Chapter 41

**Against the Clock**

The rejection from the investors hit Claire and Ethan hard. It felt like the last solid ground beneath them was crumbling, leaving them dangling over the edge of a financial abyss. But if there was one thing they had learned through all their struggles, it was that giving up was not an option. As the reality of the investor’s decision set in, the family gathered in the living room, determined to find a new way forward.

“We’re not out of options,” Samuel insisted, pacing the room. His eyes were sharp with frustration but also a fierce determination that Claire recognized all too well. “We can’t just let them win. We have to think creatively, find another angle.”

Ethan nodded, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “I’ve been thinking about ways to cut costs, but it’s not enough. We need to draw people in, make the shop something they can’t ignore, even with the new regulations.”

Claire listened, her mind racing. They had tried so many different strategies a