ANNAH

room and belongings, including her diary. There were times when she caught him red-handed. She even went to the extent of calling her friends to meet her in the mall, then she would go back to the house and check if Ian was snooping again. She felt helpless and tired of finding ways to outsmart her own father. It was a battle she couldn’t win. She was under his control, and Ian was well aware that she had no right to question his actions.It was a relief for Annah when she decided to study in Manila for college. She was finally away from Ian. But it didn’t stop Ian from controlling her life. He would call her several times a day, making sure she was where she said she would be. Annah was a good kid, and she knew her father was just being protective. But there were times when she wished she could have a little bit of freedom.Ian would visit her in Manila unannounced. He would buy groceries for her, clean her apartment, and he even once bought a new set of curtains for her room. Annah didn’t know if she would be touched or scared of her father’s actions.When Annah graduated from college, Ian offered her a job at his company. Annah was hesitant at first because she wanted to work in a different field. But with no job offers, she finally gave in to her father’s offer. She was grateful to have a father who genuinely cared about her.Annah worked hard at the company. She wanted to make Ian proud. And she did. She rose through the ranks and eventually became one of the top managers in the company. Ian couldn’t be more proud of his daughter. But even with her success, Ian still couldn’t let go of his controlling ways.He would still call her multiple times a day, checking up on her and making sure she was working hard. He would even go to her office unannounced, bringing her lunch or checking on her progress. Annah knew her father meant well, but sometimes, it was suffocating.One day, Annah met a guy she liked. She was excited, but she knew Ian would never approve. She told her friends about it, and they encouraged her to go on a date with the guy. Annah was hesitant at first, but she finally agreed.When Ian found out, he was furious. He called Annah and told her to cancel the date. Annah tried to reason with him, but Ian wouldn’t listen. He threatened to cut her off financially if she went on the date.Annah was torn. She didn’t want to lose her father’s support, but she also didn’t want to miss out on a potential relationship. In the end, she chose to cancel the date. It was a decision she regretted, but she knew there was no point in going against her father.Years went by, and Annah’s relationship with Ian remained the same. She was grateful for everything he had done for her, but she couldn’t help but feel suffocated and controlled. She knew her father loved her, but she also knew that his love came with a price.It wasn’t until Annah got married that things started to change. Her husband was understanding and patient, and he helped her stand up to Ian. He reminded her that she was an adult and that she had the right to make her own decisions.It was a difficult process, but Annah finally learned to set boundaries with her father. She still loved Ian, but she also learned to love herself and to stand up for what she wanted. It was a long and bumpy road, but Annah was grateful to have a husband who supported her and a father who eventually learned to let go.