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

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

wouldn't have let

a little at

your door might open the

"True."

knew who I was..." I

little. "I talk about you often. You

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 many

told me to give you this." I held my palm out with the ring sitting

at it

her. "He wants

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 precious, rare,

awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again. "What's the matter?" I asked

matter to me, Mark would be throwing

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

looking at the ring

see him,"

leading, we didn't need the butler to guide us back downstairs to the

ring onto her finger. I couldn't help my smile. When she

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

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

word overflowing

stepped forward, moving closer to Susie's parents, closer

dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow me

parents both went

with your daughter," Mark said. "I

her

touched

I would raise it as

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