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."

near doubled, and I regretted holding it back

are down in the sitting room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes went wide

your parents wouldn't have let

laughed a little

at your door might open the way. My presence was required for this. It is, after

"True."

who I

about you often. You were my

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

ring from my pocket. "Mark told me to give you this." I held my palm out with the ring sitting

at

I told her. "He wants to ask

up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it with only her fingertips, treating it as

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

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

way to get it to work. If this is what you want, Susie,

away the tears. She continued looking at the ring for another minute or two,

want to see

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

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

Nicholas, as I've consistently said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself off when Susie

*Susie..." her mom said.

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

said, the word overflowing with

to Susie's parents, closer

into a deep bow. "Please allow me to marry your

both

with your daughter,"

of her condition!" Susie's

was quicker. She touched her

I would

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