Summary:
You know the story, Marinette lost everything because of Lila's lies. However, who was the true mastermind in the plot? You would be surprised.
Alethea can still remember every detail of her first meeting with Hades Heinstein, the then Heir of the Heinstein family like it was yesterday. It had been at an engineering competition that she had been invited to by a friend of hers. Honestly, it still amazes her to this day that no one knows she had friends outside of school. The competition had hosted by a branch company of the Heinstein family. She couldn’t remember what the projects were as her entire mind was filled with Hades’ opening speech. She can remember every word of that glorious speech about pushing themselves to be best and not letting anyone or anything stop her or hold her back, not even friends or family. She had never felt such intense love before, not for her parents, not for her friends, not even for Adrien. It was such a different love too. Not familial love, not platonic, not even romantic. It had been the love and devotion towards someone who was a god. She had wanted to serve him from that moment. It hadn’t just been his confidence and ruthlessness, but also his noble bearing. They have the same black hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, but why does it look so regal on him?
Back then she was still weak Marinette. She had no idea what to do to get his attention. However, he knows of her interest in serving him. Barely a week after the competition, she had found a letter in her sketchbook with the Heinstein crest. It read “Your ability in fashion is more than enough. However, what about your loyalty? Prove yourself. Destroy everyone you hold dear.” She still has the letter to this day. It is one of her most prized possessions to this day. She hadn’t hesitated for a second. Her mind churns with plans.
She had decided that she needed something that takes out several people all at once. The idea had come to her in a flash as she was toying with a necklace her grandmother had given her. She had overheard Gina telling her parents about her best friend’s daughter who had been ostracized and bullied when a classmate spread lies about her. A few true friends had stood by her, but it hadn’t been enough to stop her from committing suicide. Her grandmother’s friend had pressed charges, but since the classmate’s mother was a diplomat, she escaped justice. If she wasn’t wrong, the name was Lila Rossi. (That was the original reason why she hated lies. Now it is because the truth is stronger than lies.)
She started to do research on her in internet cafes (to avoid leaving a trail. She had read a lot of mystery and crime books. Not the best source, but one thing was clear. Cash is untraceable.) It seems that Lila Rossi’s modus operandi is making false lies about knowing celebrities and promising favors. She accuses anyone who calls her out of her bullying her, and getting their classmates and friends to turn on them. How that works out varies. Some classes see through her lies immediately, calling her out and keeping their distance. Others fall for her plots and turn on their former friends. She wonders which way her class will go.
Marinette didn’t have the power to arrange for Lila to come to Paris. However, Chloe Bourgeois did. Getting a meeting with her was the hard part. She ended up using her Ladybug identity to do so. She tempted Chloe with the bee miraculous, saying she will give it to her if she meets Marinette in her penthouse. Marinette arrives at the hotel in disguise.
Marinette easily convinced Chloe to help her. She claimed she was tired of the class asking her for favors and want to see if they were using her. She tempted Chloe with the fact that after a few months, she can stand in front of the class and give a presentation on Lila’s history, humiliating them. She sweetened the deal with the fact she will give up on Adrien. (It wasn’t like it was that bad of a concession. Compared to Hades, he was just bland.)
Chloe did her part and that was when the fun begins. Marinette purposely call out Lila and turned the latter’s wrath on her. Things happened as she predicted. She was disgusted by how well it worked. Her class, the people who know her for years, turned on her accusing her of bullying poor Lila. They thought she was capable of being a bully! Granted she now know she was capable of far worse, but still. At least the other classes didn’t believe Lila. She had made sure to drop hints about Lila’s stories and how ridiculous they are in the earshot of the biggest gossip in school.
