Theirs is a love story that has spanned 15 years, with two failed attempts at being a couple. But the third time is proving to be the charm for Ms Nora Ariffin and her American boyfriend, Mr Duncan Sheik.
"I keep telling him that the third time is actually the harm because I will kill him if things don't work out," jokes the former top Singapore model, who in 1997 became the first Asian face to front an international Chanel fragrance ad campaign.
Now 43 and still a head-turner, Ms Nora is currently based in New York, where she has forged a new career as a real estate broker.
In town last month for her younger brother's wedding, Ms Nora says: "You never really know with these things. It's just that Duncan makes me happy and that's very important to me."
She first met Mr Sheik in 1998 at a movie premiere in New York. An American singer-songwriter and composer, he was nominated for a Grammy award in 1996 for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance for his hit song, Barely Breathing.
At that time, she had just appeared on the billboards at Times Square as the face of L'Oreal Paris' Feria range of hair colours.
"I think it's fairly obvious why I was into her," says Mr Sheik, 43, when asked what attracted him to Ms Nora. To hear him tell it, it was love at first sight when she walked into the theatre.
"I was there with a photographer friend of mine and asked him to introduce us. Luckily, she was already a huge fan of mine."
That comment garners roaring laughter from the Malay beauty, who clarifies: "That's rubbish, baby. I didn't even know who this boy was at that time. But I did catch him staring at me and thought he was cute."
The two went for a game of late-night bowling right after, but their subsequent romance lasted only eight months.
"I think it wasn't the right time as we were still busy with our own careers," Ms Nora explains.
Despite the break-up, they remained friends and she went on to marry an American stage actor in 2000. The marriage ended in divorce after seven years, and Ms Nora and Mr Sheik tried dating again in 2007. This time, the relationship lasted just over a year.
The pair got back together once again in early 2011 and have been together ever since.
Explaining why she thinks this time is different, the 1.78m tall glamazon says: "There's an unspoken connection and a deep understanding that keep us coming back to each other.
"For me, it's never about how much money he has in the bank or what he does for a living. I mean, beauty can last only for that long, so I look for the connection and how we can live together." Mr Sheik agrees.
"There are difficult times and there are great times but when you're with the person for a certain period of time, it's really about how you interact and what's inside that matters most," he says. So are there plans to move things along and tie the knot?
"There's a conversation," says Mr Sheik with a smirk. "There's an ongoing conversation that happens with some regularity. That's all I'm going to say."
Once again, Ms Nora breaks into a fit of laughter, apologising for her boyfriend's odd sense of humour.
"He may not be the easiest person to understand, but he is also the most sensitive and charming man. He's kooky and that's why I love him."
Are there any downsides to dating a former model?
"Of course," says Mr Sheik. "You can never really take a good picture with her. Well, it's a good picture for her but she's Nora and one can never compete with that. It's okay though, she takes the better picture but I write better songs."
The lyricist and composer, who is currently working on a stage production of American Psycho, is not intimidated by her top model status either. If anything, he takes pride at being with "someone who is as beautiful as Nora".
He says: "I guess I'm lucky, huh?"
As it is with most couples, disagreements are common. They decline to go into details of what they fight about but reveal the arguments usually happen towards the end of the day, when both are tired.
Ms Nora says: "I try to make it a point not to go to bed upset but sometimes it's just too difficult. He is pretty stubborn. But for the most part, it would be over by the time I wake up."
Mr Sheik adds: "Being together for as long as we have, we are used to each other's personality and so we learn to compromise."
Asked who usually gives in first, Ms Nora laughs.
"Even when he's in the wrong, Duncan has a difficult time saying he's sorry," she says.
"I have to yank it out of him and, trust me, I have no issue about demanding it from him."
HE SAYS, SHE SAYS
What quality about your partner do you find most attractive?
Him: Nora has a very pure heart and she is one of the few people I know who is actually good through and through.
Her: He is goofy and makes me laugh. He is also very sensitive and very loving towards me. What's the one thing you don't like about your partner?
Him: I'm an only child, so I really like my "me" time and I think Nora sometimes gets frustrated when I want to be alone. That doesn't really sit well with me.
Her: And that's exactly what I don't like about him. He likes to run off. Duncan will go, "Okay, I'm out of here. See you later", and I'm left wondering what's going on.
What is the one item in your partner's wardrobe that you'd like to junk?
Him: Have you seen her? She can wear a paper bag and still look 10 times better than the next person you see walking on the street. So, no, I don't think there's anything I'd like to junk from her wardrobe. She knows how to look good.
Her: The thing about Duncan is that he has an eye for putting things together and making them look good. So I really cannot think of anything that I don't like.
If tomorrow never comes, what is one thing you may not have had the chance to tell your partner but would want him or her to know?
Him: Sorry, I don't have anything that I haven't told her.
Her: Nothing too. I rarely filter my thoughts.
I am always very honest, so I believe he knows everything there is to know. He knows how crazy I am about him, so that's not a secret.
The key to making a relationship work is...
Him: To not complain, punish or nag.
Her: Learn to compromise, apologise if you are in the wrong and love unconditionally.
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