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,

down in the sitting room with your parents,"

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

a little

his arrival at your door might open the way. My presence was required

"True."

parents knew who I was..." I

about

much it hurt to hear she had such a

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

looked at it and

it's overdue," I told her. "He

from my palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched it with

face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again. "What's the

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 Nicholas's

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

the ring for another minute

want to see him," she

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

the way, Susie slid the ring onto her finger. I couldn't help my

I've consistently said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself off when Susie and I returned to

*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

he said, the word overflowing with obvious

to Susie's parents, closer than even Nicholas was

Mark said, dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow me to marry your

parents both

your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot live

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

mother was quicker. She touched her husband's arm.

baby is mine. And I would raise it as my child,

is my Beta and a loyal man besides. He will