Alya was on the hunt.

She wanted answers, and she wanted them now.

The brunette peeked her head into the boys locker room and spotted her victim talking to his group of fencing pals; Adrien Agreste.

"Psst!" she whispered nonchalantly.

Adrien turned his head towards Alya and raised an eyebrow. His heart dropped and he automatically knew she was mad at him.

He put on his best fake model smile and shrugged, quickly pointing to the group of guys in front of him. He mouthed the words "Can't talk" in an attempt to send Alya away just so he wouldn't have to feel her wrath.

But it didn't work.

Alya marched right over to Adrien and grabbed his ear, pulling him away from his friends.

"Ow ow owww!" the blonde wailed, being tugged out of the locker room.

Alya finally released Adrien outside of the room and crossed her arms. "Listen here, we need to talk."

"About what?" Adrien asked, trying to play dumb while simultaneously convincing himself that Alya wasn't going to mention--

"Marinette," Alya growled.

Adrien felt the blood in his veins run cold, his stomach churning. "Uh... what about her?"

"You hate her?" Alya spat, her face turning red.

"What?" Adrien asked incredulously. "I don't hate her! Who said that?"

"She did," Alya mumbled.

Adrien paused, his heart dropping in his chest. It didn't make sense. Why would Marinette think he hated her?

"I'm disappointed in her, but I don't hate her!" Adrien exclaimed, his mind spinning.

"Why are you disappointed in her?" Alya pressed, stepping forward.

"Because she tried to sabotage my relationship with Louise," Adrien frowned, dropping his head.

"What?" Alya gasped. "She would never."

"She told me Louise was just using me," Adrien continued, looking back up. "Marinette was my best friend and-"

"Wait, wait, wait. Was?" Alya breathed, narrowing her eyes.

Adrien widened his eyes, his face turning red. He reached forward as to grasp onto the last bit of trust Alya had for him. "No! I mean, she is-"

"Agreste," Alya whispered, stepping back. A look of shock and betrayal washed over her face. "I don't care what you do with your life. But don't you dare hurt my best friend over this nonsense because whether you like it or not, she was the one who never gave up on you. And unfortunately, it looks like you're the one giving up on her."

Adrien was left speechless as he watched Alya turn around and walk away.

He dropped to his knees, holding his stomach and feeling very sick. His eyes watered while remembering the crushed look on Marinette's face when he told her how disappointed he was in her.

Never did he know how much of an impact he had on her.

She was absolutely devastated, all because of him. And that became clearer now.

He didn't know if Louise was using him or not. Honestly, he didn't want to know. But Alya was right.

Marinette had stood by him all those years. She was his best friend for crying out loud. Why in the world would she lie to him?

Adrien needed to find Marinette and apologize to her. Right now.

He got to his feet and quickly ran down the hall. He caught up with Alya who was stomping away angrily.

"You were right!" Adrien yelled, grabbing Alya's arm. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have been so harsh on Marinette. She is my best friend and I-"

Alya smiled in victory, pointing at something behind Adrien. "Don't tell me, tell her!"

Adrien turned around, his eyes wide in surprise. There, he saw Marinette sitting on the stairs, looking at the ground.

He started moving towards her, like a light at the end of a tunnel. He desperately wanted to reach her. He just wanted to, so bad. His heart was pounding profusely, and not because he was running like a crazy person.

Marinette.

Sweet, kind, beautiful Marinette. He had hurt her fragile heart.

A certain feeling had been buried deep within his chest and now that it was finally uncovered, he realized how much of a mistake he had made.

He loved her. More than a friend.

Adrien hoped she would listen to what he had to say, especially after how rude he had acted towards her.

He abruptly came to a stop in front of Marinette, bending over to catch his breath.

She jumped in surprise, looking up at the winded boy.

"Marinette, I need to tell you something," Adrien said. "I am so sorry."

Marinette's eyes softened. She stood up, crossing her arms. "I am too," she whispered.

"No, don't be," Adrien said quickly, grabbing her soft hands. "I should have believed you instead of shooting you down. You're my best friend and if you warned me about something, I should have believed you instantly."

Marinette smiled, her cheeks turning red. "Adrien, I-I don't know what to say."

"How about stay the HELL away from my man!"

The loud voice boomed across the main level of the school and sounded full of poison.

Adrien turned around, seeing Louise standing in the doorway to the school. He stood tall, not letting go of Marinette's hands.

"We are over, Louise," Adrien said defiantly.

"No, we aren't!" Louise snickered, slowly walking over to the two. "Your career, yes, if you don't go with me on our little trip."

"I could care less about my stupid modeling career, nice try," Adrien spat back.

"Very courageous of you to say that," Louise stated, pulling out her phone and waving it around. "I wonder if your father would think the same..."

Adrien widened his eyes. "You wouldn't."

"Then go with me," Louise smirked, tightening her grip around the phone. "This event will do wonders for my modeling career. I'll be more famous than you ever were."

Marinette stepped in front of Adrien. "Leave him alone."

"Or what, bakers girl? I think you're forgetting that I have a lot of connections. After all, I am dating the Adrien Agreste."

"You deaf or something? We are not dating anymore Louise," Adrien shot back.

Louise tilted her head. "To you? Maybe. To me? Nah. And most importantly, to the press? I don't think so. And that's all that matters."

"Not for long," Adrien said quickly, wagging his finger. "Imagine this for a status update: 'Just broke up with Louise. She is a horrible, manipulative little liar.' The press will eat that up for sure, don't you think?"

"Oh, Adrien. You underestimate me," Louise shrugged, flipping her wavy brown hair back. She winked, pointing her long manicured nail at someone behind Adrien. "You underestimate him, too."

He swiveled around to see his father approaching with the Gorilla by his side.

"Father?" he gasped in awe. "What are you-"

"I am here to take you home," Gabriel stated, narrowing his eyes.

Marinette kept her ground in front of Adrien. She was not losing him again. "Please, sir. If you have anyone to be angry with, it's Louise. She is hurting your son and making him go somewhere he doesn't want to go."

"Hurting or helping?" Gabriel asked, crossing his arms. "If I remember correctly, Adrien is the one who wanted this."

"No way!" Adrien exclaimed. "Louise is the one who wants all of this, and so are you. But I found out that she wants to use me for her own benefit. Please listen to me and stop this!"

"Adrien, calm down."

"I won't," Adrien replied firmly.

"You will, because I already booked your flight to America," Gabriel continued, his face expressionless. "The fashion show is counting on your arrival. You leave tonight."

"No! I'm not going," Adrien angrily yelled back.

Marinette walked up to Gabriel desperately. "Please, sir, don't do this!"

"Back away, will you?" Gabriel said threateningly.

"Don't talk to her like that," Adrien sneered.

Louise stepped in between them, laughing. "As much as I love this talk, Adrien and I have a plane to catch. Say goodbye to him for 5 months, Mari."

Marinette clenched her fists, feeling anger boil inside her veins. "No! You aren't taking him away. You already did once, I won't let you do it again!"

"Too late," Louise laughed.

Adrien stood tall, crossing his arms. "I'm not leaving with you. You can't make me."

"Come now or else I'll ruin your modeling career!" Louise yelled. "Gabriel, do something!"

The brooding man remained silent and unaffected.

Adrien smiled and crossed his arms. "Go ahead. Modeling was never for me, anyways."

Louise impatiently tapped her foot, sighing. She checked the time on her phone, growing desperate. "Fine, since I see that you don't care about your own career being ruined, how about I ruin someone's that you love?"

Adrien uncrossed his arms, feeling his heart skip a beat.

Louise pulled out her phone, beginning to type away. She smiled, talking as she typed, "The Dupain-Cheng bakery in Paris is by far the worst. They have an infestation of cockroaches and spit in the food of customers they don't like. They don't even use fresh ingredients. Worse staff and an even worse daughter, Marinette. She is known to meddle in the lives of others. Absolutely terrible."

Marinette placed a hand over her mouth. "You are a horrible human being."

"One click and all of Paris and the entire world sees my professional review of your crappy bakery," Louise crackles.

"Don't you dare," Adrien growled ominously.

"I won't as long as you come with me," Louise stated.

Adrien closed his eyes and without a pause, he nodded his head. "Fine."

"No!" Marinette yelled, grabbing his arm. "Don't, please."

"I have no choice, Mari," Adrien sighed. "She is going to ruin your parents business."

"I don't care," Marinette breathed, on the verge of tears. "I love you and I am not letting Louise take you away from me again."

In that moment, she realized what she had said and widened her eyes. Her cheeks flared up. She had just told Adrien she loved him.

Adrien smiled, his eyes watering. "Trust me, I don't want to leave you either. I just found you. But I don't want Louise to ruin your life because of me."

"Please, don't," Marinette said shakily, holding onto him for dear life.

"I love you," Adrien nodded, gently pulling away. "But I have to do this. If I don't... I'm afraid what Louise will do to you and your parents."

"I can handle it..." she mumbled, her body freezing instantenously as she remembered how much publicity Louise had garnered since dating Adrien.

The girl had power. And lots of it. If she left any bad review or criticism regarding the Dupain-Cheng bakery... They were done for. The negative review would slow down business and eventually... they would go under,  losing their home and much more.

She helplessly watched Adrien walk away with Louise. She wanted to stop him, but a growing sensation of fear for the bakery being slammed by Louise was overpowering all of her actions.

Gabriel brushed past her to follow Louise and Adrien, but before leaving, he turned to her, leaning in close to her ear.

"My deepest apologies. I know what it's like to have the person you love ripped away from you," he whispered, almost sincerely.

Marinette blinked in response, a tear racing down her cheek.

But Gabriel's voice turned into poison instantly as he said his next words, and Marinette knew he didn't feel sorry for her at all.

"But not everyone gets their happy ending. Au revoir."

He promptly turned on his heels and walked away.