Chapter 23: Cooperate with me

That night, Miller and Fiona drank well into the night, with Fiona growing more lively and insisting on taking shots directly from the bottle. Miller tried to keep up, but she was relentless, pressing him to drink until every bottle in the house was empty.

Eventually, she pulled him onto the sofa to watch a movie, but neither lasted through it, nodding off before the credits rolled.

When Miller woke up the next morning, he realized Fiona was still resting on his chest, a noticeable damp spot on his shirt from her drool. He sighed, amused. If her admirers saw her like this, they'd be shocked. But he had to admit, she looked pretty adorable.

Then he remembered—today was her graduation ceremony! A quick glance at the clock showed it was already nine. With the ceremony starting at ten, they had no time to waste.

Gently, he nudged her awake. "Fiona, it's time to get up! The sun's up, shining right on your—"

She squirmed, groaning. "No, five more minutes…"

He raised his voice a notch. "You're lying on me!"

She jolted up, face flushed. "I—uh… I didn't mean to…"

Miller adjusted his shirt with a smirk. "I'm not hurt, but I think you might miss your graduation."

Her eyes widened. "What time is it?"

"Past nine."

Letting out a yelp, she darted toward her room to get ready. Miller grabbed a quick shower and changed into the suit she'd bought him for his birthday. By the time he stepped out, it was 9:20, and Fiona was waiting in her graduation gown. "Let's go, you're driving!"

He sped to campus, all while she hurriedly did her makeup in the passenger seat, eager to look her best on this important day. Thanks to light traffic, they arrived just in time, and Fiona hurried inside, ready for her speech.

Miller scanned the crowd and soon spotted Sun Lan, Fiona's mother, sitting quietly. He approached with a warm smile. "Auntie Sun!"

Sun Lan's face lit up. "Miller, you made it."

"Barely," he laughed, sitting beside her. "I almost overslept."

The ceremony began promptly, and before long, Fiona walked onto the stage, commanding everyone's attention. Dressed in her cap and gown, she looked radiant, the pride of her class. She offered a cheerful wave toward Miller and Sun Lan before beginning her speech.

"Today is the second happiest day of my life here at Stanford," she began with a smile. "The first was my first day at Stanford."

Her humor and poise captured the audience, showcasing the confidence and charisma that set her apart. Sun Lan beamed with pride, her heart full as she watched her daughter's moment unfold.

After Fiona's brief but impactful speech, applause filled the room. She bowed gracefully and started off the stage—only for the audience's attention to shift as a young man approached with a bouquet. Miller's smile quickly faded. Glazer.

Fiona's expression soured as Glazer made his intentions clear. "Fiona, please accept my pursuit!"

Miller's face darkened, and he stepped forward. Fiona, ignoring Glazer's plea, made her way over to Miller, taking his hand. "I'm sorry, Glazer, but I already have a boyfriend," she announced.

Glazer sneered, dismissing him. "You're just an adopted sibling from her family, nothing more."

Miller shook his head. "That's irrelevant—I'm here by Fiona's choice."

Fiona's eyes narrowed. "Glazer, my relationships are none of your business."

Then she turned to Miller, whispering, "Play along with me."

Before he could respond, Fiona stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his in a spontaneous kiss.

The room fell silent in astonishment, and Miller found himself momentarily speechless.