Marinette sighed as she sat down in the back seat of her parent's car, holding Emma's tiny fingers and rubbing her chubby knuckles as the car rumbled on the street. She had told her parents about everything that had happened with Adrien and when doing so, the tears she had been holding in had all came out like a waterfall. Her parents had completely understood but were outraged to hear the news.

"My!" Sabine gasped. "This is unacceptable, Darling!"

"I knew there was something wrong with him," said Tom.

And now Marinette was heading back to the bakery since Adrien would be home, but for some reason she didn't want to leave with her parents. She needed that one girl who always understood her. She needed...

"Dad?" Marinette asked. "Could you drop me off at Alya's?"

A few minutes later, the car pulled over to Alya's apartment building and Marinette got off, and hoisted Emma out of the backseat, grunting as she lifted the bulky car seat out by the handle. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her spine and she set down Emma on the pavement. After effects from the burn, she thought.

"Honey, are you sure you don't want to stay with us for a while?" Sabine asked, concern in her voice.

"Yes, Ma. I just need Alya right now. I promise I'll return to the bakery after. Besides, she and Nino haven't seen the baby yet!"

"Alright, Alright, dear. Stay safe. We love you!"

They hugged goodbye and Marinette waddled over to the apartment entrance, her walking unbalanced because of the baby hanging in the carrier. Emma giggled and cooed as she looked at the building in pure amusement. She wiggled about, and would've fallen out of the car seat if it weren't for the seatbelt pressing against her chest. The mother tried to ignore the soreness in her back.

"Are you excited to meet your Aunt Alya?" Marinette smiled at her daughter as she walked into the building. "Okay . . . Room 110 . . . Here it is." She stood in front of a large green door and knocked on the wood.

Several seconds later, the door opened and Alya peeked into the hallway. "Marinette?!" she exclaimed.

"Alya! I am so happy to see you! Can I come inside?"

"Um . . . Let me come outside first."

"Uh - okay."

Alya looked back and forth through the hall and stepped outside. "Girl, I missed you!" She said, wrapping her arms around her friend. "Did you have the baby - oh my, look at this cutie!"

"This is Emma," Marinette said, setting down the car seat. "She is such a warrior after losing her dad -" Suddenly her eyes watered. "Alya, I need to tell you something. Can we talk in private inside?"

Alya stood up. "Marinette, I -"

"Please, Alya. I need to talk to you. I need a friend."

"But, honey-"

"Alya, is something wrong?"

"No," she replied slowly, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry if I'm sounding rude but I just had a really tough first days in the hospital and I just need you to be with me. Adrien - he cheated on me - with Chloe!" Marinette crumpled to the floor and sobbed into her hands. "A-and right now - I feel broken - and - I don't know what - to do - because - I love him - but - he did something - really, really bad," she choked in between tears.

Alya helped Marinette to her feet. "Girl, I am so sorry. I'm just trying to protect you. I don't mean for you to be upset about this. It's just -"

"Alya?" called a familiar voice from inside. "Who's out there?" A tall figure walked out and Marinette screamed as she recognized him.

"Adrien?!"

Hi!

I apologize once again for making the chapter so freaking short!!!

I ended off in a cliffhanger because if I continued, it would be a mega long chapter to read, and it's either super long or super short, and if it's super long than it gets boring!

Hehe...😅😅😅

But seriously, I promise not to end the next chapter in a cliffhanger (unless you do want me to).

Oh and also...thank you so so so much for 750 reads!!!! I would've never been able to get this far without you. Do you think we can get...1k reads???? It would be a miraculous miracle if this story did! Anyways, the point is, is that I'm so thankful for your support and I love you guys!

Signing out!

~Laurel