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

the sitting room

have let him inside, he would have scaled the walls and climbed through your

a little at

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

"True."

parents knew who I

little. "I talk about you often.

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

to give you this." I held my palm out with

at it

her. "He

to her, to inspect it. She touched it with only her fingertips, treating

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

matter to me, Mark would be throwing his whole life away with this. He can't be Nicholas's

If this is what you want, Susie, you can't let

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

want to see him," she

headed for the doorway. With Susie leading, we didn't need the butler to guide us back downstairs

couldn't help my smile. When

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

her. Then his gaze dropped to her

the word overflowing with obvious

Susie's parents, closer than

dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow me to

parents both went

your daughter," Mark said.

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

She touched her

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

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