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."

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

you know. Mark. And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with your parents,"

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

a little at

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

"True."

knew who I was..."

blushed a little. "I talk about you often. You were my

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 and kind, she deserved so

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

at it

her. "He wants

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

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

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

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

looking at the ring for

see him,"

With Susie leading, we didn't need

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

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

Then his gaze dropped to her

said, the word

to Susie's parents, closer

deep bow. "Please allow me to marry your

parents both went wide-eyed.

with your daughter,"

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

was quicker. She touched

baby is mine. And I would raise

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