At the hospital, they were directed to a waiting area, the sterile environment at odds with the raw, human reality they faced. Ethan clung to Richard’s side, a silent plea for stability in the maelstrom of uncertainty.

In that moment, Richard Holbrook realized that his life, defined by success, power, and wealth, had pivoted on a single incorrect digit—a misstep leading to a profound intersection of fate, responsibility, and humanity. As they waited for news, he knew he would never view his empire, or his role in it, quite the same again.