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."

in my pocket near doubled, and I regretted holding it back even this

in the sitting room

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

a little at

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

little. "I talk about you often.

how much it hurt to hear she had such a hard time getting friends. She was so sweet and kind, she deserved so

you this." I held my palm out with the ring sitting

looked at

told her. "He wants to ask

it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it

covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began

even if that didn't matter to me, Mark would be throwing

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

blinked away the tears. She continued looking at the ring for another

see him," she

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

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

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

Susie's eyes were on Mark, and his on her. Then his gaze

word overflowing with

to Susie's parents, closer than even

into a deep bow. "Please allow me to marry

parents both went

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

know of her condition!" Susie's

quicker. She touched her husband's

I would raise it as my child,

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