Mei’s Baguette Battle

The competition had barely begun, and already, Ava was convinced Julian's so-called "perfect matches" were about to implode.

She, Ryan, and the rest of the L'Amour Élite competitors were scattered throughout a stunning open-air café along the Seine, where their assigned clients were meeting for the first time.

Instead of effortless chemistry and dreamy Parisian romance, the entire event resembled a social experiment gone terribly wrong.

Ava leaned toward Ryan, muttering, "This is painful."

Ryan, casually sipping his espresso, smirked. "It's like watching two people try to communicate using only Morse code and regret."

Ava sighed, rubbing her temples. "I knew it. Julian's algorithm is a disaster."