Disclaimer: never did and never will own it. Thomas Astruc does.
Spoilers: canon until Season 2, Episode 10 (Sapotis)

Gabriel Agreste was doing a fair imitation of a fish when reading said magazine as he was drinking his morning coffee. He almost sputtered at the headline: Famous model dumps girlfriend he had kept hidden until now!

"Nathalie!" he called. As his assistant entered the room, he read aloud the headline, then the summary just under: After his girlfriend was hit by classmates, model Adrien Agreste decided she wasn't worth the trouble and broke up with her, right on the stairs of their school! The article then continued on what had happened and how Adrien had been embarrassed to let her down gently. The journalist, emphasising the fact he had done it 'just' after classmates had mobbed her, made him look like callous and cowardly. The last paragraph was dedicated on describing Marinette – obviously, Lila had been interviewed on the subject, for Marinette was apparently the least popular girl in school, with no talent whatsoever and nothing to attract someone special like Adrien, so she must have known something to blackmail him with – and concluded with the affirmation that Marinette was far from broken-hearted, since she had been seen leaving school arm in arm with Adrien's best friend.

"What does it mean?" Gabriel Agreste thundered.

"Probably that Adrien took to heart your opinion like what Miss Dupain-Cheng was daughter-in-law material," Nathalie replied, unruffled.

He glared at her. He would have sworn she was mocking him, but she was utterly serious, as usual. He waved the explanation away.

"I don't mean that. That's maybe the only good thing of the whole story. First, he should not be displaying his affections in public, especially not at school!" His forefinger tapped the tiny picture showing Marinette and Adrien sharing a kiss in front of the door, Alya and Nino in the back. The picture was blurry, but it was enough to recognise them.

"The thrill of first love." Nathalie shrugged slightly.

"It is intolerable that the face of Gabriel is pictured as uncouth. Corner Adrien this afternoon and get the full story from him. Then give me a summary and deny categorically the rumour in the most official manner. Even if it's true, but I doubt it, that Adrien indeed broke up with Miss Dupain-Cheng, he will make believe they are still together until I say so."

"Very well, sir."

"Have Marc drive her back to her parents' at the end of school."

Nathalie nodded and left. Gabriel sat again and finished his cup of coffee. Despite the negative publicity, maybe this fiasco would bring something useful to him. No doubt Adrien would be devastated by what was happening to his girlfriend. Already, during the last akumas' attacks, he had noticed that Cat Noir was more reckless than usual. It was getting more and more difficult to keep him unhurt. He ground his teeth. Worrywart had not been a danger, but the previous one... He hoped Adrien would not hold it against him. Despite Emilie's reassurances that everything would end well, he didn't like putting his son in danger. Making him alone and quite broken should be enough to sway him to his side at the right time, despite his righteous beliefs. He sighed. He hoped the girl would escape unscathed of this whole thing. He had resolved to kill her – he was still wondering how he had been able to think such thing. He was not a killer! – but he had qualms about it. She was nothing but nice and her parents had treated his son like their own. He had felt guilty when akumatising them, but he was so close to his goal now! Cat Noir was beyond caring now, rushing first, and Ladybug was paying the toll of the latest akumas; she would break soon. He was a bit worried about Queen Bee, though he knew who she was and how to manipulate her. Rena Rouge was not a threat in his opinion – besides, that girl had not shown up once since her first appearance! No, the big question was that Carapace hero. He had not used his power yet, so Gabriel knew not what to expect.

He stood up, made his way to his office and sighed again before staring longingly at his wife's portrait. She visited him every night in dreams now, which led him to believe that they would soon be reunited. But something was disturbing him. Unless he had idealised her since her disappearance, she was not behaving like his Emilie did. She was far more ruthless and did not seem to care that much for Adrien's welfare. Even Nathalie's protests on his behalf sounded more motherly than Emilie's apologies about putting him in danger. Would he recover his wife only to have her entirely estranged – and lose his son at the same time? He half-heartedly wished he could stop it all now, but he knew he couldn't. He had done too much, gone too far. There was no more return point. He wondered if villains had regrets about their actions. He certainly did.