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."

ring in my pocket near doubled, and I regretted holding it back even

know. Mark. And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with

don't think anything would have kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let

laughed a

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 this. It is, after all, more likely they'd let me in to see you than some strange

"True."

knew who I

about you often. You were my

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

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

looked at it and

says it's overdue," I told her. "He wants to ask

it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it with only her fingertips, treating it as a precious, rare, fragile

her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry

"And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter

work. If this is what you want, Susie, you can't let it get away. You have to follow

at the ring for another

see him," she

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

finger. I couldn't help my smile. When she saw it, she smiled

I've consistently said "Susie's father was

*Susie..." her mom said.

his gaze dropped to her hand, where she'd already put on the

word overflowing

to Susie's parents, closer than even Nicholas was

said, dropping into a deep bow.

parents both

in love with your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot live without

know of her condition!" Susie's

quicker. She touched her husband's arm.

baby is mine. And I would

said. "He is my Beta and a loyal man besides. He will treat your