Chase thought it was temporary. He smiled at first. “Publicity is publicity,” he said.
But then his girlfriend left. His friends stopped answering. Restaurant managers refused him entry. He shouted at staff who only replied, “We must protect our image.”
He began to feel watched, judged, avoided.
Meanwhile, Harold observed quietly. Not with joy, but with sorrow. The fall was necessary. The lesson had to reach the bone.
One morning, Chase received a call from his father’s assistant.
“Mr. Halpern requests your presence at the office. Immediately.”
Chase arrived, expecting support, perhaps reassurance. Instead he found Harold standing by the window, calm as stone.
“Dad, you have seen the nonsense online. It will blow over.”
Harold turned slowly.
“The old man you kicked was me.”
Chase froze. “What?”
Harold placed the cane on the desk. “I disguised myself to see how you treat those with no power. I saw everything. And now I know the truth.”
Chase tried to laugh. “You should have told me. I would never treat you like that.”
“That is exactly the problem,” Harold replied. “You respect only those who benefit you.”
Silence pressed between them.