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."

the ring in my pocket near doubled,

They are down in the sitting room with your parents," I said.

would have kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let him inside,

a

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

"True."

knew who

about you often. You were

her into another hug. How grateful I was to be in her life! Though how much it hurt to hear she had such a hard time getting friends. She was so sweet

pocket. "Mark told me to give you

at it and

it's overdue," I told her.

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

of her features. Then, in the

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

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

continued looking at the ring for another minute or

see him,"

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

slid the ring onto her finger. I couldn't help my smile. When she saw it, she smiled too,

really is a personal matter, Prince Nicholas, as I've consistently said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself off when

*Susie..." her mom said.

his on her. Then his

said, the word overflowing with

moving closer to Susie's parents, closer

dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow

parents both went

daughter,"

her

mother was quicker. She touched

is mine. And I would raise it as my child,

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