Private Pet: My Abstinent Uncle's Assistant Wife

Morning, Sterling Group Building.

The atmosphere in the top-floor CEO's office was low to the extreme. Employees on the entire floor held their breath, even the sound of typing on keyboards was deliberately lowered.

Because "Second Master" Silas Sterling of the Sterling Group was in an extremely bad mood today.

"Can this kind of trash proposal even be handed to me?"

Behind the desk, the man wore a handmade custom black suit, his cold white fingertips tapping on the tabletop, the rhythmic tapping sounding like a countdown. Under his gold-rimmed glasses, those phoenix eyes were deep and cold, exuding an unfeeling ruthlessness.

Several project department managers lowered their heads, cold sweat dripping down their temples, not daring to utter a single word in return.

In New York, who doesn't know Silas Sterling? He is the youngest power-holder of the Sterling family, the second-born, yet possessing business tactics more ruthless than his elder brother's branch. He was like a moving iceberg; wherever he went, the air would freeze a few degrees.

"Redo it." He casually tossed the folder, papers scattering all over the floor. "If I don't see something satisfactory before the end of the day, all of you can pack your bags and leave."

Just as the low pressure in the office was about to become suffocating, the office door was gently pushed open.

A young girl wearing a white professional suit and a fresh ponytail walked in. She looked barely in her early twenties, her skin as white as porcelain, her large eyes exuding a sense of spirit, looking somewhat out of place in this solemn office.

She was Seraphina Su, Silas Sterling's special assistant, and also the "illegitimate" adopted daughter of the Sterling family.

"Uncle, here is the report just sent by the finance department." Seraphina acted as if she didn't sense the gunpowder in the office, walking straight to Silas's side and setting down a document.

Seeing Seraphina, the project managers who were about to faint instantly felt a flicker of "hope."

The savior had arrived.

Silas looked up at Seraphina. His originally cold gaze paused slightly when it touched her clear eyes, but his tone remained very stiff: "Why are you delivering it? Where's Assistant Zhou?"

"Assistant Zhou is in a meeting downstairs; I brought it up in passing." Seraphina answered with poise.

She leaned down, picking up the papers on the floor one by one, her movements elegant and natural.

Silas watched as she leaned over, revealing a section of her swan-like white neck at her collar; his eyes darkened, and his Adam's apple instinctively slid.

That was the little girl he had raised for ten years.

From picking her up on a rainy night at age twelve to now twenty-two, he had watched her change bit by bit from green to radiant, and also watched her walk bit by bit into the net he had personally woven, named "protection" but actually "possession."

"Seraphina, this is none of your business; get out." Silas turned his head, forcefully suppressing that mysterious agitation in his heart.

"Uncle, the finance director just said this report needs your signature urgently, otherwise the investment meeting this afternoon won't be able to proceed." Seraphina acted as if she didn't hear his dismissal, instead walking around the desk to stand behind him.

She reached out with her soft, boneless small hands and began to gently massage the man's temples.

In the entire Sterling Group, only Seraphina dared to do this.

"I see you have quite a temper today; why not rest for five minutes first?" Her voice was soft and sweet, like a feather, teasing the man's tightened nerves.

The project managers who were still standing aside in fear and trepidation, upon seeing this scene, all tactfully and quietly exited the office, closing the door behind them.

In their view, as long as Assistant Su took action, there was no fire Second Master Silas couldn't put out.

Inside the office, the curtains were half-drawn, and the light was somewhat dim.

Silas Sterling leaned back in his expensive leather chair, eyes closed, feeling the cool touch on his temples. That faint, strawberry shampoo scent unique to Seraphina Su calmed him more than any high-end perfume.

"Seraphina, who gave you the courage to even interrupt my meeting?" He remained with his eyes closed, his voice deep and hoarse, but with less ferocity.

"It's the courage Uncle gave me." Seraphina let out a soft laugh, the force of her hands perfectly controlled. "The way you looked just now, the project managers were probably about to have heart attacks from fright. If you truly damage your health with anger, won't I be the one whose heart aches in the end?"

These words carried a clear sense of pulling and acting spoiled.

Silas suddenly opened his eyes, his large hand gripping her wrist and pulling hard.

"Ah—"

Seraphina let out a cry of surprise and fell onto his lap.

The man's aggressive eyes stared deathly at her, the gaze behind his glasses deep as night.

"Heart aches?" He repeated those two words, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Seraphina, in these two years by my side, the thing you've learned fastest is this set of false pretenses."

Seraphina was held tightly in his arms, surrounded by the pheromones of a mature male. Not only did she not run, but she naturally circled his neck, her large eyes blinking as she looked at him.

"Whether it's false pretenses, doesn't Uncle know best?" She leaned close to his ear, her voice kept extremely low. "Last night when you were drunk, you held me and wouldn't let go, calling me 'Seraphina' over and over."

Silas's pupils contracted sharply, and his large palm involuntarily tightened at her waist.

Last night.

That was his most out-of-control night.

He had just returned from a business trip overseas and had been toasted many times during the celebration. When he pushed open the front door and saw Seraphina sitting in the living room in silk pajamas waiting for him, the desire he had suppressed for a whole month almost broke through on the spot.

He indeed held her, even pinning her against the wall in that dark hallway, almost kissing her.

If it hadn't been for that last shred of remaining reason reminding him she was his "niece," the situation now would probably be completely different.

"Seraphina, I see you're too idle." Silas kept a cold face, forcefully pushing her off him, turning around to look back at the computer screen. "Since you like managing my affairs so much, you're coming with me to the multinational meeting this afternoon. If you miss a single word in the meeting minutes, your entire bonus for this month will be deducted."

Seraphina straightened her slightly messy clothes and smiled craftily: "As you command, Mr. Sterling."

She knew Silas was angry from embarrassment.

Whenever he couldn't control his desire for her, he would act exceptionally cold or even somewhat harsh. But as long as she acted spoiled softly, or acted as his "fire extinguisher" at critical moments, a crack would always appear in his perennial iceberg.

This pulling that wandered on the edge of the law and was filled with a sense of taboo made Seraphina feel both dangerous and charming.

When she walked out of the office, Assistant Zhou was rushing over.

"Assistant Su, how is Mr. Sterling now? Has his temper cooled down a bit?"

Seraphina blinked, her smile meaningful: "It has. But Assistant Zhou, in the future when Mr. Sterling loses his temper, remember to let me in first. Otherwise, you all really will be 'wiped out'."

Assistant Zhou wiped his sweat and nodded repeatedly: "Definitely, from now on you are Mr. Sterling's exclusive fire extinguisher."

Seraphina let out a soft laugh, but an undetectable hint of worry flashed in her eyes.

A fire extinguisher?

But if this fire was personally lit by her, how should it be put out?

Silas Sterling had several properties in New York, but after Seraphina Su graduated, he arranged for her to stay in his large penthouse in the city center.

Under the beautiful name of: convenience for work.

In reality, Seraphina knew very well that it was to control her more easily.

That night, Silas returned late again.

Seraphina sat on the sofa, a laptop on her lap, organizing the minutes of the day's meeting. Hearing the sound of the electronic lock at the door, she looked up almost as a reflex.

When Silas entered, his suit jacket was hanging on his arm, his tie already loosened; he looked somewhat weary, yet his gaze remained sharp.

"Not asleep yet?" He saw the living room light still on and frowned slightly.

"Waiting for Uncle." Seraphina put down the computer and stood up to take his jacket at the entrance.

The two crossed paths in the small entrance area, and Seraphina keenly captured a hint of abnormality on him.

Besides the faint smell of alcohol, there was actually a若有若无 (ruò yǒu ruò wú - seemingly non-existent) clear and elegant fragrance.

It wasn't her scent; it was some high-end, feminine perfume.

"Uncle, you didn't come home last night." Seraphina hung up the jacket, her tone flat, but her hand unconsciously clutched her clothes.

Silas's movement of undoing his cufflinks paused, and he turned his head to look at her: "There was a business dinner; it was too late, so I slept at the hotel."

"Is that so?" Seraphina walked to him, looking up, staring almost stubbornly into his eyes. "Assistant Zhou said that at last night's gathering, Miss Miller from the Miller Group was there too. Did you... have a very pleasant conversation?"

Silas's gaze darkened, and the authority belonging to an elder instantly returned: "Seraphina, who gave you the right to pry into my private affairs?"

"I'm your special assistant; knowing your whereabouts is my job." Seraphina retorted stubbornly. "Moreover, Grandpa has been urging you to go on blind dates lately. I'm worried that if one day the Sterling family suddenly has a second aunt, I, the 'adopted daughter,' will be kicked out."

"Nonsense." Silas coldly dropped those words and walked past her toward the bathroom.

Seraphina watched his back, the fire in her heart unable to be suppressed.

In these two years, as Silas reached his thirties, the pressure from the Sterling family to marry grew stronger. And Silas seemed to begin to compromise, frequently appearing in various social settings.

This made Seraphina feel an unprecedented crisis.

Half an hour later, Silas came out after showering and found Seraphina still sitting in the living room, with a cup of freshly made honey water before her.

"Drink it; it's good for your stomach." Seraphina's voice was somewhat muffled.

Silas walked over, picked up the cup, and drank it in one go.

Just as he was about to return to his room, Seraphina suddenly hugged his waist from behind.

The man's body froze on the spot.

"Seraphina, let go." His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a dangerous warning.

"I won't." Seraphina pressed her face against his broad, firm back, feeling the fresh scent on him after showering. "Uncle, are you really going to marry Miss Miller? If that's the case, I'll resign tomorrow and move out."

Silas turned around abruptly, his large hands gripping her shoulders, pinning her against the back of the sofa.

"Move out? Seraphina, what do you think this place is? You come and go as you please?" His eyes were filled with paranoia and rage. "You were raised by the Sterling family; your life is mine. Without my permission, you're not allowed to go anywhere."

"Then why did you bring back another woman's fragrance!" Seraphina finally shouted, tears of grievance welling in her eyes.

Looking at her small face reddened with anger, the rage in Silas's heart miraculously subsided somewhat.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, leaned down, his thin lips against her ear.

"Seraphina, are you jealous?"

"I..."

"That was just a gift from the Miller Group; it was knocked over at the dinner table." He explained somewhat stiffly, but for someone of his personality, this was already a huge concession. "Don't lose your temper with me over such small matters in the future."

Seraphina was stunned.

Uncle... was explaining to her?

Before she could react, Silas had already let go of her and entered the master bedroom without looking back.

That night, Seraphina had insomnia.

And Silas, in that locked master bedroom, looked at the non-existent ring mark on his ring finger until dawn.