He wouldn't deny he was fond of his daughter, but at the same time he needed to be realistic. While a son could continue the work the father had begun, and in due course he expected Laertes would buckle down, despite his current wild ways, the best one could hope for a daughter was that she marry well and bring reflected glory onto the family. No, if he needed to sacrifice Ophelia's desires to maintain the status of his household, and keep in with Claudius, then that was what would happen.