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."

doubled, and I regretted holding it

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

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

laughed a little at

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."

who I was..." I

blushed a little. "I talk 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,

me to give you this."

looked at

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

palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it with only her fingertips, treating it

her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again. "What's the matter?" I asked her, stepping

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

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

the tears. She continued looking at the ring

see him," she

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

her finger. I couldn't help my smile.

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

on Mark, and his on her. Then his gaze dropped to her hand,

the word overflowing with obvious

stepped forward, moving closer to Susie's parents, closer than even Nicholas was

Mark said, dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow me

both

with your daughter," Mark

of her condition!" Susie's

She touched her

baby is mine. And I would raise it as

this man," Nicholas said. "He is my Beta