Two days had passed since the turbulent night at Chico's mansion. Lucie and Pablo had recovered without much effort and were now at the clinic, eager to see how Estela was doing. The atmosphere was calm, with the soft hum of machines and the familiar, characteristic scent in the air.
Upon arriving at Estela's room, they found her lying on the hospital bed, still weak but conscious. Her eyes lit up as she saw Lucie and Pablo enter.
— Lucie, Pablo, it's so good to see you! How are you?
Lucie approached the bed, gently holding Estela’s hand.
— We're fine, Estela. Just worried about you. How are you feeling?
Estela smiled—a weak smile, but full of gratitude.
— Better every day. The doctors say I'll be ready to go home soon.
Pablo stepped closer as well, placing a gentle hand on hers.
— We're relieved to hear that. We're so sorry for what happened to you.
Estela shook her head with a reassuring smile.
— Don't blame yourselves. You did everything you could to protect us. I only regret not being more helpful.
Lucie squeezed Estela’s hand with a gentle smile.
— You were very brave, Estela. What matters is that you're here, and we're happy that you're recovering.
Estela looked at both of them with warmth.
— You two are incredible. What happened in that mansion, Pedro’s death… everything you faced… I will never forget. You are true heroes.
Pablo smiled, feeling moved by Estela’s words.
— Thank you, Estela. And we're truly sorry for what happened to Pedro… We only did what was right. And we're just happy that you're getting better.
The conversation continued for a while, with Lucie, Pablo, and Estela sharing their feelings. Despite everything they had been through, there was a sense of peace and gratitude in the air.
Later, as they left the clinic, the sun was setting on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Lucie and Pablo walked side by side, taking in the beauty of the moment.

— It’s been a long day, hasn’t it? — Lucie said, looking at Pablo.

Pablo nodded with a tired smile.

— Yes, but it was worth it. Seeing Estela recovering, knowing we did the right thing... There’s nothing better.

Lucie agreed, feeling grateful to have Pablo by her side.

— You’re right. We’re in this together, aren’t we?

Pablo smiled, wrapping Lucie in a comforting embrace.

— We’ll always be together, Lucie.

With their belongings in hand, they headed toward Pablo’s car, which was parked nearby. As soon as Pablo got into the car, he grabbed his phone and sent a message to the agency, informing them that the mission was complete.

— It’s done! — Pablo wrote, pressing send.

The agency’s response was quick and formal:

— Well done, Agent 1204! The Paranormal Agency thanks you.

Even with the message of appreciation, Pablo couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease. The memory of Director Tomás and everything he had done was still fresh in his mind. He knew the battle wasn’t over yet.
Lucie noticed the anger on Pablo’s face and placed her hand over his, offering comfort.

— Pablo, are you okay? — she asked, concerned.

Pablo sighed, looking at Lucie.

— I’m fine, Lucie. I’m just thinking about Director Tomás... about everything he did.

Lucie squeezed Pablo’s hand tighter, showing her support.

— We’ll deal with him.

Pablo smiled, grateful to have Lucie by his side.

— Thank you, Lucie.

Lucie returned the smile and, without saying a word, leaned in and kissed him softly. Their lips met with tenderness, conveying comfort.

— Now, let’s go! I need to check on my parents.

Pablo nodded, started the car, and drove toward the farm. The sun slowly set on the horizon.

Pablo’s car followed the winding road until they reached Lucie’s farm, now engulfed in the darkness of the night. The house lights were on, illuminating the path to the entrance. As soon as they arrived, Lucie jumped out of the car and ran toward the house, eager to see her parents.

Upon entering, she was welcomed by the familiar warmth and the comforting smell of home cooking. Her parents were there, talking. As soon as they saw Lucie, her mother, Elizabeth, rushed to embrace her, tears in her eyes.

— Lucie, my dear, you’re safe! We were so worried about you.

Lucie hugged her mother tightly, feeling emotional.

— I’m fine, Mom. I’m here.

Her father, Daniel, slowly approached with a serious expression on his face. He looked into Lucie’s eyes and, in a calm voice, began to speak.
— Lucie, my daughter, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for taking away your freedom, for being so hard on you. I was wrong, and I apologize for that. I love you so much, and I just want you to be happy.

Lucie looked at her father, surprised by his words. She knew he was a man of few words and emotions, so seeing this vulnerability in him moved her deeply. She stepped closer and hugged him tightly, feeling the love and reconciliation between them.

— I love you too, Dad. Thank you for understanding.

They pulled away from the hug, smiles on their faces. Lucie felt grateful to have her family by her side, supporting her in every moment.

Meanwhile, Pablo watched the scene, feeling emotional at the warm reunion between Lucie and her parents. He knew how much this meant to her.

Daniel and Elizabeth then noticed Pablo’s presence. Elizabeth looked him up and down and complimented him.

— Wow, what a handsome man! Who are you? — she asked with a friendly smile.

Lucie felt a bit uncomfortable with the question. She looked at Pablo, waiting for him to respond.

Noticing the situation, Pablo answered with a gentle smile:

— Hello, ma’am. My name is Pablo Vinícius. I’m a friend of Lucie.

Elizabeth nodded, seeming satisfied with his response. Then, she turned to Lucie with a mischievous smile.

— Is he your boyfriend, Lucie?

Lucie felt shy, unsure of how to answer. She and Pablo hadn’t defined their relationship yet, so she didn’t want to assume something that wasn’t true.

Once again, Pablo took charge of the situation.

— Actually, we haven’t talked about that yet. We’re getting to know each other better. But I can assure you that Lucie is a very special person, and I’m happy to be by her side.

Daniel, who had been silently observing the interaction, finally decided to speak.

— Lucie, do you know what you’re doing? This guy seems nice, but he looks a little too polished for my taste.

Lucie looked at her father, understanding his concerns.

— Dad, I know what I’m doing. Pablo has been a great support for me, and I really enjoy his company.
Daniel seemed to ponder Lucie’s words. He looked at Pablo with a serious expression, as if evaluating him.

— I hope that’s true.

Pablo responded sincerely:

— I understand, sir. I only want what’s best for Lucie.

Daniel seemed a bit more at ease with Pablo’s response. He looked at Lucie and extended his hand to her.

— Well, if you’re happy, that’s what matters.

Lucie smiled, feeling grateful for her parents' understanding.

— Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom. I love you both.

The evening continued with lively conversations and a warm atmosphere in Lucie’s home. Pablo’s presence brought a new energy to the environment, and everyone seemed to be getting along well. Lucie felt happy to have both her family and Pablo by her side.

As they enjoyed a delicious stew prepared by Elizabeth, the mood at the table was warm and welcoming.

Elizabeth, noticing Lucie’s hesitation in talking about her time away from the farm, decided it was time to ask.

— Sweetheart, how was your time away? Did you get the job you were looking for?

Lucie tensed slightly at the question. She didn’t want to worry her parents with the truth about what had really happened—it’s not every day a supernatural being tries to use you—but she also didn’t want to lie to them.

Before Lucie could respond, Pablo stepped in.

— Actually, we’re working together at an investigative agency. It’s a challenging job, but we’re really enjoying it.

Daniel and Elizabeth’s eyes lit up with pride.

— Really? That’s wonderful! — Elizabeth exclaimed. — You’ve always been so intelligent and brave. I’m sure you’re doing an amazing job together.

Daniel nodded, satisfied.

— I’m proud of you, Lucie.
Lucie smiled, feeling relieved that she didn’t have to tell the whole truth. She was grateful to have Pablo by her side, supporting her and helping her handle the situation delicately.

The dinner continued in a cheerful manner. Despite all the hardships they had faced, there was a sense of unity and love at that table, filling Lucie’s heart with gratitude.

After dinner, Elizabeth glanced at the clock on the wall and exclaimed:

— My goodness, it’s already so late! Why don’t you two stay the night?

Lucie and Pablo exchanged glances and agreed with a smile.

— Of course, that would be great! — Lucie said excitedly.

Elizabeth smiled, pleased.

— Perfect!

Lucie and Pablo climbed the stairs together. When they reached Lucie’s bedroom, she felt emotional seeing her things neatly arranged and her bed ready to be used.

— Wow, it’s exactly the way I left it! — Lucie exclaimed, her eyes shining.

Pablo hugged Lucie, feeling her emotions.

— We’re safe here, and we can get some rest. That’s what matters!

Lucie smiled, grateful to have Pablo by her side. She walked to the bed and sat down, feeling exhausted after the long day.

— It feels like déjà vu… — Lucie murmured, looking around the room.

Pablo sat beside her, gently holding her hand.

— I can imagine, Lucie.

Lucie looked into Pablo’s eyes, feeling a deep connection between them. She slowly leaned in, feeling the warmth of his body close to hers. Their lips met in a soft kiss, filled with affection and tenderness.

Pablo caressed Lucie’s face gently, deepening the kiss as their emotions intertwined. The touch of their lips was like a confirmation of what they felt for each other.

Lucie wrapped her arms around Pablo’s neck, intensifying the kiss with passion and desire. Her heart raced, her body responding to his touch and presence in a way she had never experienced before.

Pablo ran his hands softly along Lucie’s back, completely immersed in her. He knew he was falling in love with her, and this moment only confirmed his feelings.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their eyes shining with emotion.

— Lucie… — Pablo murmured, resting his forehead against hers. — I don’t know what to say.

Lucie smiled, feeling happy and fulfilled.

— You don’t have to say anything. I feel the same way, Pablo.

With a gaze filled with desire, Pablo quickly removed Lucie’s blouse. She didn’t question it—they both wanted the same thing. Lucie also pulled off Pablo’s shirt, their eyes admiring each other as they undressed.

Hovering over Lucie, Pablo trailed kisses all over her body. She sighed, trying to contain her excitement, but her heavy breathing betrayed her.

Suddenly, Pablo stopped what he was doing.

— You… Have you done this before?

Lucie looked into his eyes, still breathless.

— It’s my first time.

Pablo seemed surprised, but said nothing. Lucie then continued:

— I want… I want you to do whatever you want with me.

— Are you sure?

— Yes. — Lucie replied firmly.

Pablo kissed her intensely, pulling her closer. Knowing that all of this was new for Lucie, he made sure to make the moment as comfortable as possible for her.

Time seemed to slow down as they explored this new connection between them. Lucie felt something completely new, a mix of nervousness and excitement, while Pablo guided each movement with care and tenderness. She tried to hold back from making noise, aware that they were in her parents' house.

The glances exchanged between them spoke more than words ever could. There was surrender, desire, and above all, a deep feeling that united them.

When the moment of greatest connection arrived, they embraced, out of breath and exhausted, but completely wrapped up in each other. The warmth of their intertwined bodies brought a sense of comfort and safety, and slowly, their breathing began to calm.

The silence of the night surrounded them, broken only by the soft sound of their breaths. With one last affectionate look, they fell asleep together, feeling protected and more connected than ever before.