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."

weight of the ring in my pocket near doubled, and I regretted

room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes went

would have kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let him inside, he would have scaled the walls and climbed through

a little

were able to 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 required for

"True."

parents knew who

about you often. You

in her life! Though how much it hurt to hear she had such a hard time getting friends. She was so sweet and kind, she

from my pocket. "Mark told me to give you this." I held

at it and

her. "He

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

covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in

even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to me, Mark would be throwing his whole life away

that," I told her. "Nicholas will find a way to get it to work. If this is what you want, Susie, you can't let it get

the ring for another minute or two, before she

see

and we both headed for the doorway. With Susie leading, we didn't need the butler to guide

way, Susie slid the ring onto her finger. I couldn't help my smile. When

said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself

*Susie..." her mom said.

his gaze dropped to her hand,

he said, the word overflowing

to Susie's parents,

dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow me to

parents both went

am in love with your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot live

know of her condition!"

touched her husband's arm.

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

Nicholas said. "He is my Beta and