As for his family, the incident at the restaurant served as a wake-up call. Some of them reached out to apologize, while others distanced themselves. Either way, I realized that I couldn’t control their perceptions, only how I chose to respond to them.

My promotion was a milestone that I had rightfully earned, and I was determined to protect the integrity of my achievements. I learned that being firm in my boundaries didn’t make me selfish; it made me strong.