Chapter 449

Pearl sat on her bed and looked out the window. She put her hand on her tummy and sighed. With all of the sadness and loss she felt over Dylan and the chaos from the funeral, she hadn't truly had a chance to process what she had found out.

A baby.

She was long past the age where excitement and planning for the future was called for. She hadn't imagined this was even a possibility let alone her new reality. She was going to be a grandmother for gods sake!

Erik's child. Even more unbelievable. She was carrying Erik's child. She picked up her phone and searched women conceiving at her age. It was rare. Really rare. And never happened without fertility treatment. She would be 77 when the child was Alex's age. The thought created anxiety throughout her entire being. Should be abort? No. She wouldn't do that. Couldn't.

"What a mess I have gotten myself into, yet again." She said out loud. I never learn, she thought. She rubbed her tummy again and smiled.

A baby. A baby with Erik.

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Pearl woke up the next morning to roses filling her entire bedroom. Roses on the bedside table. Roses on the floor. Roses on the bed. Roses in vases. Roses in baskets.

"What in god's name?" She said as she rubbed her eyes and looked at a card laying on her pillow. She opened it and read the inscription.

"My Angel. My All. My other self. Mother of my child. I love you. I love you. My god I love you." It read. She looked around the room and saw another note on the door.

"Currently at work for your slave driving son. Come and have lunch with me. You need proper nutrition. Yes. That again. I can't wait to see you."

She smiled and got dressed.

"Mum, good afternoon. How are you feeling today?" Christian asked as she walked into the office. Erik stood up and straitened his suit jacket.

"Hello, Pearl." He said.

"Hello. I'm..Better. Not as sad. Still sad. But better. I was thinking I'd go out for lunch today."

"That sounds lovely mother. It's been a week since you've been home. It's time to get some fresh air, no?" Christian said.

"I will go as well. To make sure you're safe and such." Erik stammered. They both looked at him.

"If it please you, your majesty." Erik bowed.

"Yes. It would please me very much." She said. Christian smiled and nodded.

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"Fucking Christ this week has been torture!" Erik said as he ripped her dress open and kissed down her neck. He had managed to get a room inconspicuously at the Corinthia downtown after they had lunch in the city.

"We could have made love at the palace." Pearl said, stepping out of her panties.

"No. I couldn't wait to be discreet. My god, woman. Don't you know how desperately I want you?" He asked as he took off his shirt. "Can't you feel my eyes on you, every single moment I'm near you, like an animal that's been put in a cage for so many years. I can't be away from you. It's painful. It's unbearable." He said, breathlessly into her ear. "I don't know how I managed to suffer these long years and survive it. I didn't think I would." She kissed him and pulled his face to hers as he lowered her onto the bed.

"So many nights I almost didn't make it." He said, touching her face. She wrapped her legs around him and as he lowered himself on top of her.

"How could I be so despicable?" She asked.

"You aren't despicable. You are strong. And you are lovely." He said, opening her with his fingers and entering her with a gentle thrust, causing her to moan his name.

"And you're mine."

"Yes." She moaned again.

"Pearl."

"Yes."

"I will never, ever let you go again. You are mine. Say it." He said as he thrust into her again.

"I'm yours." She said.

"That's my girl." He said as he took her into his arms and rocked them, connected by their bodies and their hearts.

"As it should be." He said.