WARNING, THIS CHAPTER HAS SOME UPSETTING SCENES ABOUT HARASSMENT AND BULLYING.
If these themes upset you, then please don't read. No hate in the reviews please.
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There were several shocked gasps at this as the familiar figure of the man was seen as the crowd parted. He was standing right in the middle with a frown on his face with his arms behind his back. Marinette was stunned. How in Kwami's name did Morgana get that man out in the open?
"Mr Agreste?!" Lila shouted in alarm and slight fear.
"Father?" Adrien said in equal shock.
"That is his name," Morgana deadpanned.
"Mr Agreste, what a surprise!" Miss Bustier said in the same shock.
"Not really. Imagine my surprise when I get a phone call in the middle of the week from someone who claims that my wife, my missing wife, was being slandered," Gabriel said as his frown deepened as he walked forward.
"I uh...!" Lila stuttered as she backed up, but her mother held her by the shoulder.
"Adrien. I am ashamed of you. The amount of disrespect is staggering. You cannot even defend your own mother?" Gabriel asked as he stepped up on the stage next to his son. Murmurs of disgust and glares were then directed at the blonde, who was almost shaking at this point.
"I just... didn't want to hurt anyone," Adrien stammered.
"So, you'd rather people take the fall for you. If some of you will recall, Adrien had a little chat with me. I was well aware of who the actress was but Adrien would rather see me defend her as opposed to getting his own hands dirty. I promptly refused," Morgana said, making Gabriel frown even more.
"Wait... is that why he attacked you?" Nathaniel asked in shock.
"Someone couldn't take no for an answer," Morgana said, making the boy flinch.
"You did what?" Gabriel asked in annoyance.
"Apologises for not telling you about that details sir, but I assumed you wouldn't listen to me if I started with that," Morgana said.
"Understandable," Gabriel said with a nod as he recalled the events of last Saturday before the red-carpet event.
Flashback:
Morgana walked through the streets, eyeing everyone who past her. When she was certain she wasn't being followed, nor near people who knew her, she took out her phone as well as a familiar little piece of paper. After looking at it for a second, she tucked it back in her pocket and dialled a number. She held it to her ear as someone then picked up.
"Hello. Am I correct in that I am speaking to Nathalie Sancouer, Gabriel Agreste's assistant?"
"Who is this?" Nathalie asked.
"I am a classmate of Adrien's," Morgana answered.
"I do not know how you got this number but please do not call again. This is a private..." Nathalie started.
"I merely wished to call you to inform you that someone is slandering your boss's wife," Morgana replied, almost casually. There was a long pause, and she could hear some movement on the end of the phone. Then a new voice appeared.
"What is this about my wife?" Gabriel asked. It was not often that people of that age knew of his wife, so he was more than intrigued and angered.
"Apologises for using this line. My name is Morgana Rio. I transferred to your son's school recently," Morgana said. She knew that by using her name he would do a search on her immediately. Her background in her previous school alone would be trust enough.
"I will not ask again," Gabriel said sharply.
"It would seem that one Lila Rossi has made the assumption that she knows your wife personally. Lila says that she is a terrible actress and that she would be a better fit. I can email you evidence of this if you'd like," Morgana said. She could feel the rage on the end of the phone.
"I see. Thank you for bringing this to my attention," Gabriel said.
"One more thing. Am I correct in the fact that Lila is a model for your company?" Morgana asked.
"Yes? What of it?" Gabriel asked.
"I am going to send you something else along with Lila's slander. You'll know what it is when you see it. I would then like you to ask the models, crew, photograph's, anyone she has worked with, if they have seen something similar," Morgana requested.
"Why should it?" Gabriel said. It was almost like a challenge.
"You can do as you see fit. However, if I had a son and he didn't defend his own mother, I'd be quite upset," Morgana said as she hung up the phone.
Flashback End:
"I never thought I would take her word for it. I saw the video. Your mother would be so disappointed. As am I," Gabriel said sternly, making Adrien hang his head in shame. Gabriel did of course research into Morgana and based on her background, he knew she was telling the truth. Emile would indeed have been disappointed. Perhaps it was his own fault.
"I-I..." Lila again stuttered.
"Lila Rossi, considered your contract and everything regarding it terminated immediately," Gabriel said with a knowing look.
"What, that's not fair!" Lila said as she stomped her foot. Morgana almost laughed at this, as did Marinette.
"You had a contract as a model?" Greta asked in shock.
"Forged signature," Morgana chimed in helpfully.
"Oh Lila, you are in so much trouble!" Greta shouted.
"I assure you, that isn't the issue she is going to be the most in trouble with," Gabriel then said. This made a few heads turn. Morgana made her way over to the man, who then handed her a large file.
"Oh please, you can't use a lawsuit over that film!" Lila scoffed.
"Oh this isn't for that. Mrs Rossi, you may want to sit down before you read this," Morgana said as she handed her the file.
"Thank you dear, I will be okay," Greta said. Morgana sent Aurore a look who took the hint and grabbed a chair from backstage and placed it behind the woman. Said woman then promptly did fall back into the chair.
"Mama?" Lila asked, but not in concern.
"Lila...why are you being sued for harassment?" Greta asked shakily.
"WHAT?!" Lila yelled loudly.
"No way, Lila would never do that!" Alya protested.
"Never!" Sabrina agreed.
"Who did she harass?" Adrien asked. A look of slight worry crossed Gabriel's face. Morgana stepped towards him. She didn't look angry nor smug. She looked concerned.
"Adrien. She's been harassing you," Morgana said calmly.
"What?" Marinette gasped.
"When did-?" Kagami said in equal shock.
"I never did anything!" Lila protested but a glare from Gabriel shut her up. Morgana then pressed her tablet and an image of Adrien with Lila latched on his arm came on the screen. Everyone could clearly see the discontent on his face.
"That isn't harassment," Adrien said with a shrug. Morgana said nothing but went through a few more pictures where Lila was clinging to him, digging her fingernails into his arm and so much more.
"That isn't harassment! Adrien liked it!" Lila argued.
"It's what couples do!" Alya said but Nino didn't seem to agree. While he and Alya linked arms like that, Alya never made him look or feel like Adrien did in the pictures. How didn't he notice?
"Alright Lila. Let's ask. Adrien, do you like it when Lila holds onto you like that?" Morgana asked. It wasn't a forceful tone; it was almost gentle.
"Well, we do it in photoshoots, so it's pretty normal," Adrien said. The crowd seemed a little saddened by his answer. Lila looked smug.
"No Adrien. Do you like it when Lila holds onto you like that all the time? When you want to hang out friends, talk to people or be on your own?" Morgana asked.
"Well...I mean..." Adrien said as he rubbed the side of his arm.
"Come on Adrien, tell her you like it!" Lila said as she folded her arms.
"No one will judge you for your answer Adrien," Morgana said, almost as if she wanted to comfort him.
"Ugh Adrien, can you just tell her that you like it? I mean we are a cute couple!" Lila said as she strutted over to him. As she went to grab his arm, something seemed to snap inside Adrien as he pulled away from her like lightning. All of the stress he had been under, the bullying, the lying, the disappointment, all seemed to burst out.
"No! Don't touch me! I hate it when you touch me! You hurt me! You never leave me alone! Just stop it!" Adrien screamed as he then fell to his knees, holding himself by wrapping his arms around himself. Tears burst from his eyes as he sobbed. Lila was shocked to say the least, but it didn't stop her from going over to him again. Aurore was right in front of Lila in an instant. She wasn't the biggest fan of Adrien but no one deserved that.
"Don't even think about it!" she snapped.
"Oh come on, he doesn't mean it," Lila said as she went to push her out of the way. Then she was met with the emerald eyes of Morgana.
"He said no. You heard it. Everyone heard it. He doesn't want you near him," Morgana said in a dark tone.
"But-" Lila protested but the atmosphere seemed to go deathly cold.
"He said no," Morgana said coldly.
The Italian then backed off as she bumped back into her mother who had gained her senses back and gripped her daughter by the arm. Morgana turned to Adrien who was still sobbing. Gabriel went to comfort his son but Morgana held up her hand and shook her head. Gabriel didn't like this but with everything that happened, he decided to listen.
"Adrien. Can your father hug you?" Morgana asked. The words entered Adrien's head and it took him a while before he answered.
"Y-Yes please..." he whimpered.
Morgana then gave a nod before Gabriel embraced his son in a hug. Everyone was extremely saddened at this point. While students knew that Adrien hadn't been the best person lately, they had no idea that this was happening. They felt guilty that they didn't notice. They could have helped. Adrien didn't even know what it was. He probably couldn't even talk to anyone since they would have judged him from being in that class. At least he and they all knew now. They could show support.
"It isn't true! No, he's just saying that! He actually tried to hold me like that once! After a shoot he-" Lila said, desperately trying to save her reputation as she yanked her arm away from her mother.
"Shut up, you despicable, lying, poisonous snake!" Marinette burst out. Lila looked at her in a rage. Marinette was disgusted with Lila at this point. She barely noticed about the clinging. She hated herself for not doing more.
"Don't talk to me like that Mari-trash!" Lila snapped, her true colours now coming out.
"If anyone is trash, it's you," Morgana said with a frown.
"Don't talk to me like that! I am the victim in all this!" Lila snapped back. Everyone, even her mother and Gabriel were shocked at this statement. Did she really just say that. With all of this? The lies, the harassment? This seemed to set Morgana off as the atmosphere sudden went ice cold.
"You are the reason why real victims are afraid to come forward. There are thousands of people out there who have been assaulted, bullied, and things so vile, I cannot say them. You paint yourself as a victim, so the true ones are outcasted from their loved once and not taken seriously by those who are supposed to protect them. You are a truly vile and toxic human. I am disgusted by your mere presence on this Earth. You are a stain. One that would be better wiped off," Morgana proclaimed, making Lila shake.
"Morgana..." she growled.
The akuma class were truly horrified. What had they done? They were bullies. They knew that now. They enabled Lila with her lies and her harassment of their own classmates. They were just as bad as her. Gabriel was boiling with rage. He had made a grave error in trusting her, to be a good influence when she was the one bringing the darkness. He allowed this thing to harm his son. He had akumatised her to bring harm. No...as much as he loved Emile...Lila was not worth it... no matter how good of an akuma she was. The pawns all fall down.
"You say there's no proof. Mr Agreste went to his photoshoots and asked if people who worked there had seen anything. You see, not only did I send him the video of your slandering his wife, but I sent him one of those pictures of you being a leech. Turns out a lot of people took a lot of evidence with camera of you harassing Adrien. That was more than enough to file a lawsuit with statements," Morgana continued, the atmosphere now bordering on bone chilling.
"Why you..." Lila seethed.
"I am not finished. You have bullied so many people... you have a trail of victims...which brings me to your worst crime," Morgana said as she clicked her tablet. A girl then appeared on the screen. She had a bright smile with curly brown hair and blue eyes. She seemed very pretty.
"Who is that?" Marinette practically whispered.
"Everyone... meet Elena Wilder," Morgana said.