"BLONDE LIKE HONEY"

The days following Mrs. Eulalia's departure were peaceful, but something within Aurora and Max knew that apparent calm did not always guarantee safety. The baby was on the way, life seemed wonderful, but a sense of alertness still lingered over them.

The hotel, now free from the tension caused by Mrs. Eulalia's presence, seemed to breathe joy once again. The staff was more excited than ever about the baby's arrival, and the small gestures of affection continued to surprise the couple. Fresh flowers in the rooms, new menu options adapted to Aurora's dietary needs, and even new playlists made especially for their relaxing evenings. Everything around them reflected the love that emanated from them, and the atmosphere seemed to mirror their happiness.

But despite all this, Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that the future still held its own mysteries.

One afternoon, while walking through the hotel's gardens, the shadow of a familiar figure appeared in front of her. It was one of the hotel staff, the gardener, a friendly man who always exchanged kind words with her. He looked at her with a discreet smile, but there was something in his eyes that made her uncomfortable.

— "Everything alright, Mrs. Aurora?" he asked in a calm voice, but there was a subtle tone of concern in his gaze.

Aurora smiled back, but her instinct made her hesitate.

— "Everything's great. I was just thinking about how everything seems to be going so well." She said, trying to lighten the mood.

He simply nodded, as if understanding the tension she hadn't been able to express.

— "Sometimes, happiness is like a rose, Mrs. Aurora. Beautiful, but with thorns we might not see until we get hurt." He said this with a seriousness that left her unsettled.

Aurora didn't respond right away. He had already walked away before she could ask him more, and his message lingered in her mind, like a shadow. She felt that something was going to happen, but couldn't quite figure out what.

That night, Max came home from work with a tired but joyful expression, happy to see Aurora. He hugged her warmly, and noticing the concern in her eyes, immediately asked:

— "What's wrong, Aurora? Are you worried about something?"

She hesitated, but decided to share the conversation with the gardener.

— "He said something strange this afternoon, Max. Something about happiness being like a rose, with thorns we don't see. I've been thinking… was he referring to something else?"

Max watched her carefully, his eyes showing concern, but also a reassuring calm.

— "I know everything seems perfect, but sometimes it's hard to escape the ghosts of the past, Aurora. However, what's important now is that we have each other, and the baby is coming. Let's stay focused on what really matters: our family."

Aurora nestled into Max's arms, feeling the security of his presence, but a part of her mind still questioned the gardener's words.

In the following days, strange things began to happen at the hotel. Pieces of furniture that had been in specific places were found in different spots. Apparently, with no explanation. It was as if the place had changed by itself, but no one knew exactly how. The lights, once again, began flickering at random times, and some staff members started reporting hearing footsteps in the empty corridors at night.

Aurora and Max, though aware of the signs, tried not to let fear take over. They had faced so many challenges before and knew that, together, they could face anything.

One night, while walking together through the hotel gardens, they heard a soft laugh in the distance, an almost ethereal sound coming from somewhere near the hotel's old wing, where rooms were still under renovation. Aurora felt a chill run down her spine. She looked at Max, who had also noticed the sound.

— "What do you think about this, Max?" she asked, her unease now more evident in her voice.

— "I think it's probably time to investigate what's happening. We can't let fear control our lives here. But we also need to protect what's most important: our baby and our peace."

They decided that the next day they would investigate the source of the strange sounds. However, both knew that the road ahead might be more winding than they imagined, and more challenges could arise. The true test of their bond and love was just beginning.