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, and I regretted holding it

know. Mark. And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes

have let him inside, he would have scaled

a little

door might open the way. My presence was required for this. It is, after all, more likely

"True."

parents knew who

about you

how much it hurt to

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

at

her. "He wants to

from my palm and held it up closer 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 again.

even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to me, Mark would

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

continued looking at the ring for another minute

see him,"

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

help my smile. When she saw

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

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

said, the word overflowing with

closer to Susie's

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

parents both

love with your daughter,"

of her

touched her husband's

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

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