The same hands that had wiped his tears after his mother died.
The same hands that had worked until midnight to pay his school fees.
And now those hands were trembling because another man had treated their owner as if he were worthless.
Daniel turned back toward Richard.
"You're going to apologize."
Richard laughed.
"Are you giving me orders?"
"I'm asking you to do what any decent human being should have done already."
Richard folded his arms.
"I don't apologize to people who waste my time."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Then I think we've learned everything we need to know about you."
He turned toward the restaurant manager.
"Please call the police. I would also like the security footage preserved."
Richard's confidence began to disappear.
"You're making a serious mistake."
Daniel remained calm.
"No. The mistake was thinking that my father's age made him an easy target."
Thomas gently touched his son's shoulder.
"Son, I don't want you getting into trouble because of me."
Daniel looked at him.
"Dad, you spent your entire life protecting me. Let me stand beside you for once."
For the first time since entering the restaurant, Thomas smiled.
It was a small smile.
But it meant more than any business deal Daniel had ever signed.
And as the police were called, Daniel realized that the most important meeting of his life was no longer about money, property, or power.
It was about making sure his father never had to feel alone again.
The police arrived fifteen minutes later.
Two officers entered the restaurant and immediately noticed the unusual tension. The manager approached them, explaining that an altercation had taken place between two customers.
Richard stood near the window, speaking confidently into his phone.
Daniel remained beside his father.
Thomas was sitting in a chair now. A waiter had brought him a glass of water and a clean towel. His forehead was slightly swollen, and his right shoulder hurt when he moved it.
"Are you sure you don't want an ambulance?" Daniel asked.
"I'm sure, son. It's just a little bruise."
Daniel shook his head.
"You don't have to pretend you're fine."
Thomas smiled weakly.
"I spent forty years working with wood and heavy tools. I've had worse injuries."
"That doesn't mean you should have to endure this."
One of the officers approached them.
"Sir, could you explain what happened?"
Daniel stepped aside, allowing his father to speak.
Thomas took a breath.
"I came here to discuss the sale of a property. Mr. Cole made an offer. I declined because I believed the amount was unfair. He became angry, grabbed my jacket, and pushed me against the table."
The officer wrote down the details.
"Did he threaten you?"
Thomas hesitated.
"He said I should know who I was speaking to."
Daniel watched his father's expression.
There was no hatred in his voice. Even now, Thomas seemed more interested in explaining the situation than accusing the man who had hurt him.
The officer turned toward Richard.
"Sir, we need your account of what happened."
Richard ended his phone call and approached.
"This entire situation is being exaggerated. The old gentleman became aggressive during a business discussion. I was simply trying to stop him from making a scene."
Daniel looked at him.
"That's an interesting version of events."
Richard ignored him.
"Furthermore, I have witnesses who can confirm that nothing serious happened."
The officer looked around the restaurant.
"Anyone who witnessed the incident is welcome to provide a statement."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then a young waitress stepped forward.
"I saw what happened."
Richard turned sharply.
The waitress looked nervous, but she continued.
"Mr. Cole grabbed the older gentleman first. He pushed him onto the table. The older gentleman was only trying to get away."
The officer nodded.
"Thank you. What's your name?"
"Emily."
Richard's face darkened.
"Emily, you should be careful about involving yourself in matters you don't understand."
She swallowed.
"I understand what I saw."
A second witness stood up.
It was an elderly woman sitting with her husband near the entrance.
"I saw it too," she said. "That young man treated the old gentleman terribly."
Another customer offered to provide a statement.
Then another.
The silence that had protected Richard was finally beginning to break.
The manager approached with a tablet.
"Officer, our security cameras recorded the incident from two different angles. We can provide the footage."
Richard immediately objected.
"That won't be necessary."
The officer looked at him.
"Whether it is necessary is not your decision."
Richard said nothing.
For the first time, his expensive suit and confident attitude seemed powerless.
Daniel watched quietly.
He had no desire to humiliate Richard in return. He wanted the truth documented, the evidence preserved, and his father treated with dignity.