Chapter 44

The following days at the bar were a whirlwind of emotions. The regulars noticed a shift in my demeanor, a newfound confidence that even the most stoic of patrons couldn't ignore. The whispers of my inheritance spread like wildfire, casting me in a new light—part fascination, part envy. Yet, I remained steadfast in my resolve to use the money for the bar and the people who had become my family.

One evening, as the final chords of "Burning Down the House" played out, and the last of the patrons stumbled out into the night, Tannin and I sat in the empty bar, the echoes of laughter and clinking glasses slowly fading away. She looked at me with a knowing smile, her eyes reflecting the neon lights that danced across her face.

"You're going to be fine," she said, her voice a gentle reassurance in the quiet. "Torin knew what he was doing."

I nodded, staring into my whiskey, the amber liquid swirling like the thoughts in my head. "But what if this changes everything?"

Tannin reached across th