Chapter 336

Pearl opened her eyes and saw Sebastian looking at her and running his hand through her hair, tucking it behind her ear.

"Good morning." She said.

He looked at her and smiled, but it was a worried smile. A meaningful smile.

"I cannot imagine a life without you. I love watching you sleep. Even after these last few years, waking up every day with you in my arms still seems so unbelievable. Finding you and loving you is truly my purpose in this life." He said.

She looked back at him and remembered their journey. The night they first met, his care for her. He was the only one in the palace that day that worried about her well being and tried hard to make her feel calm and included. How he had stepped up and offered to be a good man. How he stood up to Erik and tried to warn her, protect her. Even when she had taken advantage of him when he was drunk, needing him near her, and ultimately creating their son, he had never left her side. He had never lied to her or kept secrets from her. He had protected her but never from the truth. He had truly loved her like she deserved and she couldn't believe how fortunate she was to have found him, even if it was in the middle of the longest and most trying year of her life. She loved him, deeply. It was as if the moment she realized who he was to her and how she felt, no other man before him mattered. It was unreal. She felt exactly as he did.

"I love you. I love you so much." She said. He was her rock.

He got out of bed after giving her belly a kiss.

"I told Maggie I would have lunch with her today." Pearl said.

"Can you have lunch here at the palace? I promise to give you privacy and I will make sure the menu is fantastic." Sebastian said.

"I will be fine. We are going to the bluebird. I will take Jim and whatever security you want. I promise I will be fine." Pearl said.

Sebastian nodded, but was obviously not thrilled.

"Alright. But please keep me posted. I will be meeting with Samuel until around two." Sebastian said.

"I will be back by then, my love." Pearl said.

"Good." He said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.

********************

Jim opened the car door and walked Pearl into the restaurant. Many onlookers whispered and stared, watching her walk to the private seating area where Maggie was waiting for her.

"Hello, your majesty." Maggie said, smiling.

"Oh stop it." Pearl said. "How did the finalization of the sale go?"

They had sold the company after an agreement was reached with the Powell's attorney.

"All is well. And the majority of the money had been sent to your approved charities." Maggie said. Pearl smiled.

"Now, what is the deal with the VP?" She asked.

"It's about his son. Someone is missing and he was noticed in a photo with the missing person." Pearl said.

"Does this have anything to do with the French President's son?" Maggie asked. She was bright and not much got past her.

"I can't say." Pearl said, looking away. Maggie nodded as if she understood.

"So keep me posted, if you can." She said.

After lunch, Pearl hugged her and told her she appreciated the lunch so much. It was needed.

Maggie got up to leave as Pearl made her way to the restroom. Jim left to get the car and Pearl walked to a back room where the restrooms were located while another security guard stood at the entrance of the hall leading there. She was washing her hands when she heard a commotion outside the door. She opened it and saw her security guard arguing with one of the waitstaff about letting him past to use the restroom.

"I'm sorry. I cannot allow it." The guard said.

"I work a double today and this is the first chance I have had to go to the bathroom. This is bullshit!" The man yelled. She heard Jim's voice chime in now and they began to get rough with him. She decided to avoid the confrontation and slide to the back door and then walk around to the front to get into the car, where she would then text Jim and tell him. She exited and looked to her left down the alley, then to her right.

"Hello nightingale." A voice said. She looked up and into Erik's eyes.