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

sitting room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes went

kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let him inside, he would have scaled the walls and climbed through your

laughed a little

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

"True."

who I

about you often. You were my

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

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

at it

her. "He wants to ask

plucked the ring from my palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it with only her fingertips, treating it as a

a moment, pure awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again.

didn't matter to me, Mark would be

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

the tears. She continued looking at the ring for another minute or two, before she

to see him,"

and we both headed for the doorway. With Susie leading, we

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

as I've consistently said "Susie's father was saying. He cut

*Susie..." her mom said.

and his on her. Then his gaze dropped

said, the word

closer to Susie's parents, closer than even Nicholas

into a deep bow.

both went wide-eyed.

love with your daughter," Mark said.

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

was quicker. She touched her husband's

And I would raise it as

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