A few hours earlier…

Adrien Agreste stood in his father's study and fidgeted. He had been waiting for his father to come back from whatever meeting he was at for the last half hour, but he wasn't about to give up. He checked his watch again and sighed. His attention drifted yet again to the stylized portrait of his mother.

"Ya know, maybe you should come back later?" Plagg asked from his shirt pocket. "He ain't here, kid."

"He will be," Adrien said. His brow furled as he thought about the constant missed dinners, the skipped appointments… Seriously, he had to make an appointment to see his father. Who did that?

Adrien thought to the weeks he had spent at the Dupain-Cheng household. How Marinette had been able to just talk to her parents, and how they treated her. How they treated both of them.

It was through that exposure that Adrien started to fully grasp the truth of his situation, and how… Wrong it was.

"Am I doing the right thing, Plagg?" Adrien asked.

The kwami looked to his master and was about to give him an off-color answer, but then he saw the look on the boy's face.

"Kid, look. I, um, I'm not one for getting involved with people stuff, but between you and me? What happened today wasn't right. Nothing about this place is right. But that gal of yours? She's… She is the one right thing in your life."

"What about Ladybug?"

Plagg stared. "We need to have a talk soon. Anyway, the point is you are in a position where you've got nothing left to lose in going forward, you know?"

"And if I'm wrong?"

Plagg shrugged. "Then at the worst, you're no better off than you are now."

Adrien thought on that, but not for long. He was interrupted by a voice behind him.

"Adrien?"

Adrien jumped at the sound of his father's voice behind him. He spun around to see Gabriel standing in the doorway of his study, clearly annoyed. "What do you think you're doing in here?"

"Forgive the intrusion, father. This was the most direct way to speak with you," Adrien said, his tone forced.

Inside, he was already terrified. He was grateful that Hawkmoth apparently wasn't in the mood to send out an akuma, because he felt like a prime candidate.

Gabriel considered his son for a moment before stepping past him to his desk. "Well, you're here now. What can I do for you, son? Please be brief; I have a video call with our Cairo distributor in ten minutes."

"Father," Adrien started. "Why wasn't I told that Marinette was in the hospital? I found out after the shoot that everyone had been calling and texting me, but no one notified me until afterwards."

"It wasn't important," Gabriel said, dismissively. "You had work, and your being there wouldn't have helped matters. Your photographer did his job in not telling you."

Adrien eyed him. "Did you know?"

Gabriel focused on the papers on his desk. "It was of little concern. Like I said, the girl is fine, isn't she?"

"She's my girlfriend," Adrien said. "I should have been there. I should have at least been told."

"What you should have done," Gabriel said as he glanced up at his son, "is finished your work and been responsible. Honestly, you can't go running off every time you feel like it. It's irresponsible, Adrien. I won't have it."

"So, you knew where she was, and you told the shooting team to not let me know."

Gabriel was on his computer. He completely ignored Adrien's half-hearted accusation. "Will that be all?"

Adrien continued to face him and swallowed down his fear. "Actually? No. I, um, I was hoping I could borrow something."

"Oh?" Gabriel said as he sat. His attention was all but completely on his monitors.

"I was hoping I could borrow mother's ring."

Gabriel froze.

He turned off his monitor and turned his attention squarely to his son.

"Excuse me?" He asked. His voice was equal parts stoic and angry.

Adrien nodded, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his brow. "Mother's ring," Adrien said again. "I need it for this evening, father."

Gabriel folded his hands in front of him and stared his son down. "And why, pray tell, would I give you her ring? It's not some plaything, Adrien. I don't see it as something to be merely borrowed, as you put it."

"I'm aware, father." Adrien straightened. "Mother told me once that she would give it to me when I, um, when I was ready to ask someone for their hand in marriage."

Gabriel's eyes went wide.

"I… Beg your pardon?"

"Father," Adrien said, his voice only slightly wavering. "Tonight, I am asking Marinette to be my wife. I would…"

"No."

Adrien blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I said no, Adrien." Gabriel sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I suppose this is to be expected. You've not had enough socializing to realize how… Out of place such a request is. I get it; you feel bad you missed out on something and you're trying to overcompensate, but let's be serious for a moment. It would be detrimental to the brand to have you engaged, let alone married, to someone outside your station."

Adrien started to turn red. "Excuse me?" He said again, this time a little louder.

"Not that I personally disapprove of her," Gabriel mused. "She's bright, talented… In five years, I might reconsider. For now, though? Out of the question. Not only would it hurt you, but It could also be detrimental to her," Gabriel said, thinking. "She has genuine talent, and I would hate to see someone at her level be critiqued as having only made it because she had an in, so to speak."

Adrien paused, confused. He wasn't sure if his father was actually complementing or insulting his intended bride, but either way, it didn't sound like there was going to be a lot of budge.

'Looks like it's time for the nuclear option,' Adrien thought to himself.

"So… Your argument against my choice is because it would negatively impact the brand?"

Gabriel nodded. "I'm glad you understand, Adrien. Now, if you'll excuse me, I…"

"I quit."

Gabriel froze.

"I… Beg your pardon?"

Adrien relaxed. Just saying the words seemed to instantly remove a lead blanket from his shoulders.

"I said I quit," Adrien said, this time a little louder. "I'm done. I'm a free agent, starting now."

Gabriel considered his son for a moment. "You honestly think I'd allow that? Think about what you're saying, and before you answer, remember who pays for the roof you're living under."

Adrien nodded. "Oh, I have. I've been looking into it a lot, actually. It turns out my commitment was fulfilled with the Agreste brand the moment I turned 17. I've been working off-contract for a year now."

"And what?" Gabriel asked, his voice dropping towards a growl. "You think you can leverage a re-negotiation with this girl as your bargaining chip? I expected better from you, son."

Adrien shook his head. "Well, honestly? No. I had hoped I could talk to you about this and that you'd be happy for me, that you'd want me to find something like what you and mother had…"

Gabriel's eyes went wide at that, but Adrien continued, ignoring him.

"But I also know you, father. I know what you consider important, and that you would use what you have over me to steer me. You did it when I wanted to go to school, so I figured this might happen."

"Did you, now?" Gabriel asked, his face locked in a scowl. "Well then, since you've so obviously considered what would happen, consider this. I'm not about to support a freeloader. If you're to refuse working for the family business and say that you'll represent our good name in a disrespectful manner, consider yourself grounded until further notice. You're cut off from friends, from school, everything. Good day, Adrien. We can discuss this again when you've come to your senses."

Adrien nodded again and sighed. He reached into his shirt and pulled out a packet of documents. He dropped them in front of his father.

"Here," Adrien said.

"What's all this, then?" Gabriel asked as he glanced at the papers.

"A press statement," Adrien answered. "I turn 18 in less than a month. I'm declaring my independence publicly. I'll be out by tonight, father. And don't worry, I've managed my accounts well."

Gabriel stood, his face red. "You think, you think you can just, just walk in here making demands of me? You think you're in a position to boss me around?"

Adrien met his father's gaze. "Yes."

"How dare you. How dare you!" Gabriel swept his arm across his desk. His computer, paperwork, design models, all of it went flying.

"You try to leave, and you're finished," Gabriel spat. "I'll have you blacklisted from every major label in Europe. You'll have nothing, do you understand? Nothing!"

Adrien swallowed and stared his father down. "You keep talking about the brand and how everything will look to the public. How's it going to look when you cut your son off just because he fell in love? How's that going to help your numbers?"

Gabriel got within inches of Adrien and barred his teeth. "I'll recover. Do you think you will?"

Adrien was shaking, but he held his father's gaze. "You don't seem to get it, father. I've felt this coming for a while now, but I've been holding off out of worry. Today however just cemented it for me. I actually went ahead hired an agent earlier this week. I've already got five offers, all good, all local. When the press asks, I'll be civil. I'll even tell them this was amicable." Adrien didn't blink. "But regardless, I'm… I'm done. I'm done being told I can't live my life."

Adrien turned to leave.

"Adrien, if you walk out that door, there's no coming back. All your possessions, this home, all of it. You're abandoning it all, and for what? Some girl? Son," Gabriel let out a sigh. "I can get you a girl. I can buy you a girl if that's what's needed. I can… Don't throw your future away because you're feeling defiant."

Adrien stopped. He didn't turn, but he did let out a small laugh. "You really think… Father, be honest. If I had told mother I was in love and ready to go out on my own, what would she have said?" He glanced back at Gabriel.

"Don't you dare bring her into this," Gabriel spat. "You have no right! You don't even know what you're talking about!"

Adrien nodded. That was the last bit he needed to hear.

"I think I do," Adrien said. "I'm talking about being supported by a parent. The only things I've asked of you in the last three years were for your time and to go to public school. That's all. I've done everything you've asked of me without question. This is the one thing I've been adamant about, and you reacted by throwing your things and screaming at me."

Adrien's voice went quiet.

"She promised me I could have her ring when I was ready to ask someone. I'm asking Marinette. She'll either wear mother's ring, or any connection I or my future children will have to mother dies right here and now."

The silence in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Adrien deflated. "I love you, father. I always will. If you change your mind, you have my cell."

Adrien turned to leave.

"Adrien?"

The young man paused, but he didn't turn around.

Gabriel took a deep breath. "When I was just a little bit older than you, I marched into the living room and told my father I was marrying Emilie."

Gabriel closed his eyes. "He told me it would be a hard life, that there was still a lot I hadn't done as a single man. He warned me that I would feel regret soon enough. And things were hard, Adrien. Starting out on your own can be terrifying."

Adrien stood, absorbing his father's words.

"I don't…" Gabriel swallowed. "I don't approve of this. I think this is a mistake, but not because I don't believe in you, or even because I don't approve of her. She's a fine girl, Adrien. But she's a girl, and you're a boy, and you're both so young. Too young. I cannot and will not condone this because as much as I empathize, I also know what's coming for you, and I would spare you that frustration. I would say wait, even if it's just a few years. Wait."

"I'm sorry, father. I've spent my life waiting. I need to start doing."

Adrien flinched as he heard his father let out a small laugh.

"You really love her that much? Nothing I just said or did was enough to scare you? Not even throwing things?"

Adrien shook his head.

"Well then," Gabriel said with a long sigh. "I had hoped, but… For what it's worth? I wish you well, Mr. Agreste."

Adrien stiffened, and then nodded. "Mr. Agreste," he said back.

Adrien walked out of the office. His father stood silently behind him, watching.

Adrien was busy packing when a knock came at his door.

"Come in," he said, his voice slightly sharper than he meant it to be.

Nathalie entered the room. She stood watching Adrien pack and allowed herself a small smirk. "I really don't think you can fit your whole room in that suitcase, Adrien."

"I wasn't planning on it," Adrien said. "I've got some clothes, my laptop, some toiletries, and my phone." He looked around the expansive room and saw the video games, movies, gigantic television, the piano, all of it.

"Everything else is just stuff. I don't need stuff right now."

Nathalie sighed. "I figured you'd say something like that. Your father is busy losing his mind, you know."

Adrien nodded. "I figured. Well, I'm not changing my mind, Nathalie. If anything, this has deepened my resolve. I'm done with this." He zipped up his bag. "I'm not going to live my life in his shadow."

"Where will you go?" Nathalie asked, her voice in that same, neutral tone it always was.

"Well, I figured I'd stay at Chloé's for now. She's got the room and she hates father, so I doubt she'd charge. Even if she did?" He shrugged. "I'm apparently really rich on my own, so I guess it's not that big of a deal."

Adrien finished his packing. He hefted his backpack onto his shoulders and grabbed his side bag. "That's everything, I guess." He turned to see Nathalie standing in front of him.

Nathalie stared at him for a moment before she held out her hand. "Here."

Adrien reached out, confused as Nathalie dropped a white gold ring into his palm.

Adrien's eyes went wide. "How… How did… Did father actually approve of this?"

Nathalie smirked at Adrien. "Not at all. I was listening at the door and swapped your mother's ring out with one from my jewelry case. It's doubtful he'll notice the difference."

"Nathalie," Adrien said, his voice going hoarse. "You… Thank you."

Nathalie stiffened as Adrien wrapped her into a hug. Hesitantly, she returned it. "You know he's going to be furious with you," Nathalie said.

"I know," Adrien said, pulling away. "And I don't care anymore. You've… You're a good friend, Nathalie. I know it was your job and all, but um, thank you for being there for me. It's meant a lot."

"Your mother was one of my dearest friends," Nathalie said. She took off her glasses and rubbed at her face. "While I understand your father's concerns, between you and me? I think Emilie would have approved of Marinette."

Adrien wiped at his face to catch the tears that were forming. "Thank you, Nathalie. I… Thanks."

"Where will you work?" Nathalie asked.

Adrien shrugged. "I've got offers, and I've got accounts to keep me okay. My money was well invested, um, thank you for showing me how to do that, by the way. Anyway, I'm not too worried, and I'm not… I don't see myself as a partying person. I think I'll be okay."

Nathalie smiled. "I know you will, Adrien. However, now I have to go placate your father before there's an akuma attack."

Well, she wasn't completely lying.

Adrien nodded as he took one last look around his room.

"You sure you're okay with this?" Nathalie asked. "You can still change course."

Adrien took a breath. "It's just a room," he said as he walked out of the room that had been his prison for years.

He only stopped when he got to the front door to hug the Gorilla, who hugged him back and smiled.

"Thank you," Adrien said. "You've always been so kind to me. I'll never forget that."

The Gorilla gave him a warm smile and patted him on the back.

Adrien walked out, not looking back once. If he had, he might have noticed his father watching from his study window.

Gabriel watched him go. As he did, Nathalie silently entered his office.

"Did you give him the ring?" Gabriel asked.

Nathalie nodded. "I did exactly what you asked." She looked around the office and sighed. "And for what it's worth? The two of you might benefit from some counseling."

Gabriel frowned. "That will be all, Nathalie."

Nathalie nodded and excused herself, leaving Gabriel to his thoughts.