A Winter's Tale

A Shattered Holiday

***Hello, my lovelys. Guess who's back??? Sorry for the long wait. But I am back, ready to fulfill your requests. Like always, like and comment. Your support means a lot. With love, MF***

Marinette's thoughts vanished, and her heart shattered at the sight. She couldn't believe her eyes. She didn't think Adrien could do her so much harm, but he had proven her wrong. Holding tears in her eyes, Marinette wanted to die. 

Adrien's eyes glittered with anticipation as he spoke about her. "I really need this to be perfect," he said, his voice brimming with warmth. "Nothing will ruin this for me."

If only he knew.

Cold hands suddenly covered his eyes from behind. Adrien froze, then chuckled—how was it that Marinette, a designer who worked with fabric daily, always forgot to wear gloves? Before he could speak, she moved in front of him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

Adrien stood frozen, shock rooting him to the spot.

But nothing could prepare him for what came next.

"Hi, Adrien," a voice purred. "I came to get you."

His blood turned to ice.

Kagami stood before him, wearing a smug smile that she directed at his friends—at Marinette—as they all stood in stunned silence. Adrien felt his body go numb before fury ignited in his chest.

"Kagami?"

The moment her hands fell away, he stepped back. In that instant, he wanted to push her, to demand what madness had possessed her—but he hadn't been raised to put his hands on anyone, let alone a woman.

"Why are you here?" he demanded, his voice dangerously low. "And why did you kiss me? Have you lost your mind?"

Kagami's eyes widened. Adrien had never spoken to her this way. But she recovered quickly, arranging her features into an expression of innocent confusion. "What?" She tilted her head, playing the part of the bewildered friend. "I was so excited you were coming back that I asked Gabriel if I could come get you. There will be paparazzi at the airport, and it's wonderful publicity since we're modeling together—"

"Publicity?" Adrien's voice cracked like a whip. "What the hell does publicity have to do with you kissing me?"

Behind him, Marinette stood frozen. Tears already shimmered in her bluebell eyes, threatening to spill over.

Kagami's gaze flicked past him, landing on Marinette's broken expression. A flash of victory crossed her features before she masked it with contrition. "I'm sorry, Adrien," she said sweetly, stepping forward to wrap her arms around him. "I suppose I got carried away. It won't happen again."

Adrien tensed, his mind reeling, too overwhelmed to process anything beyond his own anger. He didn't see Marinette's tears. He didn't see her shake her head at Kim, silently begging him not to intervene.

But Kim saw. And so did everyone else.

"Adrien," Kim whispered urgently.

Marinette met his eyes one last time—glassy, pain-filled, devastated—then turned and ran.

Kagami's lips curved into a smirk against Adrien's shoulder. The first part of her plan had worked perfectly. Soon, very soon, Adrien would be hers.

Marinette didn't remember running. She didn't remember the cold air biting her lungs or the way her heart hammered against her ribs. She only knew she had to escape—had to get away before she shattered completely in front of everyone.

He lied. He lied to me.

The thought circled like a vulture. She hated him. Hated herself for falling. Hated believing his pretty words, his promises.