A long and emotional chapter no one asked for!

Enjoy!

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   "I'm going to do it!" Marinette exclaimed, feeling confident, "I'm going to tell him the deal is off!"

   "About time," Nino replied, walking next to his friend. Nino lived a few houses away from the Agreste mansion and caught Marinette leaving the building with a wad of cash. He was the first to figure out what was going on.

   Marinette knew Nino didn't like the idea of his friend getting secretly paid to hangout with his neighbor. Yet, he still promised not to tell another soul. Ever since, the DJ walked with Marinette on his way home instead of having his mom pick him up when she finished work.

   "Yeah, I feel so bad that it went on for this long or that I even agreed to do it in the first place," Marinette muttered, guiltily. Nino looked over at the Chinese girl and gave a small, reassuring smile.

   "Relax, dudette. Once you explain to Adrien why you had to do it in the first place, I'm sure he'll understand," Nino comforted, placing a hand on Marinette's shoulder. Marinette returned the smile, hoping that Nino was right.

The two finally arrived at Nino's house.

"Well, good luck with Adrien," Nino said, bidding the short teen a farewell.

"Thanks," Marinette mumbled before glancing down the block and could see the large gate in the distance. Her smile melted into a grimace and her confidence began to slowly drain away. Taking a deep breath in and out, Marinette continued to walk down the sidewalk.

Soon, she was standing in front of the Agreste Mansion and pressing her finger on the doorbell. Marinette didn't even flinch when the camera shot out from its hiding spot before returning back into the wall. The gates opened, allowing her entry into the mansion.

   The teen felt herself tremble slightly when staring at the intimidating mansion, waiting to eat her whole. These were the same feelings from her first time walking into the giant house. With a gulp, she took a step onto the wealthy property. She knows quite soon that this will be her last time entering the mansion.

   "Welcome back, Miss Dupain-Cheng," Nathalie greets, opening the door and inviting Marinette inside. Forcing a smile at the monotone assistant, Marinette entered.

   "Hello, Nathalie!" Marinette replies before asking, "Is Mr. Agreste free by chance right now? I need to tell him something."

   "He'll be free for a short moment in about an hour," the woman informed, looking down at her tablet. Marinette nodded in confirmation, glad she has sometime to spend with Adrien before she never sees him again.

   "Okay, it shouldn't take me too long. Thank you, Nathalie," the bluenette said, gratefully before making her way to her crush's room. In reality it took merely two minutes to get to Adrien's room but felt like an agonizing hour. Each step she took up the stairs and down a hall to Adrien's room, they would be her last.

   She will never see his genuine smile again.

   After getting to know the blonde model better, she learned that every picture in magazines or billboards or commercials—were fake. He concealed his true smile behind a perfect and flawless mask that had been molded over years of loneliness. She almost cried herself to sleep the night she figured him out.

   The first time she made him actually smile was something she'll always hold dear in her heart.

   She will never hear his laughter again.

   The musical sound of his chuckles were like the melodies he played on the piano. Beautiful, addicting, and contagious. She could listen to him laugh forever and never get tired of the innocent, childish sound.

  She will never listen to his corny jokes or witness his sweet gestures again.

   Sure, his jokes always made her eyes roll or let a sigh escape from between her lips but it still made her heart skip. His soul is pure and everything he says and does is made out of sugar—sweetness. She can't help but fall all over again and swoon at the small, kind gestures he does just to make her happy.

   She will never see the sparkle in his gorgeous emerald eyes again.

   She will never get to be in his arms again.

   She will never get to dance with him again.

   She will never throw popcorn at the TV during a mushy part in romance movies and yell "Get a room!" with him again.

   A watery giggle left her lips at the imagery her memory concocted.

   She would sacrifice her happiness for his.

   No matter how much it would hurt her in the end.

   Marinette stood outside Adrien's door, frozen on the spot. Her eyes were burning with unshed tears and her breath was shaky. The bluenette's hands trembled and ducked her head to hide her watery eyes. She forced down the lump in her throat and sniffled.

   This was it.

   Her knuckle rapped against the door's surface.

   "Come in!" Adrien's voice called from the other side of the door. Marinette slid the door open and entered the room, attempting to regain her composure. Marinette cursed under her breathe for not taking a moment to gather herself before coming into the room.

The blonde was sitting at his desk finishing up some history homework. Adrien hoped he could help Marinette with her homework quickly so that they could play some video games. He was feeling lucky today and wanted to see if it would help him beat her in one round.

All of his plans were soon cast away, once seeing Marinette staring at the floor in distress. Adrien began to feel concern swirl within his chest as he stood from the spiny chair and walked over to the distant girl.

"Marinette is there something wrong?" The model asked, worried. He placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to urge her to look him in the eyes. Clearing her throat, Marinette shifted on her spot.

   "Uh...no. I'm okay," she lied, raising her head and forcing a smile, "Just a little tired is all."

   Adrien didn't seem very convinced by her words.

   "Um," Marinette began trying to change the subject, "After I finish homework, do you want to play video games?"

   The bluenette shrugged off Adrien's hands and walked around him, heading over to his couch. Green eyes followed her every movement, trying to figure out his friend's dilemma.

The model joined Marinette on the couch and helped her through the questions she struggled with. While waiting, Adrien tried to start some small talk while Marinette did her homework. Yet, the bluenette seemed too quiet and stiff.

It made him all the more sad seeing Marinette so out of it. Her cheerful spirit and optimistic confidence seemed to just vanish into thin air, replacing it with a shell. The last straw was when Marinette lost three times in a row!

Adrien looked over at Marinette before setting his controller down.

"Marinette," the blonde sternly said, making the bluenette perk up in surprise. She had never seen Adrien angry before and it was quite frighting seeing the scowl on his face.

"What's wrong? You're not acting like yourself," he continued. This time, Marinette could see the full-blown concern and...fear?

   "Why does he look so scared?" The bluenette questioned within her mind before guilt began to flow into her veins. Her heart cracked even more as she sat frozen, staring at the model dumbfounded. Marinette hardly had the chance to open her mouth when Nathalie knocked on the door.

   "Marinette, Gabriel is ready to see you," Nathalie informed. The bluenette swallowed down the thump in her throat, words dying on her tongue. Adrien looked from the door to the baker's daughter in confusion.

   "Why does my father need to see you?" The blonde asked. The bluenette could feel a nervous sweat breakout on her forehead.

   From day one of Marinette's visits, Gabriel has never asked for Marinette's presence or anyone except Nathalie. Unless, there was a reason. So,  Adrien wondered why his closed-off father was taking time to talk with Marinette but never with him.

   The girl looked away, feeling ashamed for everything that has happened. Making the deal was a mistake but she was glad to have met Adrien. This deal she made was both a blessing and a curse. In the end, the curse won and the price to pay for her sins is guilt.

   "I...I gotta go,"  Marinette uttered, gathering her things. Adrien watched troubled as he could see a glimpse of bluebell eyes filled with unshed tears.

   "Marinette, wait," Adrien hurriedly said, grabbing onto the bluenette's arm before she could leave. Marinette didn't look back, knowing she'll only break more if she saw the victim in her mayhem. She knew the blonde would be crushed if he found out about the deal. Not only his father make but she accepted.

   His only and best friend...being paid to hangout for a scheduled amount of time. It sounded awful just hearing that sentence echo in her head. Marinette felt despicable.

   That's why saying goodbye without telling the love of your life the truth excruciatingly hurt.

   "Please, let go," The bluenette whimpered, softly. Adrien could feel her arm trembling within his grip.

   "Not until you tell me what's going on," Adrien stated, solidly. He wasn't expecting Marinette to launch herself back at him, tackling them both down onto the floor. The model was in shock, looking down at the girl hiding her face into his chest.

   Adrien felt his face heat up but ignored the butterflies in his stomach. A pang clutched his heart when his shirt grew slightly damp and soft sniffling could be heard. Marinette was shaking even more as silent sobs ruptured throughout her body. Her arms tightened a little as if something was about to pull her away from him.

   Adrien gently raveled his arms around Marinette's petite frame and quietly held her. He didn't know what was going on or why his Marinette was crying. Yet, he had a deep feeling he knew who to blame.

   His father.

   Then, another thought hit him hard.

   "Is my father going to ban Marinette from ever seeing me again?" That scared him endless and his hold on the aspiring designer tightened more. Adrien didn't know the reason why but he wasn't going to let it stop him from seeing Marinette ever again.

   Adrien was snapped out of his thoughts when Marinette's arms loosened and used them push up a little. Their faces were mere inches away from each other, sad emerald met blood-shot bluebell.

   Marinette wore a halfhearted smile with tears still dripping down her face. Adrien's feature's wrinkled in worry but kept his lips sealed.

"Thank you," She rasped, voice hoarse. Marinette bent down the rest of the way before placing a loving kiss on his cheek. Marinette pulled away to see the model's face turned stunned and red.

"Goodbye."

The bluenette quickly stood up, grabbed her stuff and headed out the door.

   She didn't come back.

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One week later...

   Alya glanced away from her assignment and over at her glumly best friend. The ombre-haired teen was beyond worried and curious since Marinette arrived at school on Monday. It almost felt like Marinette wasn't in this world with how quiet and distant she's been acting lately.

Yet, no matter how much Alya tried to muster out the truth from her best friend, the bluenette ignored it. Sometimes, the reporter would catch a rare glimpse of pretty bluebell eyes rimmed red or a practical zombie sitting next to her. Marinette seemed even more tired than usual and numb—sick.

Class ended and lunch began.

Enough was enough.

Alya grabbed Marinette's wrist and dragged the poor teen all the way to the park. Alya was through the roof with this shell of her best friend. She wanted the old, cheery Marinette back. The only way to do that was to get some answers.

Once the two teen arrived at the park and sitting on a bench, the air grew thick. Alya had her arms crossed and stared at Marinette like she was going to burn holes into the bluenette's head. Marinette looked straight ahead, blankly watching people enjoying their time in the park.

Alya had it.

"Look, I know you don't want to tell me what's going on. But, I'm your best friend. I want to help you through whatever is going on. I can't do that if you don't tell me what's going on, Marinette," Alya said, making Marinette more self-conscious.

Marinette jumped a little when feeling a hand placed on her shoulder. Alya had scotched closer and sighed, unknowing of what else to say to convince the short teen to speak.

The bluenette could tell Alya was really concerned and a little hurt. Marinette didn't like seeing the reporter seem so...vulnerable. It was unlike her. Yet, Marinette couldn't say much since she has been dead to the world.

The aspiring designer was correct on her theory.

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"Gabriel, the deal is off."

Ever since she found the courage to break the deal off, it soon deteriorated into fear within a second of a snap of fingers.

"How come, Miss Dupain-Cheng? Don't you need a job?" He responded.

"I don't care about the job or money. This deal was a mistake and I shouldn't have agreed. I mean, seriously! Paying me to hangout with your son? That's just all kinds of wrong. He needs to find real friends..." Marinette argued, feeling more horrible than before and tearing her up inside, "...ones that...that he deserves. Not like me, I don't deserve to be friends with such a wonder person when I stooped lower than you."

Marinette paused for a moment, letting Gabriel gather his thoughts. When the bluenette thought it was taking too long, she finally spat out the thing that would make his decision easier.

"Besides..." Marinette began, "...I broke one of the rules in our deal." Gabriel's eyes became stern and colder if possible, listening intently. With a deep breath in and the last of her bravery running low, she finally spoke.

"I'm in love with Adrien."

And just like that, the gate was closed shut in her face and a feeling of dread ceased her heart...slowly making her fall into depths of heartbreak.

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Alya was hugging a crying Marinette, after she explained everything. Marinette decided to skip the rest of school, after convincing Alya to return. She was alone with her thoughts and with everything that happened.

It wrapped around her soul, strangling it and roughing up her emotional state.

She felt terrible.

"Marinette."

Bluebell eyes widened and breath was caught in her throat. Slowly, Marinette looked up to see Adrien standing in front of her. She was flabbergasted, gaping like a fish. She didn't think she would ever see Adrien again. Thought Gabriel would keep tabs on who Adrien could talk with and not.

Yet, here he is.

"A...Adrien," Marinette shakily breathed, still stunned and a little scared. Adrien just stood there, observing the bluenette. Then, he sat down beside her. They stayed silent for a moment, bathing in each other's presence.

"What happened between you and my father?" He asked.

"You'll hate me if I told you," she replied.

   "I don't think I could ever hate you, Marinette. I might get mad but I would never hate you," the blonde said before sighing, "I really miss you."

   Marinette whimsically hummed before saying, "I missed you too."

   Without much thought, the teenager's hands clasped together and knew that this wasn't the end.

   Only the beginning.

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YAS! MADE IT!

Sorry, if there was a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes. My Grammarly isn't working. *cries* Last thing to say, I the next chapter will be the end of the flashback...hopefully.