Marinette had been just waiting for the moment when Lila struck again. But she didn't expect to lose so much at once when she is accused first of cheating on an exam, pushing Lila down the stairs, and stealing from Lila as well. Expelled from the school and haven nearly escaped becoming akumatized, Marinette starts to lose hope in ever getting back the life that was once hers. Every one of her friends have fallen into Lila's net of lies, all except for Adrien, who can't do much to help her. Her parents don't believe her, and can't even see her without radiating disappointment and disapproval. The life she worked so hard for is gone, and her parents plan to send her to a boarding school away from Paris in a week, which would mean giving up her Miraculous. Desperate to find a way to prove her innocence, Marinette turns to the one person who still trusts her for help: Her superhero partner, Cat Noir. After she confesses what happened, he starts to realize just who she is behind the mask. In this turn of events from the Ladybug episode, things will grow completely different between the two heroes of Paris as they work together to uncover the truth. _____________________________________________________________________ Partially taken out from Miraculous episode Ladybug, the first part of the fanfic is almost entirely the same or similar to the episode's actions and dialogue. I do not own the show or characters. Plot is majorly all my own. Ranked #4 in adrienette - 23 August 2024

"Keefe. Even if I hadn't been unmatchable, even if Fitz and I had been on each other's match lists, I need you to know that eventually, it still would have been you." -Excerpt from "Triumphant" All she knew was that this time, she and Keefe were scared and broken together. This time, it wasn't just one comforting the other. This time, they had to draw strength from each other and simply be glad they weren't going through it alone. -Excerpt from "Ro(part 2)" And then, he was kissing her. And everything that had happened between them, all of the near misses, all of the heartache, every memory they shared--the good and the bad--was replaying in both of their minds as they shared this one perfect kiss. -Excerpt from "Ro(part 5)" "I learned that day that Fitz may have filled your head, but I was in your heart... I didn't know if you'd ever make the connection, but knowing I was in your heart kept me going. Because Sophie, for me-even back then-it was all you. You filled my head and my heart. You still do. And you always will." -Excerpt from "Head vs Heart" All headcanon. All characters and settings belong to Shannon Messenger.