In 2022, Rylan walked into a Panda Express he had never led before, stepping into the restaurant as the new boss, not knowing what to expect. New team, new environment, new responsibilities. He came in focused on work, ready to make an impact, but unaware that his life was about to change in a way he never saw coming. Maria was already part of the team, humble, hardworking, and strong. She didn’t try to stand out; she just naturally did. And from the very first moment, something about her presence caught Rylan’s attention, even if he didn’t fully understand it yet. At that moment, neither of them knew what God had planned. For that first month, everything stayed professional. Rylan noticed everything, her work ethic, her character, and the fiery spirit she carried with her. And then came the shift. Rylan transitioned away from being her boss, and suddenly the boundary that had kept everything formal disappeared. They were no longer leader and team member, just two people with a connection that was becoming harder to ignore. Conversations got a little longer. Moments felt far more meaningful. And Rylan found himself looking forward to seeing her more than anything else in his day. Slowly, that small spark turned into something deeper. The more they talked, the more they laughed, the more they opened up, the more undeniable it became that something real was forming between them. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t rushed. It was natural, gentle, and perfectly timed. And looking back, Rylan always says he didn’t just meet a great team member, he met the woman God had written into his story long before he even knew it. And Maria always says that their meeting wasn’t an accident, it was part of a plan far bigger than the both of them. From stepping into a restaurant not knowing what to expect… to stepping into a love story only God could have designed… their journey began. And from that moment forward, everything changed, and continues to, beautifully, onward.