Chapter Text
“Ok, so, your event schedule is saved in the mobile app, the suits are ready and I asked your driver to pick them up and take you to your hotel room, it’ll be delivered to you on Monday afternoon.” Marinette said as she closed his suitcase.
“Right.”
“I need your confirmation for tomorrow's dinner at André’s, Chloé has already confirmed hers.”
“You can confirm it.” Adrien said as he put the watch on his wrist.
“I packed three more sweaters, because it’s going to be cold. Your vitamins are in the right front pocket, don’t forget to take them after your meals, all right?”
“Sure.” he smiled amused to see her pacing around his closet, checking something for the thousandth time.
“I don’t know if there’s anything else... I forgot my journal.” she nipped her thumb thoughtfully. Adrien sat on the closet couch, watching her. He loved seeing her like that, focused on her own hectic world. “No, I think that’s all. Your documents are in your handbag. The power bank is charged and I put your favorite headphones in your handbag because I know how much you hate the ones they supply on the plane.”
“Thank you so much, Marinette.”
“It’s a pleasure to help you, Mr. Agreste.”
He rolled his eyes, getting up. Hands in his pockets, he approached Marinette, smiling. He saw how tense she was when he stopped in front of her.
“Marinette, how many times do I have to say it to you? Mr. Agreste is my father. Just call me Adrien.”
“I know, Mis– Adrien. It’s just force of habit.”
“Well, I know you’re my secretary, but please, I ask you again not to call me Mr. Agreste. Just Adrien is enough. Deal?”
“Yes, Adrien.” she smiled.
He grinned back, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“I wish you could join me. You’d love to see the runway.”
She bit her lower lip and he took his hands off her shoulders and put them in his pocket to control the urge to wrap her waist, pull her close to him and kiss her until they both became dizzy. To nibble those lips of hers himself.
But he couldn’t. She was just his secretary and their relationship was strictly professional.
Unfortunately.
“I would love to go too. It is a unique opportunity. But unfortunately, my parents need my help at the bakery this weekend. And I have the dinner with Luka. It’s the only weekend he’s been able to come to Paris since the tour began.”
“Oh yes. I remembered how busy your weekend will be.” he said, sounding bitter. Marinette raised an eyebrow, confused, but he distracted her. “We’ll have other opportunities, won’t we?”
“Sure.” she gave a little smile. He loved to see her smile. Her smile was big and sweet, sincere.
Oh, and the eyes... he had never seen such a beautiful blue in his life.
Her cell phone rang, causing her to look away. She spoke quickly to the person on the phone and hung up.
“I have to go, I must finish some things in the office. Call me if you need anything. And please, don’t stay too long at the party tomorrow, your plane leaves early on Sunday.”
“You could escort me to the airport on Sunday.” he looked like a pity boy and received an eye roll back. “I might get lost.”
“I’m sure you are quite capable of finding your way to the plane, Adrien” she said, patting his shoulder in a friendly way.
“Let me then give you a lift to the company today. Please.”
“I’m not going to make you arrive late for the dinner with your dad, we both know how he is when it comes to punctuality. I need to go to the company to set some appointments and close your schedule next week and then I’ll go out with some friends. And don’t even come up with your wild ideas, you’ll be late if you leave me at the company.”
“Okay, okay. I am convinced. Just a little.” he smiled when he saw her roll her eyes again.
“Have a nice trip, Adrien.” she wished, putting her bag on her shoulder. “And call me if you need anything.”
“Marinette.” he called as she started to leave.
“Yes?”
Don’t go. Travel with me. Let’s run away. Drop everything and come with me, fuck the Agreste contract and the stupid rules of no employee relationship.
I drop everything to be with you if you give me a chance.
I’m in love with you.
Instead of saying all that, he just smiled.
“I’ll bring you a souvenir from New York.”
She gave a sweet smile, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I can’t wait for that. Have a great trip. Oh, and let me know when you get there, all right?”
“Absolutely. Have a nice weekend.”
“You too. And take a lot of pictures of the dresses for me.”
“Of course.”
“Bye, Adrien.”
“See you soon, Marinette.”
She gave another smile and left, closing the door. He swallowed, furious at his cowardice. Was it that hard to confess to her? Tell her how interesting she was, how delighted he was with her, how good she was to him?
How had his life changed since she had become his secretary? How have his office days become better, happier, full of life?
How had his entire life filled with happiness since she had entered it?
He sighed. It was easier to keep the words to himself. Because, as much as the way they were wasn’t what he wanted, it was better to have her in his life as a friend than never to have her.
After all, Marinette didn’t feel the same way about him. He wasn’t that lucky.
*
Alya avoided entering Marinette's room on Saturday because she knew there would be chaos of clothes, fabrics, accessories and all the other things that would make it seem like a typhoon had passed where they lived. In fact, a hurricane had passed in Marinette’s room.
Inside – which looked more like a fashion war zone – Marinette tried to choose a look to wear at night with Luka. They hadn’t seen each other for months, and although their relationship was over, she hoped she would have a good night with him because she missed him.
Luka was an amazing boy man and since she was a young teenager, Marinette always dreamed of becoming Mrs. Couffaine. When she turned eighteen and he called her out, she thought that dream would come true.
However, with all the travels around the world with his band – which became increasingly famous – the distance was becoming too difficult to endure. As much as they loved each other – and Marinette didn’t doubt their feelings for each other at all – maintaining a relationship in which she could only see her mate three times a year was complicated and was something she hadn’t imagined doing for many, many years. She even tried to live with him when she turned 21, but the constant travels made her miss home, her parents, her friends. And with the band traveling, it was almost impossible for her to become the fashion designer she had dreamed to be since she was a child.
Then two years later, as much as her heart hurt, she and Luka talked. She exposed her heart, her desires, her longing and her fears. She expressed how much she loved him and how much getting away from him would hurt her, but she couldn’t take that rhythm anymore.
She hugged him as he cried and asked her not to leave him, that he would drop the band and the music for her – which she didn’t allow. She kissed him when he said that he would always love her no matter where she was and that he would always support her in her decisions because he wanted her to be happy. She made love to him one last time when he said he would always be supporting her and that she would always be his favorite song.
The next day, he escorted her to the airport and kissed her once more, saying that if she needed him, he would be one call away. That he loved her and it would never stop.
That happened five years earlier. During this time, when Luka rarely came to Paris, they would always meet for dinner and talk. At first, the gossip magazines kept following them, hoping there would be some relapse or some story to write about their relationship.
But they never got anything, because Marinette and Luka knew how to be furtive. The times they let themselves weaken and relapsed, it was all done with caution so people wouldn’t find out, after all, their “thing” couldn’t bring bad publicity to Luka and his band, and neither to Marinette, who began her career as a designer in a small boutique in Paris.
It had been four months since Marinette had started working as Adrien Agreste’s secretary and since she’d had a night without worrying about schedule, appointments, meetings, or anything related to the Gabriel Agreste’s heir.
It had been over four months since she had sex – and tonight, she would change that, even if she had to jump over Luka and tear his clothes off with her teeth.
That’s why her look had to be perfect. She had to make Luka want to take her clothes off the moment he saw her. Tonight had to end with Marinette on his sheets or she wouldn’t know if she could take a few more stressful months working under the watchful eyes of Gabriel Agreste and his henchman Nathalie Sancoeur.
A messy room and a few hours of preparation later, Marinette finally looked at herself in the mirror, getting ready thirty minutes before her dinner with Luka. She checked herself in the mirror once more, looking at her look and makeup.
She had opted for a long skirt with a cropped of the same pattern in various shades of blue to match Luka’s hair. Her hair was loose, well brushed and soft, so he could run his fingers over them or hold them while he kissed her.
He knew Luka loved the tone of her eyes, so she did her makeup to draw attention to them. The lipstick was a wine color that he had said was his favorite so many years ago.
When she looked in the mirror, she saw a beautiful and powerful woman. If Luka weren’t jaw-dropping with her look that night, she would be pretty disappointed.
She picked up her bag, checking it. Cellphone charged, ok. Documents, ok. Credit card, ok. Makeup kit, ok. Condom, ok. Maybe that night wouldn’t end on Luka’s bed, but at least she was prepared if that happened.
As she left the room, she saw Alya and Nino nestled on the couch, watching something. Marinette closed her bedroom door, drawing their attention.
"Wow. May I know where you are going beautiful this way?”
Marinette laughed, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
“I’m going to dinner with Luka.”
“Lucky guy.” Nino joked, raising a handful of popcorn to his mouth.
“Yes. The poor guy won’t even know what hit him. He will only realize when he is in the hospital.”
“Okay, that’s enough. You’re embarrassing me.” Marinette laughed.
"Should I wait for you to come back tonight or can Nino sleep here?” Alya asked mischievously, putting her elbows on the couch’s arms and her face in her hands, blinking seductively.
“I’ll send you a message later to let you know, okay? It all depends on how Luka will react to my look.”
“Do you know who could judge it?” Nino commented eating more popcorn. “Adrien.”
Marinette felt her cheeks turn red.
“I can’t send a picture to my boss and ask if I’m sexy.”
Alya chuckled, lying on Nino’s lap, commenting on something so low that only her boyfriend heard. Nino laughed, agreeing.
“I hate you both. I’m going now, please behave!”
“You too! And enjoy your evening.” Alya kissed Marinette’s cheek. She said goodbye to Nino and left the apartment, excited for the night to come.
*
Well, the night didn’t go as expected.
When she reached the bar that she and Luka had arranged to meet, she must have noticed that something would go wrong with the commotion outside. A group of people – mostly young women wearing T-shirts bearing the logo and the name of Luka’s band – were trying to enter the reserved bar.
Security guards controlled the queue, letting few people in after checking a list. Marinette hesitated, but picked up the phone. With a quick search, she found that Luka’s band had booked the bar overnight for an exclusive signing session for some fans.
Why had Luka asked her to come to the bar? She thought it would be just the two of them at night, as before. And now? Would Luka answer her if she called him? Should she approach the security? Would her name be on the list?
Maybe he just wanted her to greet the band members. It had been a long time since Marinette had seen them casually, and she even missed her touring days and traveling with them.
Marinette called Luka, who despite the noise of music in the background of the bar, could hear the phone and answered it. He quickly left to find her outside. When she saw him, Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. Months had passed since the last time they had met in person, and even if she followed him on social media and they exchanged messages, he was still able to impact her.
Luka smiled, the smile full of affection and love and that only made the butterflies deep in Marinette’s stomach fly higher and make her nervous. She practically trembled, which she shouldn’t be doing, after all, it was only Luka.
Maybe that was it. Maybe it was the fact that it was Luka.
“Mari!” he said, approaching. Without even waiting for her response, he pulled her by the waist and gave her a big hug, as if trying to melt into her. Marinette returned the hug, digging her fingers into his hair and taking a deep breath, as she usually did when they were still dating.
Years had passed, but his hug was still a safe place for her.
“Hi” she said, accepting the kiss he gave her on the cheek. “I thought we were going to…”
“Dinner, I know,” he said, looking upset. He took her hands and kissed them both, staring at her all the time. “I’ll just be here for a while, sign some autographs quickly and in an hour we’ll have dinner,” he said, brushing her hair from her face. “I was signing a lot of things before you arrived so I could get ahead.”
“Won’t your fans get mad? After all, they are here to see you too.”
“Yes, but my manager should ask if we have plans before he decides to do events” he rolled his eyes. Marinette bit her lower lip and put her hand on his cheek, caressing his cheeks with her thumbs.
“You could have called me, we could reschedule…”
“And miss the opportunity to spend the night with you? Not really.” Luka put his arm around her shoulder and guided her into the bar.
“Are you sure I won’t disturb you?” she questioned as he led her to the liquor counter at the back of the bar.
“You won’t. I swear, it’s for just an hour. You can order whatever you want to drink and I’ll pay later.” he said. Marinette hesitated, but finally sat in the high chair. After all, what was just an hour? It would pass fast and soon she and Luka could be alone.
He put his hands on the sides of the chair and leaned towards Marinette to kiss her cheek, keeping his lips glued to her skin for a few seconds longer than usual.
“You look divine,” he murmured as he finally brushed his lips away from her cheek. “And I recognize that smell.”
“It’s your favorite perfume.” she murmured a little dizzily at his nearness.
“And I'm glad I chose it. Were you thinking of me when you decided to use it?”
“Maybe.” she laughed, teasing him.
“I’m glad. Well, let me go before they come looking for me. Feel free to ask anything, okay? I’ll be right back.” Luka kissed the corner of her mouth and left.
Marinette sighed, taking out her cell phone. She ordered a drink while texted Alya and let her know that she was safe. She texted her parents, saying that she was going to help them with the afternoon shift at the bakery.
The drink was handed over and Marinette slowly drank it, watching the long queue of fans coming into the bar to greet the band and ask for autographs. Many women threw themselves into the arms of the members, especially Luka, hugging him and crying with emotion.
At first Marinette was jealous. When they went on tour, she always avoided when the band meets with fans, because it bothered her to see Luka’s fans throwing themselves at him. Some did admire his work and were only there as fans. But, unfortunately, others thought this was the perfect time to get his attention.
But over time, Marinette matured and realized that no matter how hard they tried, Luka wouldn’t return anything. He loved Marinette so much and she trusted him. That was what mattered. Luka paid attention to her fans, both men and women, because they were important to Luka.
So she went back to drinking her drink and surfing Instagram while Luka talked with his fans. He had asked for an hour and soon after he would be hers alone.
She could hardly wait.
*
Two hours later, Marinette denied another offer to pay her drink.
She must be happy, because if so many men were approaching her to offer her a drink, it meant she was beautiful and attractive, that the hours she spent choosing a perfect outfit and dressing up were worth it.
But she had chosen that look for Luka, only him. She didn’t expect, however, that the hour he asked turned in two, because more fans came and went and the bar was full of them.
When it was an hour and ten minutes in the morning, Marinette considered sending him a message, asking if they should leave dinner for another day, but she decided to give Luka another twenty minutes. However, apparently two hours wasn’t enough for his fans, as Luka was still stuck with them.
The bartender came to ask if she wanted to drink anything else. She denied because she didn't want to get drunk and was starting to feel the effects of alcohol. She wanted to sober up for the rest of the night.
But by the look of it, she would spend the night at the bar alone. She needed to make a decision and soon. Then she got up from the bar and went to the corner where the meeting with Luka’s band was taking place.
It was hard to get close, as the fans crowded trying to get in touch with the band members. She tiptoed to her feet, staring straight ahead. She could see Luka, who soon noticed her in the crowd. He said something to the fan who was he was talking to and then approached a bodyguard, pointing to where Marinette was.
The bodyguard nodded and started walking through the crowd until he reached Marinette.
“Come with me, miss,” he said, indicating that Marinette should walk in front of him. The surrounding fans started complaining about the injustice, but the security guard ignored them and just kept helping Marinette through the crowd until she got to the front of the queue.
Was she being selfish?
When she got to the front, Luka reached for her. Marinette smiled hesitantly, but accepted his help to get on stage. People in queue started booing, but he ignored it, pulling Marinette to the side of the stage, leaving his fans behind.
“Is everything okay?” he asked when she didn’t look him in the eye. “Mari?”
“I’ve been waiting at the bar for two hours.” She finally lifted her face to look at him. “And it looks like the event will take a little longer.”
“It’s not that long, is it?” he said, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket. “Oh shit, Mari. You should’ve warned me earlier.”
“With your fans around you? I would die before I got any close.” she scratched her arm, feeling awkward for some reason, especially with the guilty expression on Luka’s face.
“Sorry, I didn’t notice it was so late.”
“That’s all right. Look, Luka, I think it’s better if I leave. We can have dinner another day.” she said, feeling her throat dry. She didn’t want to leave! It wasn’t fair, they had scheduled that dinner so many weeks ago! And she didn’t know when they would have a chance to meet again due to Luka’s busy schedule.
“Mari, no.” he took her hands. “I want to spend the night with you…”
“But your fans…”
“They can see me all the time. But you don’t.” he caressed her face. “I miss you and I want to be with you all the time. I want to spend the night with you, Mari. If you want it too, of course.” he said with that expression that made Mari say yes. That had made her leave Paris behind and accompany him in this road life.
“Of course I want to spend the night with you, Luka, but...”
“So it’s done. Wait for me here. I’ll just let the guys know I’m leaving.” he kissed her cheek and returned to the stage. The audience responded with clapping, which soon became a collective lap of screams of “stay” and complaints.
“Shall we?” he asked, taking his car key out of his pocket and approaching her.
“Are you sure everything is fine with your bandmates? With your agent? I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”
“It won’t cause any trouble, love. Come on, let's go.” he took her hand. “I think if we hurry, we can get the restaurant open yet. I know our reservation is over, but if it there’s a table available, I think we can have dinner.”
He looked at her, smiling hopefully. Marinette still felt bad for all the fans who had come here to see him, but bit her bottom lip. It was Luka’s choice and he had chosen to end the night with her. She should smile and enjoy it.
The ride to the restaurant was filled with conversation and laughter, sweet music playing in the background. Marinette recounted all the exciting things that had been going on in her life since joining Agreste – even though she was a secretary, being so close to designers and fabrics had done her inspiration wonders. Luka told her about the countries he had visited, the plans for the new CD, the songs he had written and the shows they were doing.
“I’m glad to be with you tonight.” he took one hand off the wheel so he could take hers for a kiss.
“I’m happy to be here with you too.”
When they arrived at the restaurant, however, the joy was over, because the place was closed.
“Well, damn it.” Marinette sighed, leaning against the car. “Maybe we could go look for André?”
“Or...” he said, approaching her with a large smile. “We could go to the hotel I’m staying in and order room service.”
“Oh?” she said, folding her arms and pretending to be offended. “You didn’t even pay me dinner and you want to take me to your room?”
“I’m offering you dinner in the bedroom!” he laughed, bending to give Marinette a slow kiss, which she returned. “Just think about the advantages.”
“I’m listening.”
“Hot, freshly cooked food...” he said, kissing her neck lightly.
“Interesting...”
“Me putting it in your mouth while I compliment you.”
“Ah, I love the sound of that.”
“And no clothes,” he murmured against her lips.
“Okay.” she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. “I’m convinced. Take me to your hotel room.”
Luka smirked, giving her one more kiss and stepping back to open the car door for Marinette to get in when they heard his name. He hesitated, looking at who it was, and Marinette noticed how tense he turned when he saw the group of girls wearing his band’s T-shirt.
She held back the urge to grunt or show how angry she was about her bad luck, knowing that it would only upset Luka more because he was torn. Like Marinette, he wanted to enjoy time with her, but he always, always, found a time for his fans.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” he promised, leaning in to give her a quick kiss.
“I’ll wait in the car," she said. He nodded and turned around, smiling at the fans as he approached. Marinette got into the car, knowing it would take a long time, especially as the girls screamed at the top of their lungs and took turns hugging Luka and taking selfies.
She picked up her cell phone, checking the time. More than three hours since she had arrived at the bar. She should have been naked with Luka in bed, according to her plans as she got ready, but apparently, like everything she planned in her life, her plans for that night failed.
She saw the message notifications on her phone, but ignored them. She didn’t want to open because she was afraid that one of the messages are from Adrien asking for something – and she would have to abandon everything so she could go help him as she had done a few times before.
But when she looked up and saw Luka talking to her fans, the urge to open the messages and see if Adrien had sent her anything was tempting. She put the phone in her purse, deciding to ignore it and wait.
She opened the glove compartment of the car which Luka had rented and began rummaging to see if she could find anything interesting to do while he was with his fans. She turned on the radio, letting the sound fill the place as she read the car manual – the only thing she’d found there.
Marinette didn’t know how long it took, but it was a long time, because when Luka got in the car, she noticed that she had been sleeping a little bit. Luka stroked her cheek, smiling guiltily.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” she smiled as he started the car. “You’re influential in their lives right now, you’re part of their routine somehow.” she shrugged, trying to contain her jealousy and envy. Years ago, Luka was hers alone. When she wanted to see him, it was easy and she didn’t have to compete with a lot of people.
But things had changed. Luka was famous internationally, especially in Paris, where it all began. She was very, very happy that he had achieved his dreams – after all, one of them had to get it at least.
If she couldn’t be the fashion designer she had been dreaming about since she was a child, she was glad Luka had managed to be the musician he wanted – and deserved to be.
Maybe she was frustrated as the night was going? Yes, she was. She really wanted for just that night that Luka was hers alone. She wanted to be selfish after the months she stopped thinking about herself because of work, but things don’t always go as expected.
“We’re going to the hotel now and nothing will disturb us. It’s going be just you and me all night and we’ll talk, have dinner, I’ll play for you and we’ll kiss and make love. Not necessarily in that order.”
“I love your idea.” she smiled, but she was no longer as excited as she was in the early evening. A small part of her was very sorry for not accepting the invitation and going with Adrien at Audrey’s dinner. If she had known her night would be like this, that Luka would be so busy, she would have rescheduled with them.
They could have had breakfast or even spent the afternoon together.
Marinette rubbed her temples, trying to put guilt and regret aside. Yes, the night wasn’t going the way she wanted, but things would work out now. Luka was right – they were going to the hotel. No one was going into his room, it would be just the two of them for the rest of the night.
And she knew he would make her wait worth it.
*
The wait wasn’t worth it, because well, Marinette didn’t even get into the hotel room with Luka that night.
When they arrived at the hotel, a horde of fans waited for the band to return from the bar. Luka was thinking of an escape route, but Marinete bit her lower lip.
“We can park further and I can call the hotel reception. Asking for escorts and to warn the fans that I’m not feeling very well to meet them, I've done a lot of selfies today and...”
“Luka.” she cut him off, loosening her belt. “I think I better go.”
“What? No, Mari, wait...”
“Look, I’m sure you’ll think of an idea for us to get into the hotel without being seen, but… I can’t. I don’t want that.” she looked at the crowd of waiting fans. “It would be selfish of me to ask you to choose me instead.” she pointed to the fans.
“I’ll always choose you,” he said, looking confused.
“I know.” she smiled sweetly, placing her hand on his cheek. “Your passion is music and you want people to listen to it. Feel what you feel when you play it. You want the music making people to fell it, to smile or to cry, to love. And it’s beautiful what you do, Luka. I’m so, so proud of you. Of your music.”
She sighed.
“But they are part of the package. They are part of your music. And I could never ask you to choose me over your music. Because we both know what choice you’re going to make.” Marinette lowered her head hoping he wouldn’t see her tears. “We’ve been in this position before and you chose me, but I know how much you would sacrifice your happiness for me.” and then she faced him. “And I could never ask you to sacrifice your passion for me.”
“Marinette...” he tried to reach her, but Marinette backed away as far as the car space allowed.
“And it would be very selfish of me if I deprived the world of listening to your music. You make a lot of people’s day a lot better with your melodies and I couldn’t live with the guilt of depriving people of it.”
“Please.”
“Besides, Luka, let’s be honest. We would never be able to maintain this relationship of ours, if I may call it a relationship, for long. We tried once, with me by your side, and we failed miserably. Imagine now that the distance hurts us so much.”
“Don’t leave me. You are my song, Marinette.”
She felt her throat arching with the words she wanted to say but didn’t have the heart. She needed to be strong there, because Luka wouldn’t give up on her – he’d never given up. She was the one who had made the decision to finish it all and return to Paris.
And now she would have to do the same.
Holding his face in both hands, she pressed her forehead against his and looked into the clear eyes she loved so much.
“I love you, Luka Couffaine. And I will always love you. You will always be my inspiration, the person who makes me want to be better for the world. You are my kindness and the owner of my heart. My eternal what-if. Don’t forget that, all right? And please, please... keep being that amazing person that you are. Make me proud, okay?”
“Don’t leave me. Stay by my side.” he begged against her mouth.
“Ah, Luka... I’ve never really been by your side, right?” she smiled, a bittersweet smile, full of memories and pain. “I need to go.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.” she looked into his eyes once more, her vision blurry from the tears streaming down her cheeks and kissed him one last time. For the last time.
Luka wrapped her in his arms, hugging her tightly, wanting to merge with her. He kissed her eagerly, trying to convince her not to leave him. Trying to convince her not to leave his life, to stay, to fight for them, even though it was a futile fight.
She broke the kiss, knowing that if she stayed there he would convince her. Convincing her that they would make their relationship work out, something that didn’t worked out. So she wiped the tears from her eyes and leaved his hug.
“If you give up the music, Couffaine, I’ll kill you.” she gave a half smile, which with a little cost, he reciprocated.
“Never, Dupain-Cheng. After everything I’ve sacrificed for the music…” he looked at her so intensely that it made her shiver. “I will never give up on the music.”
“Great. Wipe away your tears, put on a smile and go meet your fans. They are waiting for you.”
With that, Marinette got out of Luka’s car, closing the door behind her and walking away from the hotel. She could hear the murmur of fans as she took long steps away, tears falling on the asphalt as she didn’t bother to dry them, after all, for what? Soon others would come.
When she was a little farther away, she could hear shouts of euphoria and the pain in her chest only intensified. Abandoning the love of her life because she couldn’t keep pace with his new life and didn’t have the courage to ask him to drop everything for her... had been the most generous act of her life.
And it had costed her heart.