turning back.

After Marcella collects the children the next day, Cassia prepares for her date with Daniel. They go out for dinner, chatting about their jobs, their personal relationships with California, and their dating histories. Daniel admits that his last relationship ended because he was emotionally unavailable, unable to share his grief over his parents’ deaths with his ex because he didn’t think she understood. Cassia relates.

After a lengthy dinner, Daniel drops off Cassia at home. They kiss before saying goodnight.

Cassia has coffee with her family at her grandparents’ house. Halmoni announces that she will be retiring and wants Cassia “to succeed [her] as president” of One & Only (195). The family admits that they’ve been waiting to reveal the news until she found Daniel. An overwhelmed Cassia starts to tear up, frustrated that she might not have had this future at the company had Daniel failed to show up. They remind her of what happened to her mother and say that she needs to have a daughter to pass on their face-reading gift. Cassia’s anger dissipates as she remembers how much they love her and the importance of finding her fated.

Work gets busier with the start of wedding season. Meanwhile, Cassia throws herself into her relationship with Daniel. They start spending all of their time together, relating over their love of work and organization. Meanwhile, she spends less time with Marcella, who has been bringing up Ellis too much since the Echo Lake incident.

One weekend, Cassia silences her phone to ignore Marcella’s texts while she is at the spa with Daniel. Afterward, they head over to Daniel’s house, where they have sex on the living room floor.

Cassia and Daniel’s relationship intensifies over the following weeks, and they spend more and more time together. As a fellow business owner, Daniel also gives Cassia pointers on growing One & Only. Then, one day, Marcella calls to express how much she misses Cassia. Cassia feels guilty and promises to visit soon.

Shortly thereafter, Daniel confronts Cassia about meeting her family. Cassia has been putting off the encounter, telling Daniel that her family might be too overwhelming. Daniel reminds her that he has no family and wants to be a part of hers. A message from the One & Only interns interrupts the conversation: Gemma Flores posted about her experience with One & Only on social media. Cassia and Daniel celebrate, convinced that this is a turning point for the business.

At work one day, Cassia receives an email from Daniel inviting her to attend the wedding of an employee, Max, with him. Cassia knows that this will mean seeing Ellis and drafts a message to him, saying that she’ll be in attendance. However, she loses confidence and doesn’t send it. Instead, she emails Daniel, agreeing to attend.

After work, Cassia rides her bike to Highland Park, where she runs into Ellis, who is on a jog. They remark on their habit of running into each other, but Ellis is more closed off than usual. Cassia informs him about attending Max’s wedding, reminding him that she needs to be with Daniel because they are more compatible. Ellis challenges the idea that she is a type-A perfectionist. Cassia has never considered herself any other way and hates that Ellis can see other parts of her. Ellis abruptly ends the exchange and leaves.

Later, Cassia confronts Daniel about the wedding, implying that it will be awkward to see Ellis. Annoyed, Daniel insists that they are all adults.

Cassia and Daniel drive to Madonna Inn for Max’s wedding. After settling in, Cassia and Daniel go to the pool, where they run into Daniel’s employees. Cassia feels awkward when people remark on her being with Daniel instead of Ellis. Ellis shows up with Avery but is cordial to Cassia. A game of chicken ensues between Cassia and Daniel, Ellis and Avery. Cassia becomes aggressively competitive, shoving Avery so hard that she hurts her wrists. Avery is gracious, but Cassia feels guilty when she sees Ellis eyeing her.

During the rehearsal dinner, Cassia tries to ignore pestering texts from her family about meeting Daniel. Meanwhile, she ends up in a conversation with Avery, who reveals that she and Ellis aren’t together, though she does have feelings for him. Cassia can’t help feeling guilty.

In the middle of the night, Cassia wakes up, startled by a strange dream. Unable to fall back to sleep, she wanders out to a tennis court, where she runs into Ellis with his dog. They chat about the wedding, love, and fate before playing tennis until sunrise. Realizing the hour, they part ways on better terms.

Cassia finds herself thinking of her mother while preparing for the wedding the next day. At the reception, she, Daniel, Ellis, and their coworkers play a game of “Never Have I Ever,” during which Ellis reveals that he’s been married, something no one at the table but Cassia knew before. Later, Cassia invites Daniel to dance, but he chooses to sit out. Instead, Cassia and Ellis end up dancing and talking intimately throughout. Ellis admits that he’s mad at Daniel for putting Cassia in an uncomfortable position by inviting her to the wedding. Cassia admits that she didn’t really want to come. Ellis is trying to reiterate his feelings for her when Daniel cuts in, suggesting that he get Cassia to bed.

Cassia drifts in and out of sleep on the ride home the next day. When they arrive at Cassia’s house, she tells Daniel that she’d like him to meet her family, reminding him that she wants “a big, grand love story” (245).

Cassia chats with Marcella on the phone while preparing for the dinner with Daniel and her family. When Daniel arrives, they drive to Cassia’s grandparents’ house.

Cassia has dinner with Daniel and her family, who pester Daniel with questions about his family, his past, and his plans for a future with Cassia. Daniel is composed until they allude to him and Cassia having children. Flustered, Daniel asserts that he is satisfied being an uncle.

After Daniel leaves, the family presses Cassia about what Daniel said. They try to guess whether he is sure he doesn’t want children.

Cassia and Marcella take a bike ride to the flea market the next morning, discussing last night’s dinner along the way. Cassia is devastated by Daniel’s revelation; she has frozen her eggs and is sure that she wants children. Marcella argues that she only froze her eggs because of pressure from her family and that she didn’t know she wanted to be a mother until she met Ellis. She suggests that Cassia give herself some space from Daniel while she reflects, but Cassia reminds her that Daniel’s park opening is the next day.