The Rise of Entitlement
As Brandon entered adulthood, Franklin noticed subtle shifts in his son’s attitude.
At first, they seemed insignificant.
Phone calls became less frequent.
Family visits became shorter.
Conversations that once felt warm and natural became transactional.
Brandon began speaking to his father less as a parent and more as an obligation.
Then came Amber.
Brandon’s wife was intelligent, ambitious, and highly focused on appearances. She valued status, luxury, and social perception. There was nothing inherently wrong with that, but Franklin couldn’t ignore the influence she seemed to have on Brandon’s behavior.
Together, they developed a lifestyle centered on image.
Luxury vehicles.
Exclusive neighborhoods.
Upscale gatherings.
Designer clothing.
Everything seemed carefully curated to project success.
The irony was that much of that success had been built on foundations Franklin had created.
