Those few words shattered Yao Tan's heart . He would not take this, he would protect his little princess . She had no idea what love was, and was simply infatuated with James . As of that he would not not be letting her go to Australia . He would keep her here under very strict controls to protect her while the investigation occurred .

"Get away from him Alecia," ground out Yao Tan "Or I will make you . "

With that Alecia threw herself back in James arms and wrapped her arms around his neck . She snuggled her head under James' chin and turned her head responding, "No Daddy, I will not . "

Yao Tan determined that the only way he could separate them was to forcible drag his daughter away, and started to move towards the couch to do so . Alecia gripped James tighter to prevent that .

"Sir, this is going to get no one anywhere . We need to sit and talk . "

"I trusted you, and you have thrown that trust back in my face," spat out an angry Yao Tan .

"Daddy, he has not . "

"Alecia, I do not give a care what you think . " That frustrated Alecia as she was sick of everyone except James treating her like she was fragile and knew nothing .

"Dad, I am going to say this once" a determined Alecia said . "I have for years accepted that everyone, including you treating me like I constantly need protection . Yes, the first time that you allowed me to go with you to a society event I was attacked, but that could have easily happened coming home from a night out with friends . "

"Daddy, you call me your princess, but unlike my brothers who have a normal life, you have isolated and sheltered me . Yes, we came into your life when you were fifteen, and are all grateful for you took us on when our mother abandoned us . You put your life with Amanda on hold for years for us, wasting time . I am not going to stand for you doing that to me in the name of protecting me to the point I have no life . "

"Alecia …" pleaded Yan Tan .

"No Daddy, that does not work on me . " Alecia was still as determined as she had been . "Yes, I will always be your daughter, but on Sat.u.r.day I, like my brothers turn 17 years . I must live my life, learn my lessons and grow from them . I have learnt a harsh lesson, but do you know what, being over protective as you have makes me feel trapped by what happened and not able to move forward . "

"Daddy, neither you, my brothers or I am to blame, those who did this are . They were adults, I am a teenager and they should have protected rather than hurt me . I will never get over what happened, but the more you try and protect me, the more difficult it gets to keep that perspective and move forward with my life .

"Daddy, James sees me as I am, a real person with emotions and feelings, and respects what I want, not deciding without my input . That was what you were going to do . Yes, I want to spend time in Australia, but James made sure it was going to be my choice, not imposed . "

Alecia paused observing the conflicting emotions on her father's face and continued "And do you know what, in less than twenty-four hours I have realised something . I must be me and follow my heart . I cannot deny what my heart tells me, and do you know what?"

With Alecia's pause Yao Tan was dreading what was about to be said, "What Alecia?"

"Daddy, I love you and I want to remain here, but my heart is telling me to do something . And I want you to agree and then help me along the way . I must take responsibility for the outcome . However, you put up roadblocks at every stage I will only resent you more and more, and we will end up without a relations.h.i.+p . "

With that Alecia leaned up and whispered into James ear something, which Yao Tan could not hear . She then stood up, away from Yao Tan's grasp and moved into her bedroom and shut the doors behind her .

"I am guessing she wants you to tell me what she is after?"

"Yes sir . I have tried to persuade her from this course of action, but I fell in love with the brilliant vibrant woman your daughter is on sight and I cannot deny her what she wants . Her happiness and wellbeing are the only things I want . "

"You sound so much like your brother-in-law . " Suddenly something dawned on him . "d.a.m.n it, you want to marry her . "

Thursday continued … . Those few words shattered Yao Tans heart . He would not take this, he would protect his little princess . She had no idea what love was, and was simply infatuated with James . As of that he would not not be letting her go to Australia . He would keep her here under very strict controls to protect her while the investigation occurred . Get away from him Alecia, ground out Yao Tan Or I will make you . With that Alecia threw herself back in James arms and wrapped her arms around his neck . She snuggled her head under James chin and turned her head responding, No Daddy, I will not . Yao Tan determined that the only way he could separate them was to forcible drag his daughter away, and started to move towards the couch to do so . Alecia gripped James tighter to prevent that . Sir, this is going to get no one anywhere . We need to sit and talk . I trusted you, and you have thrown that trust back in my face, spat out an angry Yao Tan . Daddy, he has not . Alecia, I do not give a care what you think . That frustrated Alecia as she was sick of everyone except James treating her like she was fragile and knew nothing . Dad, I am going to say this once a determined Alecia said . I have for years accepted that everyone, including you treating me like I constantly need protection . Yes, the first time that you allowed me to go with you to a society event I was attacked, but that could have easily happened coming home from a night out with friends . Daddy, you call me your princess, but unlike my brothers who have a normal life, you have isolated and sheltered me . Yes, we came into your life when you were fifteen, and are all grateful for you took us on when our mother abandoned us . You put your life with Amanda on hold for years for us, wasting time . I am not going to stand for you doing that to me in the name of protecting me to the point I have no life . Alecia … pleaded Yan Tan . No Daddy, that does not work on me . Alecia was still as determined as she had been . Yes, I will always be your daughter, but on Sat.u.r.day I, like my brothers turn 17 years . I must live my life, learn my lessons and grow from them . I have learnt a harsh lesson, but do you know what, being over protective as you have makes me feel trapped by what happened and not able to move forward . Daddy, neither you, my brothers or I am to blame, those who did this are . They were adults, I am a teenager and they should have protected rather than hurt me . I will never get over what happened, but the more you try and protect me, the more difficult it gets to keep that perspective and move forward with my life . Daddy, James sees me as I am, a real person with emotions and feelings, and respects what I want, not deciding without my input . That was what you were going to do . Yes, I want to spend time in Australia, but James made sure it was going to be my choice, not imposed . . Alecia paused observing the conflicting emotions on her fathers face and continued And do you know what, in less than twenty-four hours I have realised something . I must be me and follow my heart . I cannot deny what my heart tells me, and do you know what? With Alecias pause Yao Tan was dreading what was about to be said, What Alecia? Daddy, I love you and I want to remain here, but my heart is telling me to do something . And I want you to agree and then help me along the way . I must take responsibility for the outcome . However, you put up roadblocks at every stage I will only resent you more and more, and we will end up without a relations.h.i.+p . With that Alecia leaned up and whispered into James ear something, which Yao Tan could not hear . She then stood up, away from Yao Tans grasp and moved into her bedroom and shut the doors behind her . I am guessing she wants you to tell me what she is after? Yes sir . I have tried to persuade her from this course of action, but I fell in love with the brilliant vibrant woman your daughter is on sight and I cannot deny her what she wants . Her happiness and wellbeing are the only things I want . You sound so much like your brother-in-law . Suddenly something dawned on him . d.a.m.n it, you want to marry her .