Hawkmoth/Gabriel's P.O.V.

Damn it! I inwardly curse as my plan is foiled by that... that girl!
I racked my brains. What was her name?
Maristela? No. Marinette. Yes, that was her name.
She was that designer girl that had won the derby hat competition I had once judged at Adrien's school, the excellent pigeon feather hat design which Adrien had worn. Speaking of which... I frowned. How had my own son managed to get out of the house in the first place? What had caused his torrent of emotion?

I furrowed my brow. What was it that Marinette girl had said to him?
'I love you.'

"No..." could it be possible?

Hit by a sudden thought, I detransformed.

Nooroo, now beside me, tentatively spoke,
"Master-"

"Be quiet Nooroo." I snapped, my head hurting from this dizzying revelation.

I searched my memory for more information on this girl. This girl who had managed to diffuse Adrien's emotions enough for him to de-evilise himself, to break my hold over him.
"Marinette..." I mused to myself. Where had I heard that name before?

Suddenly, it hit me. Ah, yes... it had been she that the cunning Lila had framed, the same day that Natalie had taken the Peacock Miraculous and created that Ladybug sentimonster. Princess Justice.

'I love you'
Another faint echo of her words.

Could it be? Surely Adrien had not returned her feelings. Surely he had not fostered this... this relationship against the knowledge that he was not to have any relationship without my consent. I clenched my fist, knowing that it must be so. Nooroo watched on, a worried expression on his face as he saw my growing anger.
That Marinette girl had shown unprecedented courage and cunning in her risky plan to deakumatize my son. She was one to watch. But how had she arrived so soon after he had been akumatized. Unless... she and Adrien had already been together when it happened.
The thought of my son so blatantly disobeying my express orders made my blood boil.

I moved to my designing room, pausing only a moment to glance at the golden painting of my dearest Emilie, then summoned Natalie.
She appeared almost at once, and I fancied that she approached me cautiously, as though she already knew what I was going to ask her.
"Yes sir?"

"Where is my son?" I coldly asked.

"He is in his room, practicing Piano, sir?" She responded, uneasy at my tone of voice.

"Is he?" I mildly questioned.

"I- er... I don't understand Sir." She hesitantly answered.

"Check his room." I commanded icily.

She nodded and turned to go,
"Yes sir."

"Oh, and Natalie?"

She paused.

"If this ever happens again, you would do well to remember who pays you."

I heard her gulp, then she continued walking out of the room.

A few moments later, I heard her surprised exclamation. I took a deep breath, then walked out of the room to see Natalie standing outside Adrien's room, the door open, a perplexed and concerned expression upon her face. Adrien's bodyguard was with her as well, the gorilla of a man standing dumb and mute as usual. As she turned, I saw a glimpse of panic on her features,
"He's-"
"Gone?" I acidily supplied.
"Yes." She nervously answered.

I strode into his room, in the background his iPod attached to the Piano still playing music, to see one of his windows wide open. A thought nudged at me.
Could my son be Chat Noir?

Then I shook my head angrily. How foolish of me to think of such a thing, especially as I had already discounted that theory when I akumatized Adrien's bodyguard. But... how else could he have escaped from his room, through an open window?

Aware of Natalie's stares. I snapped at her,
"Well, what are you waiting for? Prepare the car. We are going to the Dupain-Cheng's Patisserie."

"Sir?"

"I'll explain during the drive. I'm coming with you."

"But, Sir-" she looked shocked, and for good reason, as I very rarely left my mansion.

"I am coming with you," I insisted through gritted teeth, "this matter is one I must attend to in person." When she continued to stammer in astonishment, I snarled at her, "was I not clear? GO AND GET THE CAR."

She jumped, turning and briskly striding out of the room, but not before I saw the expression of utmost hurt in her face.
I felt my rage subside slightly, I never meant to hurt Natalie, not when she has been so good to me during this time, as an ally and, dare I say it, friend. I never meant to hurt anyone. For a brief moment, the reality of all I had done seemed to crush me. Then, I forced it from my mind. I mustn't think of what I have done. I just need to focus on my ultimate aim. It will be worth it in the end... right?

My thoughts were disturbed by Natalie informing me that the car was ready.

(Le time skip)

We sat in silence whilst Natalie drove. I had just explained everything that had happened, and I saw her give me a sympathetic glance in the review mirror.
"Sir..."
"I know Natalie, I know," I sighed, taking off my glasses and massaging my forehead to ease the headache that had formed,
"It's just... am I doing the right thing?"

There was a moment of silence as she deliberated her answer, then carefully responded,
"You are doing it to save Emilie, to protect Adrien, to make your family happy again. Your intentions are good, honorable..."

"But?" I queried, sensing her hesitation.

"...but, sir... maybe, just maybe, this Marinette girl makes Adrien happy?"

I felt myself slightly choke up as memories of she who had once made me happy, my beautiful wife, my Emilie, the one for whom I was doing all of this for.
Am I doing the right thing Emilie?
I silently asked, knowing that no response would come back.
That no response would come back because of my mistakes. If only I had stopped her from using the Peacock Miraculous... if only I hadn't been so blinded by ambition to see how badly it was affecting her...

My guilt transformed into anger, and I felt my resolve strengthen,
"No, Natalie. He... He must learn that he is not to disobey me. Goodness knows how many times he has sneaked off to see this girl, against my express orders that he is to have no relationships without my consent!"

Just then, we arrived at the Dupain-Chengs Patisserie, and I got out of the car,
"It's time to go through with my plan."