After the meal, Marinette goes to her room at the Agreste mansion. She still feels as if everything is so unreal. She can not believe it. She stays in the home her fiance grew up in right now. She always dreamt she would marry Adrien and live with him.  

       Marinette weeps. She is still sad about her mother. She was rather close to her. She can not imagine her life without her mom in it.   Her father lives in China. She knows he made the decision earlier today to sell the bakery.  She is not sure how to cope with all these sudden changes around her. 

    Marinette's POV:

     "Mom, I miss you."

     "I am engaged to Adrien now. I know you would approve. He is so good to me."

       Marinette feels the tears fall as she reflects on her life. She often wonders if she made the right decision when she chose to stay behind in Paris, France. She knows she could not leave Adrien.

     Adrien's  POV:

    He decides he better go check on Marinette. He recalls how quiet she was at mealtime.

     "Marinette, darling, I am here."

        Adrien enters the room without so much as a knock. He sees the tears.

           He goes to her and wraps his arms around her.

     Adrien does not say a word. He decides she just needs his presence now.

       Gabriel's  POV:

      Gabriel goes to his liar now that the meal is over.

      He senses a sad person.  He smirks.

     "Norroo, Dark Wings Rise!"

       There is a flash of light and he transforms.

       Hawkmoth's POV:
     "Go my little akuma and evilize this distraught young lady!"

     "Now, go and find her!"

     He laughs his usual sinister laugh, "Bwa!  Ha, ha, ha!"

        The akuma flaps its wings.  It arrives inside the room where Marinette sits on the bed with Adrien embracing her.  It notices that the boy is not able to keep her as calm as he believes.

       It lands on some jewelry she wears. 

   Soon she hears Hawkmoth's voice in her head as he speaks to her.

      "So, do we have a deal, Deep Sorrow?"

        Marinette unable to keep her grief at bay says the words she never thought possible, "Yes, Hawkmoth!"

    "Good, then you know what to do!"

    "Yes, I am to bring you the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir!"

       Adrien hears Marinette mutter something, but cannot quite make it out.

        He sees her outfit glisten as it changes colors and shape. To his horror, he sees a familiar mask appear across her face.

       He is furious!  Hawkmoth did this to his fiance!  

       "No, Marinette!  Fight it! You are much stronger than this, please darling!  You cannot let Hawkmoth take what we have away from us!"  Adrien tries to plead with her.

     Plagg senses it is too late. He reaches up and slaps Adrien.

       Adrien runs into his bedroom closet with Plagg right behind him. He shuts the door and calls out, "Plagg, claws out!"

     Chat Noir's  POV:

    He comes out of the closet.  He sees that Marinette is gone.

    "Oh, no!"

   Chat  Dials the Hero's  Distress Button on Speed Dial.

      Chat speaks to Chole and Sarah, then Alya, and Nino!

      "Guys, tell Queen Bee, Kid Zebra, Rena Rogue, and Carapace we need their help!  It is Marinette!  Hawkmoth, he akumantized her!"

        Find out more in Chapter 25

     Until then,

  bye, bye little owlets!

-Summer out!

Chapter published June 28, 2021

  Edits made August 8, 2021