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

Mark. And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with your parents," I said.

parents wouldn't have let him inside, he would

laughed a little

his arrival at your door might open the way. My presence was required for this. It is, after all, more likely they'd let

"True."

parents knew who I

talk about you often.

be 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 deserved so many more

me to give you this." I held my palm

at it and

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

ring from my palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it with only her

a moment, pure awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again. "What's the matter?" I asked her,

for it," she said. "And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to

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

the tears. She continued looking at the ring for another minute

want to see

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

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

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

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

the word

Susie's

deep bow. "Please allow me to marry

parents both went wide-eyed.

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

don't know of her condition!" Susie's father

mother was quicker. She touched

I would raise it

for this man," Nicholas said. "He is my Beta and a loyal man besides. He