ONTF -1

JOANNA'S POV

"How could you do this to me, Papa? You manipulated my life all these years. I followed all your commands and decisions to make you happy. But this one, I will not take it, Papa. Let anyone marry that goddam son of your best friend, but never I!"

I ran as far as I could after I had a petty argument with my Papa. It was supposed to be a night of jubilation because I had finally graduated from college.After four years of taking up a business administration course, gladly, I made it. I don't love business and I don't want to follow in the footsteps of Papa, but his decisions always rule my life.

I just accepted his decision to be like him and to manage our family restaurant business someday. I am his only daughter and the only heiress as far as I know. Well, I really did know because he is a workaholic billionaire that has no time for women. Ever since Mama died when I was just three years old, his world has stopped and he has been shattered into pieces.

I cried in frustration in my room. I had no one to talk to about my dilemma. It was only me and the four corners of this room knew all the sadness I kept in my heart for so long. I left the party Papa had thrown for me on my graduation day. To hell with the guests there. As if I care, if I know all of those are his business partners and comrades.

I don't know anything about what they were talking about. I didn't invite my friends and classmates because I did'nt know that my Papa would throw a party for me on my graduation day. All I want is a simple dinner with him, to be with him and spend a heart-to-heart talk with him.

In the past years, Papa was so engrossed with his business that he had forgotten that he had a daughter who needed his tender affection and care. I was left to the care of a nanny. Nana Yoyeng was a kind old-maiden who dedicated all her youthful years to taking good care of me.

I knew Papa loved me but his way of loving me was through controlling my life's decisions. His words are final and can never be broken. Just like what he had announced earlier at the party that I would be marrying his business partner's son. I had never imagined my life to be married to a man whom I have never seen in my entire life.

I have never been in love in my twenty-first existence in this world. There had been a lot of men courting me in the university but none of them catch my attention. Some of them are handsome, plain, rich and famous. But my heart and mind were focused only in pleasing my Papa all the time. That I think men are only obstacles that hinder me from reaching my goals to finish my studies.

Now that I have finished my course, Papa wanted me to enter marriage.A marriage without love. How could he be this kind of emotionless and insensitive? All I thought if I would get my diploma in college, he will be pleased and stopped in controlling my decisions. I was wrong all along, he doesn't care of my happiness, his power and wealth matters to him than me.

Let anyone marry that son of my Papa's business partner but not me.I will move heaven and earth to get away of this dilemma. I will find my way to go out of Papa's manipulation because I still believe in truest meaning of love and I will find that true one great love of mine.