The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0622

The butler showed me to Susie's room, and then quickly excused himself outside of her door. When he was gone, I knocked.

"Go away!" Susie called in a watery voice. She was crying.

I knocked more insistently as I pushed open the door.

*I said -* she started, cutting herself off she say me. "Piper?"

"Hi, Susie," I said.

"Oh, Piper!" She was sitting at her desk, the tears running down her cheeks. As I entered the room, closing the door behind me, she jumped from the chair and ran to me.

We shared a hug. Relief flooded through me.

I stepped back after a moment, to look her over. She didn't seem too worse for wear. Other than the crying, she didn't show any signs of abuse or neglect.

"What are you doing here?" Susie sniffed. "I'm sure word has gotten around by now."

*Rumors don't matter. Come back to palace."

*If you've heard the rumors, you know why I can't."

"Everyone will forget, the moment you appear. They'll all just think it's gossip and it won't matter," I say. "Since Jessica is the only other contender for Joyce, you wouldn't even have to face elimination."

*Piper," she sounded so sad. "I can't come. It's just not rumors. My parents... They know the truth about me."

*How could they?" I asked. She wasn't showing yet. Sure they might suspect, but to have real proof?

"I told them," Susie said.

I startled, speechless.

"I didn't want to lie anymore about any of it," Susie said. "I don't want to have to pretend to have feelings for Joyce, when the only one I really want is Mark."

pocket near doubled, and

Mark. And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes went wide as saucers. "Mark is

away. If your parents wouldn't have

a little

stop him before he did anything drastic. Nicholas had a plan, as he always does, that his arrival at your door might open the way. My presence was

"True."

who I was..."

talk about you often. You

in her life! Though how much it hurt

to give you this." I held my

looked at

it's overdue," I told her. "He

Susie plucked the ring from my palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect

a moment, pure awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in

matter to me, Mark would be throwing his whole life away with this. He can't be Nicholas's Beta if

will find a way to get it to work. If this is what you want, Susie, you can't let it get away. You

the ring for another minute or

to see him," she

the doorway. With Susie leading, we didn't need the butler to guide

her finger. I couldn't help my smile. When

said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself off when Susie and I returned to

*Susie..." her mom said.

and his on her. Then his gaze dropped to her hand, where she'd already put

said, the word overflowing

Susie's

deep bow. "Please allow me

both went wide-eyed.

love with your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot

her condition!"

quicker. She touched

confirmed. "The baby is mine. And I would raise it as my child, with Susie

man," Nicholas said. "He is my Beta and a