A/N: The original story idea belongs to TheBlackChat993 on Fanfiction dot Net. I loved the concept, though not everything that was done in the story. I reached out to the author and received permission to rewrite it.

Reminder - neither of us owns anything to do with Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. We just play around in the universe created by wonderful people like Thomas Astruc.

One note - in canon, the actress is listed as Emilie Agreste. For this fic, the name was changed to Emilie Graham de Vanily … or the story wouldn't have worked as well.

Trigger warning: mentions of prostitution/sex trade.

The Wrong Lie (rewrite)

Marinette once again sprinted into the classroom just before the bell rang. Unusually, Mme. Bustier wasn't up at the whiteboard like she usually was. Instead, M. Damocles was setting up a video screen.

"Class," M. Damocles began, "Mme. Bustier is not here today. Since no substitute was available, we are going to do something a little different. We have a rare film for you to watch. While you watch it, think about the film. You will be writing a one-page paper about how the film made you feel. You can discuss anything - plot points, tropes, character archetypes, whatever. Don't worry about trying to write about it all - just what impacts you the most, Be prepared to discuss it when Mme. Bustier returns." M. Damocles waited long enough for the students to get their notes ready, then started the film.

Adrien's heart started beating a little faster as soon as the movie started - a black and white film called Solitude.

Marinette reached forward and whispered to Adrien. "Isn't that the movie we saw when trying to avoid your fans?"

"Uh huh" was the most he could respond. This would be his second time watching the film from beginning to end. This would be a very different experience for Adrien than it would be for the rest of the class, although only Marinette would understand why. And Chloe.

The class was mostly silent as they watched the film, taking their notes. At least until the end.

"I know that actress," boasted one Lila Rossi. The whole class stared at her, two more intensely than others. "She seemed very nice when I met her, but then I learned that she sold her daughter off as a prostitute because she was broke."

Most of the class gasped, but Adrien had a different reaction. With tears in his eyes he stood up, ready to say something - but someone else beat him to it.

"How dare you say that!" Marinette yelled at the Italian liar.

"Whoah, Mari, calm down," Alya said. "Why are you yelling at her?"

"Because she doesn't know what she's talking about." Marinette turned back to Lila. "Take it back!"

"I don't know why you're yelling at me, Marinette. I didn't do anything. I've only tried being your friend." The crocodile tears were strong.

"Listen to me carefully, Lila. I don't care what you do to me. You can threaten me, hurt me, lie about me to your heart's content. But don't you ever say anything about Adrien's mother again!"

"Wh-wh-what?" the Italian stuttered while Chloe, who suddenly pieced it all together, started laughing her butt off. She pulled out her phone and subtly started texting. "Sabrina, start recording this," she whispered.

Sabrina pulled out her phone to do as she was commanded, though she was very confused as to why. Then again, Chloe liked drama.

"I didn't say anything about Adrien's mother!" Lila protested. "I just mentioned the lead actress of the fim. Emily Graham de Vanily. Why do you have to be so mean, Marinette?"

"I'm just standing for the truth, Lila!"

Suddenly, Adrien's phone rang. When he saw the caller, his face paled. He quickly answered the phone."

"Hello, Father," he answered. Adrien's classmates could only hear his side of the conversation. "Yes… Yes, she is…"

With a confused look on his face, Adrien handed his phone to Lila. "He wants to speak with you."

Lila took Adrien's phone. "Hello?... Uh, yes sir." While the class couldn't hear M. Agreste's end of the conversation, they watched as Lila's face became more and more pale. She shakily handed the phone back to Adrien.

"Yes, Father," he said. Then he put the phone on speaker.

"First I must ask, is anybody recording this right now?"

"Several."

"I will require copies of those recordings once we are finished. Adrien can get you the proper contact information. It seems I need to correct some misconceptions."

The class was utterly silent. Misconceptions?

"Firstly, Mlle. Rossi has confirmed that she said she knew Emilie Graham de Vanily, and heard she had sold her only daughter into the sex trade due to financial problems. Correct?"

"That's correct, M. Agreste," Marinette said, trying to stay calm.

"I see. That brings me to my second point. The Graham de Vanily family are aristocrats from England, and this is Emilie's family name. Emilie would have no need to do something as … crass as selling a child. Research it. Thirdly, Emilie married and had just one child - a boy, not a girl… my son, Adrien."

Most of the class, other than Lila, looked at Adrien for a moment, then looked at Lila's pale face. Chloe slowly went to Adrien's side to offer him a hug, while Marinette had placed herself in a fighting stance, as if protecting Adrien from the Italian liar.

"I-I-I di-didn't know she w-w-was your wife, s-s-sir," the terrified Italian replied.

"It doesn't matter that you didn't know she was Adrien's mother! Just because you want to be popular, that doesn't mean you can go ruining someone else's reputation!" Marinette was so angry she nearly hit the girl. Gabriel was almost sorry he wasn't able to send out an akuma while on the phone.

Marinette continued. "Just because I called you out on your lies that doesn't mean you can threaten me! Just because you want to be rich and famous doesn't mean you can use Adrien to do it! It doesn't mean you get to be a gold digger, or blackmail me into staying away from him. It doesn't mean you get to have me expelled just because I'm in love with him!"

It took about two seconds for Marinette's face to turn beet red. "Oh shit, I said that out loud, didn't I." Alya nodded while Adrien was stunned for a moment at the unintended confession.

"Wait a minute, Marinette. Did you say she threatened you?"

"Yes, the same day she 'came back from her trip'." Marinette said using air quotes.

Adrien was livid. "I gave you a chance, Lila. You hung onto me like a leech during photo shoots, ignoring both the photographer's instructions and my wishes, you insulted my mother and claimed to have met her after she had disappeared. And you threatened my Princess?"

"Adrien," Gabriel's voice was low, "did you say that Mlle. Rossi hung on you without consent?"

"Yes, Father." Adrien could visualize his father pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Mlle. Rossi, if you were so dense as to have the unmitigated gall to state a fabrication so obviously false one has to wonder… what other prominent persons have you lied about? This is slander. Additionally, touching my son without consent is sexual harassment. Both acts open you to the possibility of litigation. I have yet to decide if I will pursue such a course.

"As for your classmates, I hope they have learned not to take things that seem too good to be true at face value.

"Adrien, I have one other thing to say to you privately." With that, Adrien took the phone back off of speaker mode. He actually seemed a little less tense.

"Yes, Father… Marinette… Yes, Father… Um, I'll extend the invitations." And with that he hung up his phone.

"Wait a second, wait a second," Alya said, trying to catch up to the conversation. "Princess?"

Marinette stared at Adrien a moment as she put the pieces together. "No way," she said just before fainting - it had been an emotional few minutes. Fortunately, Adrien was there to catch her. He tenderly placed Marinette in the nearest chair, then turned once again to Lila.

"Touch Marinette again, and I promise you'll live to regret it," he said softly, but no less deadly than his father. He smirked a little. "Now perhaps you'll learn that lying has consequences." A petrified Lila nodded her head.

"Well, now that the liar is dealt with will someone help me wake up Marinette?" Chloe was the only one who seemed able to move. She grabbed a water bottle and shook a few drops onto Marinette's face, and when that didn't work she ended up dumping the whole bottle on her.

"What the hell was that for," Marinette spluttered as she sat up.

"You didn't wake up," Chloe said calmly.

"Princess! I'm glad you're awake," Adrien smiled at her.

"So it wasn't a dream," she muttered.

"Well, now that you're awake, I have a question for you."

"Do you mind if we talk in private first?"

"No problem, Princess."

"Before you disappear, I have a question," the Ladyblogger said. The two secret superheroes glanced her direction. "Since when did you start calling Mari 'Princess', Agreste?"

Adrien just smiled his megawatt smile. "When it felt right."

"Mari," Alya said with an expression that clearly gave a 'we're not done with this' vibe.

"Chill, Alya. I'll fill you in later. Right now, it's time to find somewhere private to have a conversation. Come on, Kitty."

Adrien smirked, following Marinette out of the classroom to a secluded corner, where they had a long heart to heart… and each figured out their partner's alter ego in the process.

As soon as they left, Alya started researching some of Lila's claims. Then all hell broke loose.

BONUS SCENES

Here are the conversations Gabriel Agreste had with Lila Rossi and with Adrien while the phone was not on speaker.

Lila

Lila took Adrien's phone. "Hello?"

"Mlle. Rossi? I understand that you said that the lead actress of Solitude sold her only daughter into the sex trade. Is this correct?"

Lila figured that she wasn't going to be able to wiggle out of this one and for once told the truth. Uh, yes sir."

"Mlle. Rossi, I know for a fact that this is a blatant falsehood. Now lies and manipulation are not uncommon in the fashion industry, but this is so egregious it goes beyond a simple Human Resources matter. You have personally insulted my family." Lila's face went more and more pale as the conversation went on.

"Consider all agreements with me or with Gabriel Fashions null and void as of this moment. You will receive the official notification soon. You are also to stay at least 10 meters away from my son at all times. Now, hand the phone back to my son."

She shakily handed the phone back to Adrien.

Adrien

"Yes, Father," Adrien sighed, feeling a little more relaxed for the first time since this debacle started.

"For your information, I have fired Mlle. Rossi as a model and advised her to keep at least 10 meters away from you at all times. Her harassment of you is unacceptable. Now, Mlle. Bourgeois called Nathalie who informed me what was going on. Is there anyone else there who stood up for you before I called?"

"Marinette."

"Mlle. Dupain-Cheng, correct? The one who won the bowler hat competition?"

"Yes, Father."

"I want you to bring Mlle. Dupain-Cheng and Mlle. Bourgeois home after school."

"Um, I'll extend the invitations."

"See that you do. Remember to get those recordings." And with that, Gabriel Agreste, fashion mogul and Paris supervillain disconnected the phone.