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 it back

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

your parents wouldn't have let him

a

his arrival at your door might open

"True."

parents knew who I was..." I

about you often. You were

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

at it and

says it's overdue," I told her. "He wants to ask

inspect it.

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

said. "And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to me, Mark would be throwing his whole life

find a way to get it to work. If this is what you want, Susie, you can't

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

want to see him,"

leading, we didn't need the

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

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

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

said, the word overflowing with

to Susie's parents, closer than even Nicholas

a deep bow. "Please allow me to

both went wide-eyed.

with your daughter," Mark said.

of her condition!" Susie's father

touched

And I would

Nicholas said. "He is my Beta and a loyal