The next morning, Walter was gently rubbing my lower back.

His expression was so focused, it was like he was handling a priceless treasure.

I almost got lost in his tender gaze, momentarily convinced he really cared about me.

But then reality hit.

He was just being a professional, playing the role of the perfect boyfriend.

I’d cornered him into this relationship. He probably hated me for it. There’s no way he could actually love me.

After four years together, I’d developed real feelings for Walter.

It would be better to end things on my own terms rather than having him coldly ask when we’re breaking up.

The problem was, every time I thought about breaking up, his looks would make me hesitate.

That issue got pushed aside every time.

Now might be a good chance to bring it up.

Just as I was about to speak, Walter suddenly asked, “Sis, with your back hurting like this, are you still coming to my graduation party tonight?”

The graduation party! I’d promised Walter a month ago I’d be there!

I couldn’t break my promise. It was a matter of principle!

“Of course I will!”

I struggled to sit up and gave myself a thumbs up.

“I may not have many virtues, but I’m rich, beautiful, and tough!”

He grinned wide, showing off all his teeth.

“You’re so good to me, Sis.” He started kissing my face excitedly, like a big, happy dog.

I gritted my teeth, straightened my aching back, and said, “Of course, you’re my favorite little boyfriend.”

A strong woman never gave up.

In the old days, kings would spend a fortune on a beautiful woman.

Here I am, with a sore back, still determined to attend my boyfriend’s graduation ceremony.

I must have been a king obsessed with beautiful women in a past life. Otherwise, why would I lose all control just from seeing a pretty face?

But…

Did those kings also smile this wide when they saw their beauties?

At seven in the evening, Walter and I arrived at Boston University right on the dot.

The graduation party was quite the affair, with everyone dressed to the nines, mingling and toasting like seasoned professionals.

As soon as we walked in, we were the center of attention.

Actually, Walter was, and I was just along for the ride.

Walter was wearing the suit I had custom-made for him six months ago.

It fit him perfectly, showcasing all his best features. With his striking looks, he was totally stealing the show.

Seeing everyone’s impressed reactions made me feel like my investment in that high-end suit was well worth it.

A girl in a white dress came over with a drink in hand, her voice sweet as honey. “Walter, you look incredible tonight.”

Everyone had name tags, so I saw her name was Zoe Flores.

“Thanks! The suit was picked out by my girlfriend. She has great taste.”

Zoe’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh? You have a girlfriend?”

She looked at me, her gaze lingering on my Hermes bag for a moment. “So, Sis, you’re Walter’s girlfriend?”

She’s calling me “sister” right off the bat? Is she trying to make me feel older?

Well, she’s just a young thing. She doesn’t realize that age can be an advantage for mature women.

I tossed my hair and replied confidently, “Hi, I’m Yolanda, Walter’s sister.”

I instinctively didn’t want them to know we were a couple.

With our different backgrounds, people might think Walter was just a gold digger.

Even though we were about to break up, I still couldn’t help but worry about Walter’s future.

Where else could he find such a generous benefactor?

“Oh, so you’re his sister, not his girlfriend,” Zoe said, her relief almost palpable. She muttered, “Good, I thought I’d missed my chance.”

Her comment was loud enough for almost everyone at the party to hear.

A group of students gathered around, teasing, “Zoe, you’ve had a crush on Walter for ages. Isn’t this your chance?”

“Oh, no.” Zoe seemed to realize her comment had been overheard and stomped her foot in embarrassment. “Walter’s so out of my league…,” she said, looking down with a blush.

Her over-the-top reaction gave me the creeps.

Walter pulled me close and said quietly, “You never had a chance. She’s not just my sister. She’s also my girlfriend.”

I was taken aback.

Walter’s face was tense, his lips pressed together tightly as he stole glances at me.

When he noticed me watching, his expression instantly turned into a look of pitiful innocence.

No exaggeration, his eyes practically screamed “wronged.”

“Why won’t you acknowledge me in front of everyone?”

Walter asked, cornering me against the wall during a break in the party.

He’d had quite a bit to drink, his eyes were red and puffy, and he looked fragile and upset. His vulnerable state stirred something in me.

I swallowed hard, feeling the pull of desire.

I couldn’t tell him it was because I was considering breaking up with him, worried about rumors affecting his future.

In front of everyone, I was afraid he might actually start crying.

Walter closed in; his flushed, moist lips dangerously close. They looked so kissable.

“Do you not like me anymore?”

His lips were so tempting that I wanted to kiss them.

“Are you bored with me?”

They looked so plump and inviting that I was dying to kiss them.

“Or have you found another guy you like better?”

This was a public setting, so I had to keep it together! But I really wanted to kiss him.

My mind was overwhelmed with the urge to kiss him, and I couldn’t focus on what he was saying.

Finally, under his relentless questioning, I blurted out, “Because I want to officially acknowledge you as my boyfriend!”

The moment the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake.

Walter froze, his face turning red.

With a dazed look in his eyes, he pulled me close and gave my lips a playful bite.

“Oh, then I’ll be waiting for you to acknowledge me officially,” he said with a goofy grin, resting his head on my shoulder and relaxing into me.

I ran my fingers through Walter's tousled hair and noticed the blush on his ears.

Ah, boys are so easy to manage.

If I weren't around, someone else would probably snap him up.

But when it came to officially acknowledging him as my boyfriend…

It’s not that I didn’t want to give him that.

With Walter drunk and me too tipsy to drive, I called a cab.

While we waited, he kept his arms around my waist, rubbing it gently.

He remembered I was sore.

I leaned into him, enjoying the comfort.

“Wow, you and Walter seem really close,” came a voice filled with envy, breaking our little bubble.

I stayed nestled against Walter and raised an eyebrow at Zoe. “Yeah?”

Zoe took in my face and then smirked.

“Sister, what happened to your lipstick? It looks like a dog got to it.”

I burst out laughing. Well, in a way, it was like a dog had chewed on it.

“Sweetie, haven’t you seen this before? It’s a couple’s lipstick. The other half is on his lips.”

In front of Zoe, I gave Walter a deep kiss, pressing my red lipstick firmly onto his lips. The bold mark was a clear sign of ownership.

With a confident grin, I looked at Zoe.

I’d kept our relationship under wraps to protect Walter’s future, but since he’d openly acknowledged me, I had nothing to worry about.

With my fortune, I wasn’t afraid to keep him close.

Walter seemed to sense the change, tightening his embrace and grinning from ear to ear.

Zoe’s face turned a shade of green.

She plopped down next to me, putting on an exaggerated show of surprise as she said loudly, “Wow, you’re carrying a Hermès bag! What do you do for a living to afford all this? You must be loaded!”

“Just living off my family.”

Her carefully crafted insults and barbs were left hanging awkwardly.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Zoe’s motives were pretty obvious. She liked Walter and was envious of me. Considering how great Walter was, her jealousy was pretty normal. I wasn’t going to let a jealous girl get under my skin.

Realizing that I wasn’t someone she could easily push around, Zoe dropped the act.

She roughly pulled me out of Walter’s embrace and dragged me to a corner, glaring at me. “I know you’re engaged to the Banks family. You have a fiancé, yet you’re still all over Walter. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”