Delicate Obsession: Pampered by My Abstinent Uncle

The thunder outside the window was terrifyingly muffled, like some kind of giant beast roaring deep within the clouds.

Seraphina Shen was barefoot, her delicate toes sinking into the thick cashmere carpet, every step feeling like walking on clouds. She wore only an extremely thin dark green silk nightgown, which she had specifically chosen for tonight. Dark green was a difficult color to pull off, but it suited her perfectly. The hem barely covered the base of her thighs, and with every movement, that breathtaking flash of white was faintly visible in the dim hallway.

She stopped before the heavy mahogany door at the end of the corridor.

That was Julian Foster's bedroom.

"Knock, knock."

The sound of knocking was drowned out by the thunder, so she simply turned the handle.

The room was unlit, save for a dim yellow lamp on the desk. Julian Foster was leaning back in his chair, his shirt collar slightly open, his gold-rimmed glasses set aside. That face, usually as cold as ice, now showed a hint of weariness.

"Who allowed you in?" The man's voice was deep and magnetic, carrying the authority of someone long accustomed to being in power.

"Uncle..." Seraphina spoke, her voice as soft and sweet as a freshly peeled lychee. She didn't stop, approaching step by step, and finally sat directly on his lap.

Julian's body stiffened instantly.

"Get down." His large hand gripped her slender waist, the force not light, his tone carrying a warning. "Seraphina, don't play around."

"I'm not playing." Seraphina wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingertips lightly stroking the cool skin at the nape of his neck. She leaned close to his ear, her breath like orchids. "The thunder is too loud, I'm scared... Uncle, hold me. If you hold me, I won't be afraid."

As she spoke, her warm lips brushed against his earlobe, seemingly by accident.

Julian's eyes darkened alarmingly. He had been her guardian for ten years, always protecting her like a delicate flower in a greenhouse. But tonight, this flower had grown alluring thorns.

He suddenly gripped the back of her head, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"I know." Seraphina's eyes were slightly red, carrying a desperate boldness. She lowered her head and lightly pecked those cool, thin lips. "I like Uncle... and not in the way a junior likes an elder."

That kiss was like a spark falling into dry tinder.

The desire Julian had been desperately suppressing finally broke through. He flipped her over and pinned her onto the large desk, his large hands firmly pinning her wrists, with a punishing force as he kissed her fiercely.

It was a wildness Seraphina had never felt before. The man's tongue drove deep, plundering every inch of oxygen in her mouth with an intense sense of aggression.

"Mmph..." Seraphina was kissed until her whole body went soft, unable to stop a soft moan from escaping.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, Julian suddenly stopped. He looked at the girl's dazed eyes, the final string of "reason" in his mind making a dangerous, tightening sound.

His rough fingers brushed over her swollen lips, his voice hoarse beyond recognition: "Seraphina, get out. While I can still let you go."

The temperature in the study hadn't yet dissipated, but Julian Foster's gaze had already frozen into ice.

Seraphina Shen lay on the desk, her dark green silk nightgown in disarray, barely hanging off her shoulders. Her previously dazed eyes were now filled with shock and grievance, looking at the man who had been wantonly demanding from her just a second ago, and who now pushed her away with the coldness of a deity.

"Uncle..." Her voice carried a sob as she reached out to grab his sleeve.

"Get out!"

Julian stood up abruptly, his movement so large it knocked over the ink bottle nearby. Black ink spread across the expensive documents, much like the unspeakable self-loathing and shame he felt at this moment.

He was angry at himself. Angry that in that split second, he had actually harbored such base thoughts about the girl he had raised with his own hands.

"Never make such a joke again." He stood with his back to her, his figure as cold and hard as stone. "Seraphina Shen, remember your identity clearly. I am your uncle, and I will be for the rest of my life."

"I wasn't joking!" Seraphina sat up stubbornly, tears falling one by one onto her fair thighs. "Julian Foster, you clearly liked me just now..."

"Shut up!"

The man's roar completely shattered all of Seraphina's self-esteem.

He turned around, his eyes churning with a ferocity she had never seen before. "Seraphina, don't make me look down on you even more. If you don't leave now, I'll make you regret ever entering this door for the rest of your life."

Seraphina was frightened by the ruthlessness in his eyes. She gritted her teeth and scrambled down from the desk. Her bare feet stepped onto the cold floor, the chill traveling from her soles straight into her heart.

She said nothing, covered her face, and ran out of the study.

That night, Julian sat in the study until dawn. The ashtray was filled with cigarette butts, and he didn't even bother to wipe the ink stains from his hands.

Half a month later.

Seraphina didn't receive an apology from Julian; she only received news that he had gone abroad to handle business. He left in such a hurry that he didn't even leave a goodbye.

Everyone in the Shen household thought the pampered young lady would be in tears, but to their surprise, Seraphina seemed to have become a different person.

She still wore the most beautiful dresses and applied the most exquisite makeup. Until the most luxurious charity banquet in New York, where she walked in arm-in-arm with the flirtatious young master of the Sterling family who had just returned from abroad, smiling radiantly.

"Seraphina, you look beautiful today." Young Master Sterling's hand rested lightly on her slender waist as he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

Seraphina smiled and tilted her head, but her gaze swept toward the entrance of the banquet hall.

There, Julian Foster, looking travel-worn and carrying an unquenched aura of killing intent, was staring deathly at the hand on her waist.

The wine glass in his hand was squeezed until a crack appeared.

The door to the lounge was pushed open violently and then slammed shut.

Seraphina Shen was dragged in by Julian Foster, his grip so strong it made her wrists ache.

"Julian Foster, you're crazy! Let me go!" she struggled, the hairpins in her hair swaying, strands of hair falling against her neck.

"Let you go? To go back to that Sterling boy's embrace?"

Julian pinned her against the heavy desk in the lounge. He carried a mixture of cold wind and a heavy scent of alcohol. Seraphina realized then that he had drunk an unknown amount of wine; the corners of his eyes were burnt red, a sign of madness after extreme suppression.

He suddenly ripped off his tie, his movements crude as he pinned her hands behind her back.

"Uncle, you... mmph..."

Her next words were fiercely swallowed by him. This kiss no longer held any pity; it carried the spiciness of alcohol and a destructive possessiveness. He seemed to be asserting some kind of sovereignty, his tongue arrogantly conquering every inch of her territory.

"Seraphina... Seraphina..." Between the gaps in the kiss, he called her name hoarsely.

At that moment, the grievance in Seraphina's heart turned into bitterness. She stopped struggling and instead tilted her head back, proactively hooking her arms around his neck, her small hands sliding into the gaps of his shirt.

"Didn't you want to kick me out?" she accused with a sob. "Didn't you say I was your niece?"

"To hell with the niece."

Julian cursed low, a vulgarity Seraphina had never heard from him, yet it made her heart tremble.

He picked her up and sat her on the cold desk. The slit of her dress was already high, and now it slid all the way to the base of her thighs.

His burning palm pressed against her thigh, the startling temperature difference making Seraphina instinctively shrink.

"Seraphina Shen, remember this." He stared into her eyes, his gaze ruthless yet deeply affectionate. "You are mine. If you dare let another man touch you, I'll break his hand."

"Then touch me..." Seraphina hooked her fingers into his collar, her gaze dazed yet bold. "Aren't you abstinent? Julian Foster, if you're so capable, keep being abstinent."

the man's last shred of self-control completely collapsed.

He lowered his head and bit fiercely into her collarbone, leaving a deep red mark.

That night, the lights in the lounge flickered all night long. Julian seemed to want to make up for all the suppression of this period. Seraphina finally knew what kind of insatiable beast was hidden in the bones of this man who appeared cold and abstinent on the outside.

When everything returned to peace, Julian tightly held the limp girl in his arms, kissing her sweat-drenched forehead, his voice low and paranoid:

"Seraphina, in this life, don't even think about escaping."

The charity banquet continued, but the lounge on the second floor had long since become another world.

The moon-white dress Seraphina Shen was wearing now had most of its buttons undone, hanging loosely on her body and revealing her rounded, pearly white shoulders. Tears still hung on her eyelashes as she was pressed into Julian Foster's embrace, looking like a delicate flower ravaged by a violent storm.

"Do you still dare to take someone else's arm?" Julian's voice was terribly hoarse, carrying the satisfaction of the aftermath, yet still showing that same ruthlessness.

Seraphina didn't speak, only burying her face in his chest, her small hand pinching his firm muscles in a vent of anger.

"Hiss—" Julian hissed in pain, but let out a low laugh, the vibration of his chest making Seraphina's eardrums itch. He lifted her chin and kissed those red, swollen lips again with pity. "So delicate."

"It's because you were too fierce..." Seraphina accused with a sob. "Julian Foster, you're a madman."

"I am mad, driven mad by you."

He held her as if holding a world-class treasure. At this moment, where was there any trace of the cold, abstinent man who was decisive in the business world? His deep eyes were now filled with paranoia for the girl in his arms.

He stood up, took his suit jacket from the hanger, and wrapped her small frame tightly in it.

"It's not over yet, are you going to carry me out?" Seraphina asked softly.

"Otherwise? Let those old foxes see you like this?" Julian snorted, his large hand squeezing her slender waist through the suit fabric. "Seraphina, remember, only I can see you like this."

He carried her downstairs, walking through the banquet hall without looking left or right. The young master of the Sterling family wanted to step forward to speak, but was pinned to the spot by Julian's bone-chilling gaze.

Back at the old Foster mansion, the thunder and rain had stopped, and the air carried the fresh scent of earth.

Julian carried her directly back to his room. This time, he didn't kick her out again, but placed her on that oversized dark gray bed.

"Go shower." He stood by the bed, undoing his shirt buttons one by one, his gaze dark. "Once you're clean, come and settle the account with me for what happened just now."

Seraphina looked at his bare torso, her heart trembling, but she still blushed and ran into the bathroom clutching the suit jacket.

The frosted glass reflected her graceful figure. The man outside lit a cigarette, and amidst the swirling smoke, his gaze remained locked on that silhouette, as if wanting to burn her into his heart.

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, scattering fragments of light onto the large dark gray bed.

Seraphina Shen woke up curled in Julian Foster's arms, the strong, powerful arm around her waist almost taking her breath away. She peeked up at the man so close to her.

When asleep, Julian looked less cold, with a faint weariness between his brows. Seraphina couldn't help but reach out, her fingertips sliding down his high bridge of the nose and finally stopping on his tightly pressed thin lips.

"Awake?"

The man suddenly spoke, his voice carrying the hoarseness of someone who had just woken up, making her ears tingle. He didn't open his eyes but grabbed her mischievous hand and lightly kissed it at his lips.

"Uncle..." Seraphina shrank her neck.

"Call me by my name." Julian flipped over and pinned her beneath him, his deep eyes now crystal clear, showing no sign of having just woken up.

"Julian..." she changed her address, blushing.

"Good girl." He lowered his head and nuzzled her neck, like a large beast acting spoiled. "Stay with me and sleep a little longer."

Seraphina felt his burning body temperature pressed against her, her heart beating so fast it almost jumped out of her chest. She pressed her ear against his chest, listening to that steady and powerful rhythm.

"Uncle, your heart is beating so fast," she whispered.

Julian's large hand lingered on her delicate back, his voice low and hoarse: "Because you're in my arms."

That entire day, Julian didn't go to the office. He seemed to want to make up for all the love he had restrained for the past ten years, taking Seraphina to swing in the back garden of the old mansion, feed the fish, and even personally cooking her a dinner that wasn't perfectly presented.

Seraphina felt like she had fallen into a honey pot. But she also knew that beneath this peace, the undercurrents never stopped.

The side branches of the Foster family, and the socialites in New York eyeing the position of Mrs. Foster, were all waiting to see her become a joke.

"Seraphina." After dinner, Julian held her on the terrace, looking at the distant city lights. "Come to the office with me tomorrow."

"What for?"

"To be my special assistant." He played with her slender fingers, his eyes deep. "I'll only feel at ease if I keep you right under my eyes."

What he didn't say was that he wanted everyone in New York to know that Seraphina Shen was the person he, Julian Foster, was protecting, and no one could touch her.

The top floor of the Foster Group, the CEO's office.

In her first week of work, Seraphina Shen finally saw Julian Foster in his working state. He was calm, rational, and even a bit cold-hearted. But when no one was around, he would pin her against the office chair and demand from her fiercely.

That evening, Foster Group concluded an important multinational project, and Julian, as the lead, had to attend the celebration.

Seraphina accompanied him as his special assistant, but at the dinner table, she was pressured into a few drinks by some short-sighted project managers. Although Julian blocked them all, she was still a bit tipsy.

When they returned home, it was already late at night.

Julian had drunk even more; he loosened his tie, his gaze somewhat dazed.

"Seraphina, come here."

He sat on the sofa and beckoned to her.

Seraphina walked over obediently, only to be pulled into his arms by force.

"I didn't like the way they looked at you." Julian bit her earlobe, his voice thick with jealousy and the wildness of alcohol. "That manager stared at your legs for three seconds, and that director's eyes kept drifting toward you while he was talking to me..."

"Uncle, you've had too much to drink." Seraphina laughed and tried to push him away.

"I haven't."

Julian suddenly picked her up and strode into the bedroom.

Julian tonight was crazier than ever before. He seemed to want to stamp his own mark on her, demanding from her again and again.

Amidst the rising and falling, Seraphina looked at the man's eyes stained with desire, and a sweet tremor surfaced in her heart.

He wasn't abstinent. He just released all his desire only for her.

"Seraphina... call my name..."

"Julian... Julian Foster..."

He confirmed it in her ear over and over, as if wanting to carve this name into her bones and blood. The absurdity after drinking eventually turned into extreme tenderness.

In this competition of love and desire, no one won, yet both were willing to fall.

Morning in New York, a news item in the morning paper caused a stir.

Although they didn't dare to name names directly, there were whispers everywhere that the decisive head of the Foster family seemed to be keeping a "delicate guest" in his company.

In the breakroom of the Foster Group.

"Have you heard? That new special assistant, Seraphina, looks like a temptress. Mr. Foster even takes her to meetings."

"That's right. I think Mr. Foster is just interested for a while. The Shen family has fallen so far; she's at most just a plaything..."

Bang!

The breakroom door was pushed open violently.

Julian Foster stood at the door in a black suit, expressionless. The chill radiating from him instantly silenced the gossiping employees, their faces turning pale with fright.

"Mark." Julian spoke coldly.

"Mr. Foster." Assistant Mark appeared tremblingly.

"From today on, I don't want to see these people in Foster Group again."

He didn't even say another word, turning and leaving.

Back in the office, Seraphina Shen was helping him organize the documents on his desk. Seeing him enter, she smiled with curved eyes: "Uncle, what's wrong? You look so upset."

Julian pinned her against the door, his movements crude yet restrained.

"Don't listen to what they say." He stared into her eyes, his gaze churning with unprecedented paranoia. "You are my Mrs. Foster, not some plaything."

Seraphina was stunned. She looked at this man who was always abstinent and indifferent in front of others, now personally tearing down those rumors for her.

"Julian..."

"Seraphina, don't leave me." He suddenly lowered his head, burying it in her neck, his voice carrying an undetectable hint of vulnerability. "I only have you."

At that moment, Seraphina completely understood. This man's abstinence was the armor he used to protect himself. And she was his only weakness.

He tore off the mask of abstinence, revealing his most real and crazy side to her without reservation.

Due to Julian Foster's forceful suppression, the gossip in the company vanished overnight.

But Seraphina Shen knew this was just the calm before the storm.

"Uncle, I'm going back to the old Shen mansion tonight to pick up some things." Before leaving work, Seraphina said casually while helping him put on his jacket.

Julian's movements paused, his dark eyes looking at her deeply.

"The old Shen mansion?"

"Yes, some of my parents' belongings are still there. I want to go and organize them."

Julian didn't speak, but tightly gripped her hand, the force so strong it made her ache slightly.

"I'll go with you."

"No need, I'll be back soon. Assistant Mark can just drop me off."

Seraphina didn't know that her words touched the most sensitive string in Julian's heart. His possessiveness for her had reached a nearly pathological level. As long as she wasn't within his sight, he couldn't help but generate all kinds of dark thoughts.

"Seraphina Shen, I said, I'll go with you."

His tone carried a non-negotiable dominance.

In the end, Seraphina compromised.

The old Shen mansion.

It had been abandoned for a long time, and the air smelled of mold. Seraphina walked into her old bedroom, looking at the familiar furnishings, her heart filled with sighs.

Just then, a male voice sounded in the hallway.

"Seraphina? Is it really you?"

It was the young master of the Sterling family, Dominic Sterling. He had somehow heard the news and actually followed her here.

"Dominic? What are you doing here?" Seraphina looked surprised.

"I heard from Mark that you were back here, so I came to see." Dominic stepped forward, his eyes showing concern. "How have you been lately? Julian Foster, he..."

Before he could finish, a strong, powerful arm suddenly yanked Seraphina away.

Julian Foster appeared at the door at some unknown time. The ferocity radiating from him almost shook the dilapidated old mansion to pieces.

"Young Master Sterling, it seems the Sterling family's businesses in New York are too idle." Julian sneered, his large hand firmly gripping Seraphina's waist, pressing her into his embrace as if declaring sovereignty.

"Mr. Foster, Seraphina has the freedom to make friends." Dominic retorted defiantly.

"Freedom?"

Julian seemed to have heard a huge joke. He suddenly lowered his head and kissed Seraphina fiercely on the lips, looking at Dominic provocatively.

"Seraphina Shen's only freedom in this life is to stay by my side."

He carried Seraphina away with large strides, leaving Dominic's angry roars behind.

Inside the car, Julian didn't say a word, but his hands on the steering wheel, with veins bulging, betrayed his churning rage.

"You are mine, Seraphina." He looked at the road ahead, his voice as low as a whisper from hell. "Only mine."

Looking at this man whose eyes were burnt red with jealousy, a strange sweetness welled up deep in Seraphina's heart.

She knew that in this game named "upbringing," neither she nor he could ever get out.

Foster Group, 88th floor, CEO's office.

Seraphina Shen changed into a sharply tailored gray professional suit. The skirt was slightly narrow, outlining her graceful curves with every step. She wore eight-centimeter high heels, her long hair neatly tied back, revealing her beautiful and slender swan neck. She looked less delicate than before and more like a capable professional woman.

But only she knew how many marks Julian Foster had personally left under this skin.

"Miss Shen, this is your workstation."

Assistant Mark pointed to a spot right next to the CEO's office door. It had an excellent view; as long as Julian looked up, he could see her every move through the bright glass partition.

"Just call me Special Assistant Shen." Seraphina smiled politely, a hint of craftiness hidden in her eyes.

Mark gave a dry laugh, thinking: My lady, how would I ever dare to actually treat you as a special assistant?

Pushing open the door to the CEO's office, Julian Foster was sitting in his large silk leather chair. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, reviewing documents with a cold and solemn expression, his entire being exuding an aura of abstinence that warned people not to get close.

"Mr. Foster, the new Special Assistant Seraphina Shen reporting for duty."

Seraphina walked to his desk and gently placed a cup of freshly ground coffee.

Julian didn't even look up, his voice cold: "Leave the documents and you can go out."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow and didn't move. She walked around the desk, behind him, and her cool fingers suddenly rested on the man's shoulders, beginning to massage them gently.

"Mr. Foster, on my first day of work, you're being so cold. I'll be sad."

Julian's hand reviewing the documents stopped abruptly. He took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and spoke with a hint of helpless indulgence: "Seraphina, don't play around. This is the office."

"What's wrong with the office?" Seraphina didn't stop; instead, she leaned down, breathing like orchids against his ear. "Uncle... last night at home, you didn't talk to me like this."

That soft "Uncle" made Julian's breathing deepen significantly.

He grabbed her mischievous hand and pulled hard.

Seraphina let out a cry of surprise, and she was already sitting firmly on his lap.

"Special Assistant Shen." Julian stared at her, his eyes alarmingly dark, his large hand lingering on her slender waist. "Since you're here to work, you must look the part. If you don't do well..."

"What happens if I don't do well?" Seraphina hooked his tie, her gaze provocative.

Julian lowered his head and bit her delicate lips punitively, his voice hoarse: "If you don't do well, I'll have to lock you in the lounge and 'teach' you properly."

Outside were busy employees. But inside this soundproof office, an ambiguous atmosphere was silently spreading.

2:00 PM, Foster Group senior management meeting.

The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy, with department heads tremblingly reporting quarterly financial statements. Julian Foster sat at the head of the table, reviewing documents expressionlessly, the pressure radiating from him dropping the temperature of the entire room by several degrees.

Seraphina Shen, as the "special assistant," sat in the secondary seat behind Julian, holding a tablet to record the key points of the meeting.

Since the space under the table was spacious, Seraphina looked at Julian's serious and restrained face and suddenly had a mischievous idea.

She quietly slipped off one of her high heels, and her slender, fair toes began to crawl up the man's sharp suit pants, bit by bit.

Julian was listening to the sales director's report, his brow slightly furrowed, and was about to ask a question when he suddenly felt that delicate and bold touch on his leg.

His voice stopped abruptly.

The sales director was startled, thinking he had said something wrong, and cold sweat instantly flowed down his neck: "Mr. Foster... is there a problem with the data?"

Julian didn't speak. His knuckles holding the pen turned white, and a storm churned in the depths of his deep eyes. He turned his head, catching a glimpse of Seraphina recording seriously, as if the person causing trouble under the table wasn't her at all.

He suddenly reached out and accurately grabbed that restless small foot under the table, squeezing it hard.

"Hiss—"

Seraphina let out a sharp breath, her body stiffening, and her tablet almost fell to the floor.

"Mr. Foster?" The sales director became even more panicked.

"Continue."

Julian's voice was dark and hoarse. He looked back ahead without changing his expression, but his hand didn't let go. He sat there, expressionlessly listening to the report, while under the table, using those powerful large hands, he wantonly punished the girl's delicate sole.

Seraphina was well-behaved now. She bit her lower lip tightly, her cheeks flushed, and a layer of misty haze appeared in her eyes.

This secret under everyone's eyes made her feel an unprecedented thrill and shame.

The meeting lasted for a full two hours.

When the meeting adjourned, the department heads filed out as if granted amnesty.

"Special Assistant Shen, stay for a moment."

Julian leaned back in his chair, casually closed the document, his eyes filled with intense desire and danger.

The door was tactfully closed by Assistant Mark.

Before Seraphina could even put her shoe back on, she was pulled over by Julian and pressed heavily onto the cold conference table.

"Seraphina Shen, you've grown quite capable." Julian leaned in, loosening his tie, his voice hoarse beyond belief. "Daring to seduce me in the conference room?"

"I... I didn't..." Seraphina knew she was in the wrong, her eyes dodging.

"Whether you did or not, we'll know once we try."

He lowered his head and kissed her fiercely. The sun outside shone on the conference table, but in this small corner of the world, it was filled with the man's madness and possession after losing control.

Several days of continuous work had dropped Julian Foster's patience to freezing point.

Due to a deviation in the core data of a major project, the entire R&D department had been thoroughly scolded. Julian stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his back as cold and sharp as an unsheathed blade.

"Mark, is this the explanation you give me?"

He turned around abruptly and slammed a thick stack of reports onto the desk. Papers scattered all over the floor, and Assistant Mark didn't even dare to breathe, standing aside with his head down.

"Mr. Foster, that was..."

"Shut up. If I don't see the redone results within three hours, you can leave too."

The office was filled with a murderous aura. Mark fled in panic, bumping into Seraphina Shen, who was carrying documents.

"Special Assistant Shen, save me..." Mark pointed inside and made a gesture of "good luck to you."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow. She could feel the gunpowder-like tension in the room that was about to solidify.

She pushed the door open and immediately saw the man standing before the desk, filled with ferocity. He had undone the top two buttons of his shirt, sleeves rolled up, irritably rubbing his temples.

"Didn't I say not to bother me?" Julian didn't even turn around, the coldness in his voice enough to make one feel like they were in an ice cellar.

Seraphina didn't speak. She walked to the side, elegantly set down the documents, and then took out a bowl of warm snow pear and white fungus soup from a thermal container.

"Mr. Foster has such a grand display of power; even I, a small special assistant, wouldn't dare bother you."

Hearing the familiar voice, Julian's shoulders relaxed slightly. He turned around, and seeing it was Seraphina, most of the violence in his eyes dissipated, though he still kept a cold face.

"Seraphina, go out. I'm in a bad mood right now and don't want to hurt you."

"Being in a bad mood means you have to hurt people?" Seraphina walked slowly to him, her fingertips lightly touching his furrowed brow. "Julian Foster, do you know that the way you just lost your temper was really... fierce."

Julian caught her hand, his grip very strong: "You knew it was fierce and still dared to come in?"

"Because I know that only I can put out Mr. Foster's fire."

Seraphina smiled charmingly and suddenly stood on tiptoe, lightly biting the man's chin. That was her usual way of "putting out the fire."

Julian's breath hitched. He looked at this little girl who didn't know the heights of heaven, and the irritability and gloom in his heart miraculously vanished under her gaze.

"Seraphina Shen." He gripped her waist, pulling her toward him, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness after compromise. "You really are my nemesis."

"Then do you want this nemesis, hmm?"

Seraphina clung to his neck, her gaze innocent.

Julian cursed low and leaned down to capture her lips. This time, there was no cold murderous intent, only the tenderness of a softened heart.

In this office filled with power and games, all the rage eventually drowned in this pool of gentle spring water.

That night, Julian Foster didn't continue working overtime.

He took Seraphina Shen back to the old Foster mansion, but the moment they entered, he pinned her at the entrance.

"Seraphina, help me."

He closed his eyes, his chin resting on her shoulder, his burning breath pouring onto her delicate skin. Seraphina could feel the man's weariness, as well as the desire that urgently needed to be released.

She gently hugged him back, her small hand lightly patting his back: "I'm here, Julian."

Julian suddenly looked up, his eyes churning with an intense emotion that couldn't be dissolved. He picked her up abruptly and strode up to the second floor.

The lingering affection of that night held less wildness and more deep affection, as if they were depending on each other for life. Seraphina looked at every kiss the man left on her, her heart feeling as if it were filled with honey.

Early the next morning, Seraphina woke up rubbing her aching waist, only to find the side of the bed already empty.

A note was left on the table: "Rest well at home. — Julian"

Seraphina curled her lips. She knew that the fire from last night had been completely extinguished.

But when she got to the office, she realized that although Mr. Foster was gentle to her, he was still like a King of Hell to others.

When Assistant Mark saw her, he looked like he had seen a savior: "Special Assistant Shen, you've finally come! Mr. Foster lost his temper inside, saying the finance department's calculations were wrong again, and no one could persuade him otherwise."

Seraphina adjusted her glasses and smiled.

"That's because they didn't use the right method."

She pushed the door open. Julian was reprimanding several finance supervisors, his voice as cold as ice.

Seraphina walked over, and without saying much, she directly wrapped her arms around the man's neck from behind, pressing her face against his cool cheek.

"Mr. Foster, my waist hurts so much."

The entire room went dead silent.

The finance supervisors' eyes almost fell out, each of them wishing they could shrink into the cracks in the floor.

Julian's reprimand stopped abruptly. He stiffened for a few seconds, then suddenly turned to look at Seraphina, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Seraphina, what nonsense are you playing." Although he was scolding her, the indulgence in his voice was almost overflowing.

"Who told you to write those kinds of things on the note..." Seraphina pretended to be aggrieved. "It made Mrs. Liu laugh at me."

Looking at her delicate and soft appearance, Julian couldn't find any more anger. He waved his hand, signaling the supervisors: "Get out, have the plan revised before 2:00 PM."

"Yes, yes!"

Several people fled as if granted amnesty.

Only Julian and Seraphina were left in the office.

"Happy now?" Julian pinched her chin, his eyes full of tolerance.

"Happy." Seraphina smiled like a cat that had caught a fish. "Mr. Foster, don't I have a special talent for 'putting out fires'?"

Julian lowered his head and bit her lip, murmuring indistinctly:

"Yes. This fire, only you can put out."

Seraphina Shen's career at the Foster Group entered a wonderful period of balance.

In front of the employees, she was the skilled and poised Special Assistant Shen; but in front of Julian Foster, she was the rose he held in his palm and was afraid of melting if held in his mouth.

"Special Assistant Shen, here is the itinerary for next week."

Assistant Mark had learned his lesson; he always knocked three times before entering and never let his eyes wander.

"Leave it here." Seraphina sat at the secondary office desk, flipping through it with an air of professionalism.

Julian looked up at her, his gaze sliding from her fingertips to her slender calves, his eyes darkening slightly.

"Special Assistant Shen." He suddenly spoke, his voice cold.

"Please speak, Mr. Foster." Seraphina didn't look up.

"This cup of coffee is too cold; get me another one."

Seraphina stood up to pour the coffee. Just as she walked back to the desk with the steaming cup, Julian suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling hard.

"Ah—" The coffee almost spilled.

Julian brought her into his arms, his chin resting in the hollow of her neck, taking a deep breath of her scent.

"Seraphina, don't look at those documents all day; look at me more."

"Mr. Foster, we're at work." Seraphina laughed and patted his hand away.

"Since we're at work, as my special assistant, shouldn't you solve your boss's problems?" Julian's eyes were crafty, and his large hand began to wander restlessly on her leg. "Right now, I feel very 'troubled'."

"What trouble?"

"The trouble of missing you too much."

He picked her up and sat her on the desk, the expensive itinerary sheets scattering all over the floor.

"Julian Foster..." Seraphina's voice was broken by his kiss. "This is the CEO's office..."

"The soundproofing is very good." He blocked her lips, his attack arrogant and wild.

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the office door.

"Mr. Foster, this contract..."

Mark's voice stopped abruptly. Although the door was only open a crack, he had already keenly sensed the low pressure inside.

"Get out!"

Julian's roar made Mark disappear instantly.

Seraphina shrank into the man's arms with a red face, her small hand hitting his chest: "It's all your fault; Mark must be laughing at me behind my back again."

"He wouldn't dare." Julian bit her earlobe, his gaze paranoid. "You are mine. Whether at home or in the office, you can only be my private pet."

This game of pulling under the name of "work" eventually turned into endless indulgence. Seraphina gradually discovered that once this abstinent man harbored private intentions, it would be world-shaking.

Late at night, the Foster Group building was mostly dark, except for the top floor.

An urgent bid needed to be finalized tonight, so Julian Foster and Seraphina Shen had to stay late.

Outside the window was the brilliant night view of New York, while inside the spacious office, only the desk lamp emitted a dim, soft light.

Seraphina was focused on proofreading the final data. She wore a pair of blue-light blocking glasses, her long hair casually held up with a gold fork, a few stray strands falling at her temples, adding a touch of lazy charm.

Julian walked up behind her at some unknown moment.

He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pressing his face against the side of her neck.

"Tired?"

Seraphina shook her head: "Just a few more pages. Uncle, go rest in the lounge for a bit; I'll call you when I'm done."

Julian didn't speak, but held her even tighter. His warm lips wandered along her neckline, and his large hands began to undo the buttons of her professional shirt.

"Don't... this bid needs to be submitted first thing tomorrow morning..." Seraphina gasped, trying to hold his hand.

"Seraphina, I want you on your desk..."

His voice was hoarse to the extreme, carrying a kind of non-negotiable madness.

He pushed the laptop on the desk aside and then pinned her back against that large mahogany table. Seraphina's back pressed against the cold tabletop, while before her was the man's chest, as hot as fire.

That extreme alternation of cold and heat made her unable to stop trembling.

"Julian... not here..." she sobbed, a misty haze appearing in her eyes.

"Just once." He lowered his head, kissing away the tears at the corner of her eye.

That night, the documents on the desk were in complete disarray. Amidst the rising and falling, Seraphina looked at the flickering lights on the ceiling and listened to the man's heavy breathing, feeling as if she were about to break in this deep night.

Julian's demands from her carried a nearly pathological sense of compensation. He seemed to want to make up for all those ten years he had missed, all in one night.

"You are mine... Seraphina, you are mine..."

He murmured in her ear over and over.

As the first sliver of light appeared on the horizon, Julian carried the exhausted Seraphina into the lounge.

The bid on the desk was eventually completed before dawn. But every word on it seemed to carry the blushing, heart-pounding tenderness of this night.

This absurdity named "overtime" eventually became the most secret and sweetest memory in Seraphina's heart. She knew that in this life, she could never escape the trap named Julian Foster. And she relished it.

New York, Foster Group's anniversary celebration.

This gala gathered more than half of New York's elite and celebrities, with flashbulbs flashing incessantly. Everyone was speculating whether Julian Foster, the power-holder who was always alone, would attend with a female companion tonight.

Backstage lounge.

Seraphina Shen wore a fiery red backless evening gown, looking like a rose in full bloom. Julian Foster stood behind her, personally putting a priceless pink diamond necklace on her.

"Scared?" he whispered in her ear. The man in the mirror looked solemn and deeply affectionate.

"With you here, I'm not afraid." Seraphina turned around and straightened his tie for him.

Julian held her hand, the warmth of his palm transferring over: "After tonight, everyone in New York will know you are mine."

As the doors to the banquet hall slowly pushed open, the originally noisy scene instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Julian Foster was in an ink-colored suit, his face as cold as frost. And on his arm was the very "Special Assistant Shen" who had been the subject of much talk within the Foster Group lately.

They walked calmly through the crowd and finally stopped in the center of the stage.

Julian took the microphone, his gaze like a torch, faintly sweeping over the faces below that were either surprised, jealous, or contemptuous.

"Thank you all for attending the Foster Group anniversary celebration." His voice was deep and powerful, echoing through every corner via the speakers. "On this day, I have one thing to officially announce."

He turned sideways, his large hand possessively gripping Seraphina's waist, bringing her into his arms.

"Seraphina Shen will no longer be the special assistant of Foster Group, nor is she my, Julian Foster's, niece."

Julian lowered his head, and under the gaze of everyone, he placed a deep kiss on those delicate lips, then announced into the microphone word by word:

"She is the only woman in my, Julian Foster's, life, and the future mistress of the Foster family."

The entire venue was in an uproar.

Flashbulbs flashed frantically as if cost were no object. In that white light, Seraphina looked up at the man who shielded her from the wind and rain.

There was no trepidation of a proposal, only the dominance of an announcement to the world. He didn't need to ask if she was willing, because from the moment he didn't push her away on that stormy night, they were destined to be entangled for lifetimes.

"Now, you really can't escape." Julian whispered in her ear, his eyes filled with wolf-like paranoia and the smile of success.

Seraphina tightened her hold on his neck, smiling radiantly: "Then please, Mr. Foster, guide me well."

This official announcement shattered the dreams of many socialites in New York and allowed Seraphina to firmly secure her position at the peak of the Foster Group.

The day after the official announcement, headlines across New York were dominated by Julian Foster's kiss.

When Seraphina Shen stepped into the Foster Group building again, the gazes around her had completely changed. There was no more contempt or speculation; all that remained was awe and flattery.

"Mrs. Foster, these are the invitations sent by various families today."

Assistant Mark's form of address had changed very smoothly, even carrying a hint of sycophantic flattery.

Seraphina flipped through the gold-embossed invitations, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth: "Decline them all. Tell Mr. Foster I'm tired and don't want to go to social events."

"Yes, I'll get right on it."

Seraphina pushed open the door to the CEO's office. Julian Foster was sitting behind his desk, looking at a report about the reclamation of the old Shen mansion land. Seeing her enter, the coldness in his eyes instantly turned into a pool of soft water.

"You're here?" He beckoned to her.

Seraphina walked over and was pulled into his arms before she could even sit down.

"Tired?" His long fingers ran through her hair, gently massaging her waist. "Was I too forceful last night?"

Seraphina's face turned red, and she gave him a reproachful look: "Julian Foster, you're becoming more and more thick-skinned."

"Why do I need to be thin-skinned with my own wife?" He lowered his head and bit the tip of her nose, his voice dark. "Seraphina, I used to think standing at the peak of power was interesting, but now I think watching you sit in the seat next to me is even more interesting."

He turned the office chair, letting her look at the bustling New York street scene outside the window.

"Everything the Shen family lost, I've brought back for you. From now on, no one will ever dare to look down on you again."

Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, her heart feeling warm and soft. She knew this man had given her the ultimate indulgence and sense of security in the most forceful way.

He didn't need a formalized proposal because what he gave her was the entire Foster family and the rest of his life.

"Julian, with you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

They embraced before the floor-to-ceiling window that represented the peak of power in New York, with all disturbances isolated outside. She was his only one, and he was her world.

Time passed like water.

A saying gradually spread through the circles of New York: Better to offend Julian Foster than to provoke Seraphina Shen.

Because the master of the Foster family had pampered his little wife to an outrageous degree.

One afternoon, in the greenhouse garden of the old Foster mansion, Seraphina was napping on a rattan chair. Julian walked over softly, holding a blanket, and carefully covered her.

Seraphina opened her eyes dazed, like a lazy little cat, and instinctively nuzzled his palm.

"Finished with work?"

"Yes." Julian sat down beside her, scooping her into his arms. "Why sleep here? Be careful not to catch a cold."

"It's warm here," Seraphina murmured.

Looking at her completely dependent appearance, Julian's heart softened completely. He had been decisive all his life, his hands stained with the smoke of countless commercial struggles, yet when facing this little girl, he wished he could give her his very life.

"Julian." Seraphina suddenly opened her eyes, her bright eyes reflecting his face. "They all say you've changed, that you're not as cold anymore."

"That's because all my warmth has been given to you."

He lowered his head and repeatedly brushed against those delicate lips, not stopping until Seraphina's breathing was in disarray.

"Seraphina, before I only wanted to keep you under my wing and protect you for a worry-free life. But now, I want you to stay with me and see the prosperity of this world."

Seraphina tightened her hold on his neck, smiling brightly.

He wasn't raising a pet; he was pampering a soul who could stand side-by-side with him.

In this life, all his tenderness, patience, and love were given only to this one person.

"Then you have to pamper me like this for a lifetime, you're not allowed to stop."

"Alright, for a lifetime."

The promise he gave her was never empty words, but the rest of his life carved into his bones.

Late autumn.

Julian Foster took Seraphina Shen to the Arctic.

There were no complications of New York here, only the aurora filling the sky and the pure snowfields.

Seraphina wore a thick down jacket, running around in the snow like a little ball of fluff. Julian followed not far behind, his gaze always locked on her, occasionally stepping forward to straighten her crooked hat.

"Look! The aurora!"

Seraphina pointed at the dreamlike green in the sky, screaming with excitement.

Julian wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, their breaths mingling as white mist in the cold air.

"Seraphina." He called her name softly in her ear.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for breaking into my study."

Seraphina was stunned, then turned around to meet the man's eyes, which were filled with starlight.

If she hadn't summoned that courage that night, if she had continued to play the role of the well-behaved niece, perhaps they would have tortured each other in that restraint for the rest of their lives.

"It's me who should thank you for not pushing me away."

Seraphina stood on tiptoe and proactively kissed his lips. Under the magnificent aurora, this kiss carried the coldness of snowflakes, yet also showed the most passionate beating of two hearts.

Julian tightly gripped the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

He said to himself in his heart: all tenderness, all love, and all the rest of my life, are only for you.

No matter how the world changes, no matter how time flows, his pampering will never stop.

The days after returning to New York were plain yet intense.

Julian Foster began trying to delegate more company matters, freeing up more time to spend with Seraphina Shen.

They would be like an ordinary couple, going to a roadside stall for a bowl of wontons late at night; they would also drive to the suburbs to sketch on their days off. Of course, more often than not, Julian would be in the study handling business while Seraphina sat in his arms, reading a book she liked.

"Seraphina, stop reading; your eyes will get tired."

Julian took the book from her hand and kissed her eyes.

"You're the one who's the most tired." Seraphina touched the faint dark circles under his eyes.

"For you, it's not tiring."

He buried his face in her chest, listening to that rhythmic heartbeat, feeling it was the most beautiful melody in the world.

Looking at his dependent appearance, Seraphina couldn't help but laugh softly. Who would have thought that the Master Foster, who commanded the winds and clouds outside, was actually so clingy in private?

"Julian, let's have a baby." Seraphina suddenly suggested.

Julian's body stiffened for a moment, then he looked up, his eyes deep and bottomless.

"A baby will take your attention away."

Seraphina burst out laughing: "Julian Foster, you're even jealous of your own child?"

"I hate anything that makes you look at me even one second less."

He kissed her lips dominantly, his movements carrying a hint of ruthlessness.

But even though he said that, the moment Seraphina actually became pregnant, Julian was still so excited that he stayed in the study all night. The next day, he invited the best maternal and infant care team in New York to the old mansion.

The indulgence he gave her had no upper limit and no end.

Three years later.

On the lawn of the old Foster mansion, a little boy in overalls was wobbling around, chasing after a Golden Retriever.

"Julian Jr., run slower!"

Seraphina Shen was chasing after him, the smile on her face even more radiant than the roses of back then.

Julian Foster came out of the study, and seeing this scene, a smile touched his eyes and brows. He walked up quickly and scooped up the mischievous little fellow.

"Did you make Mommy angry?" He kept a straight face, but his tone was very gentle.

"Daddy, Mommy runs too slowly," the little guy complained.

"That's because your mom's physical stamina isn't great." Julian gave Seraphina a meaningful look, earning a reproachful glare from her.

He laughed and set his son down, letting him go play by himself. Then he wrapped his arms around Seraphina, bringing her into his embrace.

The sun was setting, casting their long shadows on the ground.

"Seraphina."

"Hmm?"

"I used to think that nothing in this world was eternal. But now, I believe."

He took her hand and placed a kiss on the pink diamond ring that she hadn't taken off for three years.

"Seraphina meets Julian, and in this life, we shall never be separated again."

Seraphina looked up at the man who had given her ultimate indulgence and the entire world, the love in her heart almost overflowing.

"Yes, never separated again."

In this quiet old Foster mansion, in this long rest of their lives, their story would never have an end.

All the stormy nights had passed. What remained was only this lifetime of— Delicate Obsession.

(The End)