At the end of the novel, One & Only Matchmaking catches on fire during an earthquake and is severely damaged. The fire symbolizes upheaval and restoration, closing the loop on an idea introduced early in the novel. At the start of the narrative, Cassia reveals that on her eighth birthday, she woke up from a dream of her house catching on fire and burning down; her mother assuaged her fears, insisting “that fire dreams mean all your troubles and worries will go away” (18). Cassia could never believe in this notion because her mother died later that day. However, decades later, the fire at the office does beget a new future defined by happiness for Cassia.

The fire recalls archetypal associations with the phoenix, a bird that catches on fire and is then reborn from its own ashes. Cassia and her business undergo a similar transformation after the fire. The fire gives Cassia space to take a break from her relationships with Ellis and Daniel and to refocus. It also offers an organic transition from Halmoni’s presidency to Cassia’s and allows Cassia to rethink the space (and broader business) according to her own vision.

In this, the fire marks the resolution of the tension between Personal Desire Versus Familial and Cultural Expectation. The details about what is lost in the fire underscore this point: During the incident, all of Cassia’s family’s artifacts and belongings are destroyed. Inside the smoldering office, she tries not to cry when she witnesses “the damaged tapestry that has been in our family for centuries, on the scorched altar” (314); other heirlooms and valuables like “Halmoni’s antique redwood desk” are burned or ruined (314), too. This imagery represents the dissolution of the past. Although devastating, letting go of this era and these objects creates room for much-needed change. After the renovation and repairs, Cassia makes “necessary technical and design updates. No more stuffy floral patterns and heavy furniture […] It’s a makeover signaling a shift into the future” (332-33). The fire thus revitalizes Cassia’s life, business, and future while offering her more autonomy as she takes over the company.