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."

the ring in my pocket near doubled, and I regretted holding

Mark. And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with your

have kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let

a little at

able to stop him before he did 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

"True."

who

about

heart lurched and I pulled her 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 many more than just

tug the ring from my pocket. "Mark told me to give you this."

at it and

told her.

inspect

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

for it," she said. "And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to me, Mark

told her. "Nicholas will find a way 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

With Susie leading, we didn't need the butler to guide

I couldn't help my smile.

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

Then his gaze dropped to her hand, where

the word overflowing with obvious

Susie's parents, closer than

bow. "Please allow me to marry your

both went

with your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot live

her

quicker. She touched her husband's

And I would raise

Nicholas said. "He is my Beta and a