Chapter 500 - Father and Daughter

J heard a knock on the cedar wood rustic door of her bedroom. Then she heard the voice of her father. "Sweetheart, it's me. Can I come in?"

J didn't reply.

The door was not locked so President Martin assumed that her silence means 'Yes'.

President Martin opened the cedar door and enters a bedroom designed with timber walls and a stone-clad fireplace. The room was huge but not overly decorated, there was just a rustic bed at the center, bookshelves and two accent chairs in front of the fireplace. The room has never been occupied for years.

He scanned the entire room and find his daughter sitting with legs curled up in the bench window. She is hugging a throw pillow looking at the magnificent view of the forest behind that large window.

President Martin silently walked towards her and sits at the bench window facing his daughter.

"You've always been so stubborn. Never changed." President Martin commented.

"Was it too much? Back there?" J asked without looking at her father.

"Yes." He replied looking at her dotingly. "It was always too much and unreasonable."

J pursed her lips.

"But that's what you are. I wouldn't want you to change that." This time, J looked at her father who is smiling at her.

"It is good that you have a husband like Jacob that could control you. And not wanting you to change but knows when and when not to tolerate you."

J chuckled. President Martin was right. J has always been stubborn and Jacob sometimes tolerates her and sometimes he's not. And she could clearly distinguish the difference when he tolerates her and when he's not.

Just like when she insisted on going to the house of her patient that dies on the operating table after she was abducted by CEO Wang. They fight over it but later on Jacob gave up because of a call. But if Arthur's team were not there at that time, J knew that Jacob wouldn't let her.

And this time, she knew the reason why Jacob wouldn't tolerate her stubbornness. Because, just yesterday, they found out that they were being followed by a member of Novus Rex. They were not even at Lotus City at that time. That means, Novus Rex could follow them anywhere they went, even there at Naupaka.

Jacob doesn't want to take a risk just like when they didn't take a risk in going straight to Naupaka Mountain yesterday and instead take a detour.

"So, what's in that mind of yours?" President Martin then asked. J has already calmed down a bit. He asked pointing at her head.

"Huh?" J asked innocently.

"Why are you so insistent on going out?"

J pouts like a child which amused President Martin. He missed the stubborn little Jenny which he never gets a lot of times to spend with. That is probably the biggest regret of his life. Not watching her grow up. If he could only turn back the time.

J shrugs her shoulder. "I don't know."

"Maybe I was just overwhelmed and got excited about preparing dinner for you, which I haven't done before. With Diana here, I thought we were just back at Lodgepole Estate."

"Back at Lodgepole Estate?" President asked with curiosity.

"You know, the year before grandfather died, Diana and I would help each other in taking care of him and also preparing dinner for everyone at Lodgepole Estate. We would go, once a week at the market to buy the ingredients, which I've never done before."

"Yeah. I know how you hated being in a crowded place." President Martin chuckled remembering how introvert his daughter is.

"But of course, we would always choose the less crowded place." J rolled her eyes. She is not definitely going to a crowded place.

President Martin laughed. Then he became quiet, just staring at his daughter.

A deep sigh came out of his mouth.

"Dad?" J asked with concern.

"How I wish I could turn back times. How I wish I could take care of you as you grow up." remorse was evident in President Martin's face.

J felt sorry for his father, she knows that he didn't want it to be this way. And she was never resentful towards them.

She was actually hoping for the same thing but she knew that turning back time is impossible. So, she came out with a great reply. She reached out to pat the hand of his father that is resting on a pillow. "You can make it up with your grandchildren in the future." She said with a smile.

"Any soon?" President Martin's eyes sparkle with excitement.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I hope so."