Forbidden Love

Chapter 30

After dinner, Amy couldn't get some sleep, no matter how hard she tried. She closed her eyes for several minutes, hoping it would help her fall asleep, but nothing worked. Why can't I fall asleep? She wondered, tossing and turning on her bed. After some minutes, she gave up trying, and got out of bed, heading for her dad's bedroom. He was the only person who could help her when she was having trouble falling asleep. She only hopes he's still awake, but she doubts that since it's already past midnight.

On reaching his bedroom door, she gave a gentle knock, not to be rude, in case he was still working.

"Come in," Her dad said from inside.

She opened the door, and like she guessed, he was working, on his laptop.

"Why are you still awake, princess?" Her dad asked

She could hear the concern in his voice.

"I can't sleep" She quietly replied.

"Come here, my love. Is something bothering you?"

He immediately closed his laptop and placed it on his nightstand before gesturing for Amy to join him on the bed. She quickly went into her dad's arms, cuddling up against him. She was quite tempted to tell him about her feelings for Bryan, but she decided against it since she already agreed to wait until Bryan was ready. She didn't want to do anything contrary, so she replied.

"Just couldn't sleep"

"Are you sure, princess?"

She only nodded, listening to her dad's heartbeat, and letting it calm her confused mind.

"Dad?..."

"Yes, sweetheart"

"I know I made a big deal out of it, but I think I'm ready to study business administration"

Henry was surprised to hear that. They've never been on the same page regarding this issue, so this sudden change of mind on her part was beyond him.

"Why the sudden change of mind?" He decided to ask, to know why his daughter brought up this conversation all of a sudden.

"I want to make you happy"

"Amy-"

"I was only teasing you, dad"

She smiled at how easily she could pull her dad's legs.

Henry sighed in relief because he was just about to give her a pep talk. He doesn't want his princess making choices just to please him. He wants her to be a strong, decisive, independent woman.

"I wanna grow up... I know I'll always be your little princess, but I'm ready to see the world from a different perspective"

Henry's face creased in confusion. He wasn't expecting such a reply from Amy. At least, not until a couple more years.

"Are you sure about that?... I mean. You have all the time in the world to do that" He carefully chose his words because he didn't want her to feel like he wasn't in support of her decision.

"I know that, but I want to start now..."

She paused, then continued.

"Don't be scared, dad. I'll always be your little princess" Amy assured her dad when she noticed he had a hesitant look on his face.

"If that's what you want, princess. You have my complete support" Henry eventually said, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Amy leaned into his touch. It was moments like this that made her prefer her dad over her mom. Her mom was always busy and paid not as much attention to her as her dad.

"Dad?..."

"Hmmm?"

"Why aren't you in a relationship?" Amy suddenly asked

Henry, who was previously stroking his daughter's hair paused at her question. Something was obviously bothering his daughter, he concluded within himself, because, it was unusual for Amy to bring up such conversations out of nowhere. To be honest, she was beginning to get him worried.

When Amy didn't get a reply from her dad, she lifted her eyes and gazed at him, but he was looking somewhere else. He was so deep in thought, that he didn't notice her staring at him.

"Dad, it was just a harmless question," She said, to get his attention.

"Did your mom talk you into this?" Henry asked instead.

He wanted to make sure Paula hadn't been filling their daughter's head with a lot of nonsense. He wouldn't doubt it if she was behind this, since she has always been against him wanting, or doing what was best for their daughter. She was always insistent on him letting Amy do things on her own, like kids her age. She feels he's being overprotective and possessive of their daughter, thereby preventing her from experiencing what teenagers her age do.

"No, Dad. I can't discuss your personal matters with Mom." Amy replied, sounding defensive because she knew the next thing that was going to happen, was her parents getting into an argument.

"And, about you growing up?"

"Dad. That was my decision, and mine alone"

Amy sat properly on the bed, so she could make her point.

"I only asked that because I'm worried about you," She began, taking her dad's hand, and placing a kiss on his knuckles, to calm him down, and make him forget whatever accusations he was creating in his mind against her mom.

"Ever since you and mom got divorced, I haven't seen you trying to move on... I want to see you happy again, Dad"

Henry's face softened at Amy's statement. She was correct when she said he wasn't trying to move on because he really wasn't. Although they disagreed on so many issues, Paula was the love of his life, and she gave him the greatest gift he could ever wish for their beautiful daughter, and he wouldn't change it for anything in this world.

"And what makes you think I'm not happy?" He asked, staring lovingly at his daughter.

"You can't fool me, Dad. You still have a photo of Mom in your study... She's happy with someone else, and I want you to do the same"

"My happiness is right here," he said, stroking Amy's cheek with his thumb.

"If you're worried about me, don't be. I'm an adult now. I will accept whoever it is you decide to be with... Even if it turns out to be your secretary"

They both laughed at her last comment.

"You'll accept my secretary?" Henry jokingly asked

"After I'm done interrogating her..."

"Oh, really?"

"And she passes my test"

"Come here, sweetheart"

Amy embraced her dad once again, relaxing into his touch.

"I'm being serious, Dad. Please find someone" She mumbled into the hug.

"I'll try."

"I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, princess."

After that, Amy let out a satisfied sigh, and in a matter of minutes, she was sound asleep. Henry carefully tucked his daughter in his bed, before trying to get some sleep himself, but that was difficult, as his thoughts were filled with the conversation he just had with Amy. His daughter is growing up fast, and he isn't too happy about it.