PAMPERED: By The Manic CEO. ( She's My Sanity)

Anna sat cross-legged on her bed, her hands clutching the hem of her sweater as she replayed the events of the day in her mind. Her cheeks still burned with the embarrassment she'd caused herself in front of Alexander and his associates. _Why couldn't I have stayed quiet?_ she thought miserably. The nickname "Mr. Boss" would surely haunt her forever.

A sudden, sharp knock jolted her from her thoughts—or rather, there wasn't one. The door to her room swung open without warning, and Alexander stepped inside with his usual air of authority.

Anna scrambled to her feet, startled. "M-Mr. Voss," she stammered, bowing slightly out of habit. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, unsure of his mood.

He didn't acknowledge her greeting. Instead, he walked straight to her bed and sat down, his posture relaxed yet commanding. His piercing gaze locked onto her as he gestured toward the spot beside him. "Sit."

Anna hesitated, her heart pounding. "I-I'm fine standing, sir."

Alexander's eyes narrowed, and his tone turned icy. "Sit, Anna."

Her legs moved before her brain caught up, and she found herself perched nervously at the edge of the bed, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

For a moment, he said nothing, his intense eyes studying her as if searching for something hidden beneath her composed exterior. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but firm. "If you had the chance to pay back your uncle and aunt for everything they've done to you, what would you do?"

Anna blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I—I don't know," she replied softly. "I don't have the power to do anything to them."

Alexander's expression remained unreadable, but his tone grew sharper. "That's not an answer to my question. If you *could* do something, what would it be?"

Anna stared at her hands, her thoughts racing. Memories of the cruelty she had endured at the hands of her uncle and aunt flooded her mind: the constant verbal abuse, the nights she went to bed hungry, the feeling of helplessness as they gambled away her parents' savings. Her hands clenched into fists.

"I... I wouldn't know where to start," she murmured, her voice trembling. "Even if I wanted revenge, they have connections. They know people—thugs—who'd come after me if I tried anything. I can't risk that."

Alexander leaned back slightly, his expression unimpressed. "Excuses," he said curtly. "You're still not answering me, Anna. What do you *want* to do?"

The weight of his words settled over her, and something inside her snapped. All the emotions she had buried for years—the anger, the pain, the helplessness—rose to the surface like a storm she could no longer contain.

"I want them to suffer!" she blurted out, her voice louder than she intended. She looked up at Alexander, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I want them to feel the same pain they've put me through. I want them to lose everything, just like they made me lose everything."

Her voice cracked as she continued, the dam of her emotions breaking. "They took everything from me—my parents' money, my dignity, my sense of safety. And when they were done using me, they sold me like I was nothing, like I didn't even matter. All because of their stupid gambling debts!"

Her chest heaved as she fought to steady her breathing. "I hate them," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I hate them so much. But no matter how much I hate them, I can't do anything about it. I'm powerless."

The room fell silent, her words hanging heavy in the air.

Alexander studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady. "Good. That's what I wanted to hear."

Anna blinked, startled. "What?"

"You're finally being honest," he said simply. "You've been holding everything in, pretending it doesn't hurt. But the truth is, you want justice. You want them to pay for what they've done. There's no shame in that."

Anna stared at him, her heart pounding. "But... what does it matter? Wanting revenge doesn't change anything. I can't do anything to them. They'll just keep living their lives like nothing happened, while I'm stuck here, broken and... and useless."

Alexander's eyes darkened, and his voice took on an edge of steel. "You're not useless, Anna. And you're not powerless. Not anymore."

Her breath caught in her throat as his words sank in. "What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly.

He leaned forward, his intense gaze locking onto hers. "I can help you," he said firmly. "If you want them to pay, I can make it happen. But I need to know that you're ready to fight for yourself, to stop running from your past and face it head-on."

Anna's heart raced. The idea of standing up to her uncle and aunt, of finally reclaiming her life, was both terrifying and exhilarating. But a small voice in the back of her mind whispered doubts. _Can I really do this?_

"I... I don't know if I'm strong enough," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alexander's expression softened, just slightly. "Strength doesn't mean not being afraid," he said. "It means acting in spite of your fear. And you're stronger than you think, Anna. You've survived everything they've put you through. That takes strength."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time, they weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of something she hadn't felt in a long time: hope.

"What do I have to do?" she asked, her voice trembling but resolute.

A faint smile tugged at Alexander's lips, a rare and almost reassuring expression. "We'll start by leveling the playing field," he said. "You'll learn how to protect yourself, how to stand your ground. And when the time comes, we'll make sure your uncle and aunt understand exactly who they underestimated."

Anna nodded slowly, a sense of determination beginning to take root in her chest. For the first time in years, she felt like she had a choice—a chance to take back control of her life.

As Alexander rose to leave, he paused at the door and glanced back at her. "Remember, Anna," he said quietly, "you're not alone in this anymore."

And with that, he was gone, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

But this time, her thoughts weren't filled with fear or self-doubt. Instead, they were filled with something else entirely: the possibility of a future where she wasn't a victim, but someone who could stand tall and face the world on her own terms.