"You say that Chloe took that check two days ago?" Adrien asked surprised.
"No I don't think it was her this check is written to a Brad Smith." The banker replied.
"Where?" Adrien asked curiously.
"In Miami." The banker replied.
"We all dream when we sleep right, and a nightmare can happen to anyone." Mari simply said.
"I know you hide it like a secret, but I want to be your friend Mari really, I want you to tell me..." Isabella said softly.
"Than it won't be a secret." Mari replied picking Teddy up.
"Of course just know that I do want to help you." Isabella replied.
"The only one that wants to help me is Mrs. Sabine. Please leave and leave me alone. What do you think I am? Dumb? I know that you don't like me so don't come and say you want to be my friend because I don't believe you." Mari said with a soft smirk.
Isabella gets up and goes towards the door before looking at Mari again. "You have a bad impression about me Mari, and maybe it's my fault but I know that in time, you'll change because I do want to be your friend." With that she leaves.
Mari sighs holding Teddy. "She says that she knows, but I doubt she knows anything Teddy, she just wants me to let it out. She says that she knows the situation happened with a man, and she wants to help me, to be my friend. She might know but who could have told her?"
"Look the only thing that I can think of is that...my wife died in an accident and her body nor her stuff were found and her stuff could have been found but not even that the accident was in the ocean her stuff would be ruined." Adrien said not exactly sure what he is saying.
"I'll report this to the department of investigation until then I'll cancel the account." The banker replied.
"Alright thank you." Adrien hangs up and starts to think of the accident, and wonders could Chloe survived the accident? No it can't be if she did she would've come to her family by now.
Ruby came into the room and asked Adrien if everything is alright. Adrien sighs and tells her what the bank in the United States told him. Ruby sat in a chair. "So that's what the bank of the United States said? So it was Chloe, who called. I'm sure it was her. Adrien there's something I haven't told you when you were on the trip she called again this time Natalie answered her."
Adrien sighs. "Ruby Chloe is dead."
"Than how do explain the check?" Ruby asked curiously.
"I don't know Ruby someone probably found her belongings. Who knows how. The case was that they were badly used. Luckily, they will cancel the account that I didn't even know existed. Imagine that today I found out that Chloe had secrets for me." Adrien sighs leaning on his chair.
"Adrien what if Chloe was alive? Her body was never found. Just like her belongings were found maybe she also is saved." Ruby suggested.
Adrien shook his head. "No Ruby there has to be another explanation. Chloe is dead she would've come back to her family if she was alive."
"Did you get the truth out from the street rat?" Lila asked Isabella. They were in her room, she was sitting on her bed while Isabella was laying on it.
Isabella shook her head. "No she isn't dumb but a man does exist in her pass, she basically confirmed that."
"Well we have to get the truth out of her somehow." Lila stated.
Isabella nodded. "She will have the nightmare again, and we'll pay attention in what she says to get conclusions. We should also keep an eye on Sabine with what happened, she got closer to the dirty street rat. I imagine she wants to be her protector and fulfill her wishes."
"Well there's a wish Sabine won't be able to fulfill for her. To attend my party, I don't want to see her there." Lila said harshly.
There was a knock on the door. "Are you there Lila?" Sabine asked from the other side of the door.
"Yes mom!" Lila called out forcing a smile.
Sabine walked inside the room. "The invitations for your party just arrived. We need to send them now so they arrive to the guest in time."
"Did you already see Mari?" Edward asked Adrien. They were currently having coffee in a cafe.
Adrien nodded. "Yea last night."
Edward laughed. "In a hurry. Could you control yourself?"
Adrien smiled softly. "What I feared happened Edward. I got to Paris, and I desired to see her. Judge Dupain called me last night to invite me for coffee, and I hurried to his house without thinking twice."
"And how did she receive you?" Edward asked curiously.
Adrien smiled. "Very enthusiastic and I hugged her in front of everyone like an idiot. What could I do Edward Mari hugged me, and I couldn't reject her. I felt my heartbeat run fast and when I saw her eyes, I got lost in them. She asked me if I saw a star in the sky." Edward looked at him confused. "The day we left Mari told me that if I saw a star in the plane to remember her."
Edward chuckles. "If she only knew that she was in your mind during the whole trip."
Adrien sighs. "The only solution is that I get involved with another woman and following your suggestion, I think the proper woman would be Lila."
"I will invite Adrien's mother in law his sister a friend of Adrien's the girlfriend, and that's it." Lila said softly with a smile.
"And the friends from where you used to live at?" Sabine asked curiously.
Lila shook her head. "No I don't know how they would feel seeing me so different with my actual parents since we haven't told anyone about it."
Sabine nodded. "Alright you are the one to decide."
"Hay mom I assume that Mari won't go to my party right?" Lila asked curiously.
Sabine looks up. "I haven't thought about Mari."
"I was thinking that it wouldn't be prudent for her to attend my party. With how she is how she behaves." Lila said settle.
"Lila has a point Sabine." Isabella said softly.
"We can buy her a proper dress and tell her to behave the way of our manners." Sabine suggested.
"Do you think she will be able to? Mari could cause a scene think it's the party of your daughter." Isabella replied. "Poor Lila and Mari I also think she shouldn't go to the party."
"Mom I would be happy if she went, but...I don't know you decide I know you will do the right thing." Lila said faking a gentle smile.
"Plagg aren't you part of the 'trio'. How did you not know they would do this?" Tikki asked her boyfriend with arm crossed.
"They probably planned this last night and went through the plan this morning. If I knew this would happen, I would have investigate first. I'm just glad their plan failed." Plagg replied.
Tikki nodded. "Yes, me too it wouldn't be the same without Mari here."
The next day Lila was in the garden when her phone rang, and she answered. "Hello?"
"Lila it's Audrey Adrien's mother in law." The voice on the other side of the line said.
"Ah Mrs. Audrey a pleasure I soppose you got the invitation for my party this Saturday." Lila said sweetly.
"10 minutes ago and that's why I'm calling you to forgive me; I can't go you know I'm in mourning for the death of my only daughter logically I don't find it prudent nor do I have the mood for parties." Audrey said softly.
"Of course, I understand." Lila replied.
"But Adrien does plan to go and don't think I'm against it the contrary, I'm glad that he will be with you during an important day for you and not with another woman." Audrey said a bit harshly. "Well dear have a wonderful party bye."
"This was brought for you Miss." Natalie hands Ruby an envelope.
"Thank you." Ruby took it and started opening it as Natalie walked away. It was an invitation for Lila's party.
"I'm off." Adrien said walking down the stairs and heads to the door, but he turns around and walks over to her seeing what she was holding. "Hay is that the invitation for Lila Dupain-Cheng party?"
"Yes I assume that you got yours too right?" Ruby asked curiously.
Adrien nodded. "Yes Natalie told me that one was sent to Audrey as well."
"Audrey?" Ruby smiled. "Are you going?"
"Yes of course...I already promised Lila to be her companion that night." Adrien replied with a bit of no emotions.
Ruby frowns. "Adri my invitation is for two."
Adrien smiled. "Find yourself a companion. Now I have to go to work bye." He walks away.
"Who should I invite?" She gets an idea and takes her cellphone out and dials a number.
"Hello?" The voice on the other side of the line asked.
"Hi Mathew it's me Ruby." Ruby replied.
"Did you find out?" Mathew asked curiously.
"Of what? Most problems?" Ruby asked concern.
"No the contrary I don't know if Mari already knows, but Roland was pretending to be blind the guy, who is her boyfriend discovered it." Mathew replied.
"Really? Thank goodness." Ruby sighs in relief. "I haven't talked with Mari, she might not know anything yet, but I'll talk with her after. The best part is that my brother Adrien doesn't know anything about this, but I called you for something else. I want to invite you to a party this weekend."
"Really? Yours?" Mathew asked curiously.
"No it's the daughter of Judge Dupain. The owner of the house where Mari lives." Ruby replied.
Mathew chuckled. "I have heard a lot of him, but I don't know him."
"Well would you like to accompany me? It's on Saturday." Ruby added.
"Yes of course count on me." Ruby couldn't help but smile brightly.
"Here comes the doctor." Alix said standing up along with Jake.
"Do any of you know a Roland?" The doctor asked.
Jake and Alix glance at each other. "We both know him doctor." Jake replied.
"Is he familiar with the patient?" The doctor asked.
"...let's say yes doctor." Jake replied.
"Make him come it's important for him to be here." The doctor answered.
Jake and Alix glance at each other again. "The thing is he doesn't want to nor can come."
"Bring him make him come even by force." The doctor said sternly.
"I didn't let you know last night because I was upset. They even kicked me out from the house. I don't know how the grumpy Judge found out." Mari was on the phone with Ruby when she heard noises coming from outside. "Wait a minute." She stands up and walks to the door frame and saw Sabine Isabella and Plagg holding boxes and going to Lila's room. "My friend Nino from the neighborhood found out that Roland was acting and came to tell me right away. He saved me Ru. They were cruel to me well everyone except Mrs. Sabine, but I still got upset and I started crying, and you know it lasted until this morning. Hey, your brother doesn't know anything right?"
"No he doesn't know anything." Ruby replied.
Mari sighs in relief. "Thank goodness." After a while, Mari hang up the phone and goes to see what the big fuss was about. She went over to the bed and saw a long yellow dress laying on the bed. She gently touched it. "This is such a cool dress."
Isabella gently moves the dress away from her. "Don't touch it dear you will ruin it."
Mari looked at Lila. "When will you use it?"
"In my party to represent myself in society, which is this Saturday." Lila said sweetly.
Mari stood up. "Hay Mrs. what will I wear for that party?"
"We need to talk about that Mari." Sabine softly replied.
"I have some clothes that Adrien asked for me to get they aren't as cool as this dress, but they should work I just don't have a purse, but Lila could let me borrow one right?" Mari asked looking at Lila.
Sabine looked at her. "We'll talk about the situation alright?"
"I'll go to my room and take my clothes out so I can iron them." Mari walks out of the room.
"Having him in front of her can be the only way she can react." The doctor explained to them.
"I already told you he doesn't want to come." Jake replied.
"Plus he's blind." Alix added tearing up.
"That's not a problem one of you go look for him and bring him now that she is a bit conscious. Her life depends on him coming there's no time to waste." The doctor said.
"Yes doctor I'll go look for him." Jake walks off.
"I hope Mari doesn't go." Isabella said softly.
"I feel ashamed for her." Sabine replied.
"You will feel more embarrassed if she does anything crazy in front of your friends." Isabella mention.
"How can I tell her that she isn't going?" Sabine asked sadly. "You guys saw how enthusiastic she was."
"Invent anything." Isabella replied.
Sabine sighs. "I can't think of anything that justifies why she can't go."
"Than just tell her that she can't go. We don't have an obligation with her. She's nothing to the family anyway." Isabella said.
"She was brought here to form part of the family Isabella." Sabine said gently.
"There's limitations to everything she doesn't fit within us. Much less with your friends." Isabella said a bit sacasted. "Imagine her in the party as vague as she is. Poor thing she is rebellious badly mouthed plus very ordinary your guests would be horrified."
"No no no mom I'm fearful that she will ruined everything that we planned. It's my night please mom." Lila said sadly.
Sabine sighs. "Alright I'll see how I handle this situation with her, though I don't know how to start." She walks out of the room sad.
"I think we did it the street rat won't go to my party." Lila said looking at Isabella.
Isabella laughed. "It would be observed that she went."
"Of course, I won't give her the opportunity to get near Adrien. That night I need to conquer him. It won't be long until I'm his girlfriend and soon after his wife." Lila smiled.
Sabine walked into Mari's room and saw that she was getting all her clothes out and organizing them. "Hay Mrs. I honestly don't know if these clothes are good enough for Lila's party. Does it matter what you wear?"
"Mari...I came to tell you that...you can't go to that party." Sabine said sadly.
"I'm sorry Jake Roland just left." Mathew told Jake.
Jake sighs. "Roxie is still very ill, and the doctor insisted for him to go. It's the only thing that could help her react to save herself."
Mathew shook his head. "Such a friend whom we have he didn't just play with Roxie's emotions he also pretended to be bind to force Mari to come see him everyday. I suggest that you go to his apartment you might find him there and might be able to convince him to see Roxie."
"Why can't I go Mrs.?" Mari asked confused.
"Because...you just said so yourself you don't have the proper clothes. The party has a dress code for formal. The women will have long dresses, and...you don't have anything proper." Sabine said softly.
"And if you give me money for me to buy what I need?" Mari suggested. "I promise to pay you back with work."
"It can't be Mari." Sabine takes her hand. "I'm sorry but you can't go to that party." She kisses her cheek before walking away.
Mari sighs as she grabs Teddy. "I think that they don't want me to go to the party because I'm vague. Their guests must be important rich people. They are ashamed of me because of how I am. The worst part is that Adrien will be with Lila, and I won't see him. You know what Teddy, I don't care because we'll put music and have our own party in my room and there will be no one to complain about how loud the music is."
"Mari." Tikki walked into the room.
"What's up Tikki." Mari smiled.
"I heard what Mrs. Isabella told you last night. Don't trust in her Mari. She's your enemy." Tikki said gently.
Mari nodded. "I know that she doesn't like me, but she always keeps saying that she wants to be my friend."
"That's a lie it's because of her that you had problems with Mr. Tom, she was the one to tell him that you hitted a man, and that you left him blind. She put him against you Mari." Tikki informed her.
Mari raised an eyebrow. "How did she know about it?"
Tikki shrugged. "I don't know but be careful with her Mari."
Jake walks to Roland's apartment and sees that Roland was barely walking in so he runs and enters the apartment before the door closes. "Roland."
Roland turns to face him. "What are you doing here?"
"You need to come with me to see Roxie." Jake said sternly.
Tikki opened the front door. "Fu come in." Tikki leads him to Mari's room. "Mari you have a visitor."
Mari looked at the door and smiled big. "Fu!" She stands up and runs to him hugging him as he hugs back. "I'm so glad you came it's like you read my mind."
They broke the hug, and they sat on the couch. "Your room is all bright and beautiful now." He noticed her sad look. "But you're not happy. Why are you so sad the problem with the jerk is solved. Nino told father Carlos and I that the guy being blind was all an act, and he came to tell you. You should be happy."
"No I am happy about that but there's always something that I'm guilty of. In this house, the only ones that care about me is Mrs. Sabine and two of the employees Plagg and Tikki. Who told the Judge about the situation is a woman of the house the aunt. She probably heard me talking in the phone. I don't understand anything she says that she wants to be my friend but Tikki told me that she's my enemy, I'm so confused." Mari sighs.
"Why do you chase after Mari if you have Roxie?" Jake asked angerly.
Roland smirked. "Simple because I like Mari even more."
"How long have you and Roxie been a couple?" Jake asked.
"Woah woah not a couple we had nights together, but I don't have anything to do with her. It was only for fun." Roland simply said.
"She's in love with you." Jake said
"But I don't love her." Roland smirked. "Yes, I like her; we sleep together, but that's it."
"She's calling you. She needs you. You have to be by her side." Jake told him harshly. "She's dying Roland. I'm determined to take you; I won't return to the hospital without you, and if you don't come I'll accuse you. I'll accuse you of being guilty for Roxie's attempt of suicide. You might free yourself, but you'll st least be in jail for two days."
Alix stood up from her seat when she saw Jake and Roland walking in the room. "You brought him."
Jake nodded. "It wasn't easy Alix let's go to the room the important part is that Roxie sees you."
"I won't tell her anything I won't promise her something I don't want." Roland said harshly.
"You don't have to, she just needs to know you are by her side at this moment let's go." Jake led him to the room and opened the door the doctor was currently with her. "Doctor this is Roland."
The doctor looks at them. "You brought him too late."
"She died?" Jake asked worriedly.
The doctor shook his head. "She lost conscious again."
"Miss. Lila will be here soon." Plagg told Adrien. It was Saturday night snd Adrien was there to get her.
"And the rest?" Adrien asked.
"They already left." Plagg answered before walking away.
Adrien stood there waiting when he saw Mari, who was walking to her room but stopped when seeing him. "Hay what are you doing? You haven't gotten ready yet?"
"No since I'm not going to the party." Mari replied.
Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
"Just because." She replied.
"But you would like to go?" Adrien asked.
"Of course." Mari smiled brightly.
"Alright tell me the reason you're not going." Adrien replied with a smile.
"Because you have to go formal dressed, and I don't have the proper clothes." Mari said mocking the reason why.
Adrien nods. "One moment." He takes out his cellphone and calls his sister. "Ruby did you already pick up your friend?...perfect because I need you for an urgent matter." The whole time Adrien was looking at Mari with a big smile.
"Lila and Adrien should be here by now the majority of the guests are already here." Tom said looking at his watch.
"Don't be impatient Tom, they shouldn't take long." Sabine said softly. Just then Adrien and Lila walk toward them, and everyone smiled. "Your beautiful dear."
Tom smiled. "Gorgeous right Adrien?"
"There's no doubt." Adrien said softly only being polite. He had to admit that Lila looked great in her dress, but he couldn't help but think that Mari always looked beautiful without trying.
"I think the first dance should start it'll be more beautiful that way." Sabine said sweetly.
"Alright but let me do something first come with me." Tom lead Sabine and Lila to the front. "Friends good evening thank you for accompany us to the representation of my- our daughter Lila. This party is in her honor." Everyone clapped.
From a far corner stood Roland and Mathew. "Why are you not with your uncle and aunt?" Mathew asked.
Roland was the nephew of Jack and Mini Rople, who were great friends of the Dupain family. That is how he got in the party his main goal was to see Mari. "I'm avoiding Judge Dupain, I don't want him to recognize me. It seems like Mari isn't coming."
"Yea or Ruby she told me that she couldn't pick me up and to meet her here, but I don't see her." Matthew looks around.
"Let the first dance begin." Tom said from the front.
Adrien goes over to Lila and takes her hand leading her to the center of the dance floor, and they started slow dancing. After a while, Lila spots someone she didn't expect nor wanted in this party. "What is she doing here?" Lila asked surprised and irritated.
Adrien turned around and saw his sister with Mari, who had her hair up in a ponytail and for the first time, he saw her wearing light makeup and her dress was a beautiful long red dress. The thing that took his breath away was her bright smile.
