Chương 465: Chapter 465
Erik did not return to the palace until long after midnight.
His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and his tie was gone, his coat wrinkled. His hair was damp and his eyes were red, as if he was drunk or had been crying. He smelled like the out of doors as well as a woman's perfume she wasn't familiar with.
Pearl had sat up waiting for him, and was beyond furious to see him come back in the condition he was in. She turned on the light in the room and calmly crossed her hands over her lap.
"Pearl." He startled. "You're awake."
"Yes. I am." She looked directly at him, wanting him to see her face, her anger.
"We sent them off around 9. They are on their way to their honeymoon. Everyone was tired and went to bed. But not us, as we both can see."
He nodded slowly as he sat down.
"I'm, I am glad they had a lovely send off." He slurred his words slightly.
Pearl felt her stomach turn and her heart pound. She felt sick but she didn't want him to see it.
"Where were you?" She asked as she stood up.
He just shook his head.
"Are you drunk?" She asked.
"A little," he quietly replied.
She nodded.
"Get out." Pearl felt her stomach turn again as she said it.
"What?" Erik looked up at her, obviously not expecting that response.
"I never should have trusted you. Who is she? Gail? Another call girl? Did you enjoy beating her? Did you fuck her? Did you enjoy deceiving me again?" Pearl slammed her hands down on mantle of the fireplace. "How could you?"
Erik stood up. "Is that what you think? How little you think of me?" He walked over to her, looking into her eyes.
"You haven't forgiven me at all, have you? Who's the deceptive one, then?" He turned and walked to the door.
"There are no others. And there never will be again. None." He said as he walked out, closing the door behind him.
********************
Pearl tossed and turned the rest of the night. When she came down to the breakfast room the next morning, only Auggie and Maggie were there.
"Where's Erik?" She asked.
"He said he had some business this morning and would be back at the palace in London in a few days," Auggie said.
Pearl nodded.
"Are you alright, Pearl?" Maggie asked.
"Yes. Fine," she said, leaving them and walking up to her room. She packed her things and began to prepare for the trip back to London.
Later that evening, after several texts and calls to Erik, he finally responded.
"I will be back in London on Tuesday." It was a cold response but a response none the less and it made Pearl feel better.
A knock at the door startled her.
"Ma'am, you have a visitor," Javier said. "I've placed her to wait in the parlor room."
Pearl nodded and put on a sweater, walking down the staircase to find a familiar face greeting her. It was Gail, her therapist and old friend from long, long ago. She had been Sebastian's childhood friend and the woman he had brought into her life, who helped her with her depression during her time with Erik and Sebastian. And who helped her remember her affair with Sebastian and helped with establishing Christian's paternity. She put it together with Erik's message now. But why were they speaking? An affair?
"Gail," Pearl acknowledged.
"Pearl." Gail had been crying, it was obvious.
"Gail, it's been so long. Please, sit down." Pearl motioned to a chair.
"No, thank you. I just wanted to say how sorry I am, in person. I didn't want to be a coward, as I have been for so long. It isn't right. I wronged you. And I wanted to tell you to your face how sorry I am. I know you must hate me but please understand I had my reasons." She began to shiver and cry again.
"Gail, please tell me what this is all about. What are you talking about?" Pearl felt her heart begin to race.
Gail's face grew even more pale than it had been. She put her hands over her mouth. "Oh my god, he didn't tell you, did he?"
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực