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."

of the ring in my pocket near doubled, and I regretted

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

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

a little

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,

"True."

who I

little. "I talk about you often. You were my first

it hurt to hear she had such a hard time getting friends. She was so sweet and kind, she deserved so many more than just

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

at it

it's overdue," I told her.

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

Then, in the next, she began to

go for it," she said. "And even 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 be

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

the ring

see

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

I couldn't help my

matter, Prince Nicholas, as I've consistently said "Susie's father was

*Susie..." her mom said.

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

word

moving closer to Susie's parents, closer

deep bow. "Please allow

both

daughter," Mark said. "I cannot

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

quicker. She touched her

I would raise it as my child, with Susie as my

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