"Well, they do it sometimes, they are partners after all..." Alya argued with Alix in a protective tone.

Meanwhile, the heroes plunged into the silent dialogue with their eyes.

Marinette shook her head barely noticeable, as if saying "We screwed up, Kitty, and now the whole city will think that we are dating". Adrien replied with a slightly embarrassed apologetic smile, as if saying "What can I do, I also slightly forgot myself yesterday..."

"What are you saying, Alya!" Alix insisted. "They are definitely together! I even saw a high definition video taken by someone's drone!" She said, "Ladybug was all limp in his arms, and he held her so tenderly, and she was crying, and you could see how she was moving her lips." Alix smirked. "I am sure that Ladybug finally realized her feelings and was confessing her love to Chat Noir when that drone was circling around them!"

Marinette didn't have time to get mad at Alix for jumping to conclusions, or at the impudent fan who made that video, or at half the city that spread rumors about her love life, because her eyes fell on the other pair of green eyes glaring at her.

Felix stood frozen in the classroom door with silent indignation and pain on his face.

Marinette felt an unpleasant cold shiver run down her spine and lowered her eyes, unable to hold his furious gaze.

But in the next second, she raised them up again, because she heard his footsteps receding down the corridor.

Felix was no longer at the door.

With concern on her face Marinette turned to Adrien, who turned back to her in confusion, obviously not knowing how to react to his cousin's behavior.

Marinette pressed her lips together tightly.

She doesn't have to explain to Felix that she's not dating her partner. They didn't promise anything to each other! Besides, he deceived her himself... and betrayed her... and...

But her heart still sank painfully at the thought that Felix imagined her in someone else's arms, confessing her love to another man... That he thought she was with someone else. That he was hurt thinking that she didn't love him...

*

Felix walked down the street, staring blankly ahead of him.

His worst nightmare, which he never even dreamed about, came true.

She didn't love him. She used him. She was with someone else.

The pain of loss that he experienced after his father's death, and hiding from which he became cold, burying his sensual vulnerable soul deep inside, returned to him in full, and now tore him apart.

This had to stop.

Felix didn't know if it would work, but his pain was stronger than his fear.

He had to try.

With a trembling hand, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Felix Graham de Vanily speaking," He said, "I'm ready."

*

Chat Noir hit the wall he had been thrown into and jumped back to his feet immediately, blocking Hawk Moth's access to the safe in Gabriel's office.

"Out of my way, miserable cat!" The villain shouted, rushing towards him, but fell on the floor with his legs tied with a yoyo thread.

"Do you know what your problem is, Gabriel?" Ladybug asked as she walked around him and stopped next to her partner. "You act out of hatred, and hatred destroys you." Her face twisted into a bitter smile. "Believe me, I know what I'm talking about."

Felix never returned to school that day, and Marinette was so exhausted by conflicting feelings that she persuaded Adrien, – who wanted to prepare better for the fight with his father – to attack that same day.

Chat Noir pinned his father's hands to the floor as Ladybug ripped the Butterfly miraculous from him, and the heroes took a step back, looking down at angry Gabriel still trying to untangle his legs from the yoyo thread.

"I'll show you what hatred is!" Hissed the designer, finally freeing himself and taking a step towards his table.

Ladybug tensed, but didn't stop him.

Chat Noir had already cataclysm the safe door, when they found out where the miraculous were hidden using a scanner obtained with Lucky Charm's help. And although the amulets were not yet in her hands, Marinette had a good view of them from here, and was sure that Gabriel wouldn't be able to get to them because his desk was on the other side of the office.

"It's over." Chat said in a cold firm voice. "You lost."

"Oh, maybe I did, idiot kids! But that doesn't mean I can't punish that vile traitor of my nephew who gave my name to you!" He promised, removing his ring. "He will pay with his life for it!"

Ladybug froze in horror while Chat Noir rushed towards his father, but Gabriel had already grabbed a heavy figurine from the table and, placing the ring on the table, hit it with force.

Now both heroes froze in disbelief, watching the dark feather fly up from the smashed ring.

"No!" Ladybug screamed as she fell to her knees and tears of horror spilled from her wide eyes.

No hatred for Felix was in her heart at that moment. The only thought that throbbed painfully in her head was that the man she loved was... gone?!!

And the last words that she told him were out of anger... and he thought she was with someone else... and she never told him that...

Nausea came to her throat and her whole body weakened.

Marinette felt that she was ready to sacrifice all the miraculous and the peace of this city for him...

But it was too late now...

His heart had just stopped...

"So you're also a cold-blooded killer, father?" Chat Noir hissed at Gabriel. "He was my cousin! How could you!" He yelled.

"Adrien?" An expression of horror seized the designer's face, and he dropped the figurine from his hands. "No, I don't... you can't be... my son..."

"I'm not your son!" Chat Noir exclaimed, anger and rage flashed in his eyes as he knocked out his father with one powerful blow.

Ladybug looked at the scene, but didn't feel any emotions about what she saw.

"Adrien," She whispered. "He just..." Her body was trembling.

"Felix..." Chat whispered back. "I can't believe he's gone..."

"He can't!" Ladybug yelled, feeling the blood boil all over her body and hit her temples. "He can't die! I love him!"

"Marinette..." Chat called quietly, looking at her with a depressed look.

But she didn't hear him anymore.

Ladybug turned and started to run.

She had to see him. Even... Even if it was already too late.