The next day, Alya's mom sat across from Marinette and Gurvinder in their room, setting up the camera for the live interview. The atmosphere was tense yet determined. Marinette sat beside Gurvi, her hand resting on his for reassurance, while he remained composed, his sharp eyes scanning the screen as the setup was finalized.

Alya adjusted the lighting, ensuring everything looked professional. "Alright, we're live in three... two... one," her mother announced as she gestured toward Gurvi.

The chat was already flooding with comments—some supportive, others hostile. But Gurvinder wasn't shaken. He took a deep breath, leaned forward, and looked directly into the camera.

"I'm not here to beg for sympathy," he started, his voice steady and strong. "I know the things being said about me. I know what's being spread online. So let's talk about the truth."

Alya's mom, a seasoned journalist, maintained a professional yet firm demeanor as she began the interview. She glanced at her notes before looking up at Gurvinder.

"Gurvinder, you're aware of the accusations circulating online—your illegal status, the claims of you being violent, and even the footage of you slapping Chloé Bourgeois. Many are questioning if you belong here at all. What do you have to say about that?"

Gurvi exhaled, his fingers tapping lightly against his knee. He had expected this.

"I won't deny my past. Yes, I came here through illegal means. Yes, I fought people. Yes, there's a video of me slapping Chloé. But what these posts don't tell you is the full story."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone unwavering.

"I didn't come to France because I wanted to. I came because I had nowhere else to go. I lost my parents, my childhood, and everything I had. If running for survival makes me a criminal, then so be it. As for the fights? I never raised my hands first, but I never let anyone walk over me either. And about Chloé? That footage doesn't show how she insulted my parents, how she humiliated me publicly, and how she had been targeting me for weeks. I reacted, and I admit it. But tell me, if someone degrades your family—your very existence—would you just stand there and take it?"

The comment section was already buzzing. Some people were still hateful, but others were starting to question what they had believed. Alya's mom pressed on.

"You claim you're not a violent person, yet you've been in multiple fights. What do you say to those who call you dangerous?"

Gurvi smirked slightly, his gaze sharp.

"Violence isn't something I enjoy, but it's something life forced me to learn. Do you think a kid like me, alone and undocumented, could have survived without learning how to defend himself? The world isn't kind to people like me. I don't pick fights, but I refuse to let people treat me like I'm disposable."

Marinette, sitting beside him, squeezed his hand. She could feel the weight of his words, the pain behind them. Alya's mom gave a small nod before moving to the next question.

"Your relationship with the Dupain-Cheng family has also been questioned. Some believe they're enabling you, even risking their own reputation by keeping you under their roof. What do you say to those accusations?"

Gurvinder's expression softened. He glanced at Marinette before speaking.

"The Dupain-Cheng family saved my life. Not just by giving me a roof, but by treating me like a human being when no one else would. People can call me a burden, an outsider, a criminal—but I will never let anyone say a single bad word about them. They are my family."

Marinette looked at him with deep emotion, her grip tightening on his hand. Alya's mom noticed the way Marinette's parents—who were watching from behind the camera—nodded in support.

The interview was only halfway through, but already, it was shifting the narrative.

As the interview continued, the comment section exploded with activity. Thousands of viewers were watching live, and opinions were clashing in real-time.

@TruthSeeker99: He's just making excuses. He still broke the law. Deport him.

@BaguetteLover22: Wait… so Chloé was harassing him first? Why isn't anyone talking about that?

@LadybugFan67: He literally admitted to being in fights. That's not normal behavior.

@JusticeForGurvi: This guy survived on his own since childhood, and people still expect him to be perfect? He's stronger than most of us could ever be.

@ParisianMom: If my child was insulted like that, I would have slapped Chloé myself. Good for him.

The more Gurvinder spoke, the more the tide started shifting. While there were still plenty of people who doubted him, many were beginning to see the bigger picture.

Alya's mom took a pause, letting the tension in the room settle. Then, she asked, "Gurvinder, what would you say to the people who still don't believe you?"

He looked directly at the camera, his voice steady.

"Believe whatever you want. But at least believe the truth. You don't have to like me, but don't twist my story into something it's not."

The comment section continued flooding in.

@HeartOfParis: Damn, this guy doesn't even beg for sympathy. Respect.

@ChloeIsOverParty: Should we be questioning her instead?

@PlaggCheese: This is getting interesting…

As the interview went on, the battle for public opinion had officially begun.

Alya's mom leaned forward, her eyes sharp. Now that Gurvinder had gained some sympathy, it was time to test his resolve.

"You talk about being misunderstood, but let's address the elephant in the room. You've been in fights. You've broken laws to get here. You even slapped the mayor's daughter in public. Many would say you're just proving their point—that you're violent and dangerous. What do you say to that?"

The tension in the room thickened. Marinette clenched her fists under the table, her heart pounding. She knew Gurvi wasn't someone who backed down, but this was a loaded question.

Gurvinder exhaled slowly, meeting her gaze with a calm, unwavering expression.

"I won't deny I've fought. I won't deny I crossed borders illegally. But tell me, what would you have done in my place?"

The comment section erupted again.

@ParisDad23: Tough question. Would we have survived what he did?

@ChloeFan99: He's avoiding the actual point. Violence isn't an answer.

@StreetSurvivor: People who have never suffered will never understand. He's right to ask.

Alya's mom didn't let up. "That still doesn't answer the question. Even if your past was difficult, why should people believe you've changed? How do we know you're not just another delinquent looking for an excuse?"

Gurvinder's jaw tensed slightly, but his voice remained steady.

"Because I had every reason to become a monster, and I didn't. Because despite everything, I never took from anyone, I never harmed the innocent, and I never blamed the world for my suffering. The law never protected me. People never protected me. The only way I survived was by fighting back. But now… I have something worth protecting. And I refuse to let the people who gave me a home suffer for something I didn't do."

The comments exploded once more.

@MiraculousTruth: Damn. He actually took responsibility instead of playing the victim.

@NotConvinced: Words are cheap. Let's see if his actions match up.

@RespectEarned: He could've lied or begged, but he stood his ground. That says a lot.

Alya's mom studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she nodded slightly, moving on to the next question. The battle wasn't over yet.

Alya's mom leaned in, her voice firm. "Let's talk about your legal status. There's a court case against your uncle, but there's also the matter of your own immigration status. Right now, you're living in Paris without proper documentation. Do you realize how serious that is? And what do you plan to do about it?"

The air in the room grew heavier. Marinette held her breath, her fingers tightly gripping the fabric of her jeans.

Gurvinder didn't flinch. He had expected this.

"I do realize it. And I've realized it every single day since I got here." His voice was steady, unwavering. "I never wanted to break the law. But when the choice is between survival and legality, survival wins. My uncle used my situation to keep me under his control, knowing I had nowhere else to go. The moment I got a chance to escape, I took it."

The comment section lit up again.

@LawAndOrder4Life: Illegal is illegal. Why should he get special treatment?

@CompassionFirst: He was trafficked as a kid, and people still want to blame him?

@NeutralObserver: So what's his solution? Staying illegal forever isn't an option.

Alya's mom pressed further. "So what's next? What do you expect the courts to do? Should France just accept you despite the laws?"

Gurvi exhaled, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles before looking straight into the camera.

"I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking for justice. I was brought here as a child, not by choice, but by force. And now, I have a case—proof of the abuse, proof of what I was put through. I want to fight legally. I want to earn my right to stay. If the courts decide I have no place here, then so be it. But I won't run. I won't hide. I'll fight the right way."

The comment section shifted.

@OpenMindParis: That's fair. If he's willing to go through the system, he deserves a chance.

@StillSkeptical: He talks well, but let's see how the court rules.

@Respect: He's not asking for pity, just a fair shot. That's more than most.

Alya's mom studied him carefully, nodding slightly before moving on to her next question. The interview wasn't over, but Gurvinder had held his ground.

Alya's mom hesitated for a second before leaning in. "Let's talk about the video. The one where you slapped Chloé Bourgeois in front of the entire school. People say it was unprovoked, that you lashed out violently at the mayor's daughter. What do you have to say about that?"

The energy in the room shifted. Marinette stiffened beside him, her hands clenched into fists. Tom and Sabine, watching from a distance, exchanged nervous glances.

For the first time in the interview, Gurvinder's composure wavered. He exhaled sharply, his fingers pressing into his knees as he gathered his thoughts. He had expected this question—but that didn't make it any easier.

"I won't justify hitting her," he admitted, his voice rougher now, tinged with emotion. "But I will explain why it happened."

The chat erupted.

@JusticeForChloé: Finally! Let's hear him try to excuse violence.

@GurviSupporter: There's more to this story, and we all know it.

@NeutralVoice: Alright, let's see what he says. No instant judgment.

Gurvi swallowed hard, his jaw tightening before he continued.

"Chloé didn't just insult me. She called Marinette a whore." His voice cracked slightly on the word, his fists tightening as the memory resurfaced. "For standing by me. For believing in me. She told her parents they were traitors for giving me a roof over my head. She acted like I was some kind of disease ruining their lives."

Marinette's breath hitched. She hadn't expected him to say it so bluntly in front of thousands of live viewers.

The comment section went wild.

@NoExcuse: Still doesn't justify hitting a girl!

@WTFChloe: She SAID THAT?!

@ProtectMari: This is disgusting. She attacked Marinette and her family, not just him.

Gurvi took a shaky breath, his expression torn between anger and something deeper—hurt.

"I've been insulted my whole life. I'm used to it. But I will never—" He paused, swallowing thickly. "I will never stand by and watch the people who saved me, who gave me a home, who treated me like family—be humiliated because of me. I reacted emotionally. I should have handled it better. But I won't apologize for defending the people I love."

Alya's mom didn't interrupt. She let the weight of his words settle.

The chat was in chaos.

@NotJustified: He admits it was emotional. He should have controlled himself.

@Understandable: Man was pushed to the edge. This wasn't about ego—it was about his family.

@ChloeExposed: This is NOT the story the media told us. WTF.

Marinette instinctively reached for his hand under the table, giving it a squeeze. He didn't look at her, but his grip tightened in response.

Alya's mom nodded, her expression unreadable. "You admit you lost control. But you also make it clear why. Do you regret it?"

Gurvi exhaled. "I regret letting my emotions take over. I regret giving people an excuse to paint me as the villain. But do I regret standing up for my family? No. Never."

The screen flooded with reactions, opinions splitting even further. But one thing was clear—this wasn't the black-and-white story the public had been fed. And for the first time, people were starting to see the cracks in the narrative.

As the interview continued, the tide in the comment section started to shift.

@RealityCheck: Wait, so Chloé called Marinette a whore and trashed her parents? And we're supposed to feel bad for her getting slapped?

@StandForTruth: He admitted he acted emotionally, but he had every reason to snap. This isn't black and white.

@SupportGurvi: Dude's been through hell, and now they're trying to frame him as a monster? Nah, I'm with him.

Gurvinder noticed the subtle change in Alya's mom's demeanor as well. She wasn't openly siding with him, but she was no longer pushing as hard. She could see the impact of his words—the way people were responding to his honesty.

She adjusted her glasses and leaned forward. "The narrative in the media so far has been one-sided. Today, you've given your side of the story. Do you think this will be enough to change how people see you?"

Gurvi let out a small, wry chuckle. "I don't know. Maybe some minds won't change, and that's okay. But at least now, people know the full truth. If someone still wants to call me a monster after hearing everything, that's on them."

Marinette squeezed his hand again, this time with a small smile. The chat continued to blow up, but now, it wasn't just blind hate—people were questioning, debating, defending.

@TruthMatters: This interview changed my mind. He's not perfect, but he's real.

@ChloeFansMad: LMAO y'all still defending her when she literally insulted an entire family?

@WeSeeYou: This isn't just about one slap. They tried to paint this guy as some criminal, but he's been fighting to survive.

Alya's mom checked her phone discreetly—her journalist instincts kicking in. The interview was trending. Gurvinder wasn't just surviving this storm.

He was turning it in his favor.

Alya's mom adjusted her posture, glancing at her notes before looking directly at Gurvinder.

"Let's talk about another major incident—the viral video of you taking on twelve men alone. That video changed the way many people saw you. Some called you a hero, while others labeled you as dangerous. What do you say to those who see you as a threat?"

Gurvinder exhaled, his fingers lacing together as he thought for a moment. The chat was already reacting.

@HeroOrThreat? Yeah, let's hear what he has to say about this.

@RespectHim: Man was outnumbered and still fought, why is that a problem?

@DangerousOrJustified: I mean… should we really glorify violence?

Finally, Gurvi spoke. "I didn't fight because I wanted to. I fought because I had to."

He looked straight into the camera, his voice calm but firm. "That night, I wasn't thinking about being a hero. I wasn't thinking about whether people would see me as dangerous. I was just thinking about getting back something that meant everything to someone I cared about. Those guys weren't some random street thugs—I knew what kind of people they were. Walking away wasn't an option."

Marinette squeezed his hand, remembering how he had risked everything for her dress, how he had limped back, battered and bruised, just to make sure she had it in time for her competition.

Alya's mom nodded, her journalist instincts kicking in. "And yet, despite the injuries, despite the risk, you didn't report them. Why?"

Gurvi chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Report them to who? The system that looks at someone like me and assumes I'm the problem? The system that would rather deport me than protect me? I learned a long time ago that if I wanted to survive, I had to handle things myself."

The comment section was going wild.

@SystemFailed: That part. He didn't go to the cops because he knew they wouldn't help.

@NotJustABrawler: This guy is more than fists. He thinks ahead. Respect.

@ChloeDefendersShaking: He fights back, and suddenly, HE'S the villain?

Alya's mom glanced at her phone—it was happening again. Just like the first time, when the media turned Gurvi's fight into a story of heroism, the people were shifting. But this time, it wasn't just about one video. It was about who he was, what he stood for.

She leaned in for the next question.

"So, if you had to do it all over again… would you still fight that night?"

Gurvinder didn't hesitate. "In a heartbeat."

The comment section exploded with activity, messages flooding in faster than the chat could process.

@RealOne: He doesn't hesitate. That's a real man right there.

@JusticeMatters: This is what people don't get—he wasn't just fighting for himself. He was fighting for what was right.

@ChloeDefendersInShambles: So she calls Marinette a whore, insults her family, and HE'S the bad guy?? Nah, I'm switching sides.

@RespectEarned: Dude took on twelve men for someone else's dream. He's built different.

Alya's mom glanced at the screen, noting the shift. The tone of the conversation was changing. This wasn't just a damage control interview anymore—this was turning into something much bigger. The public was listening.

She leaned forward slightly, deciding to push the momentum further. "Many people watching this right now have been questioning your place in Paris—your right to be here. If you could say one thing to them, what would it be?"

Gurvinder exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening for a moment before he spoke.

"I never asked to be here." His voice was calm but carried a quiet intensity. "I didn't come to Paris looking for a dream or an easy life. I came because I had nowhere else to go. I had no home, no family, nothing. And still, I worked. I fought. I gave everything I had to survive. And now, after everything, people want to act like I don't belong? Like I should be grateful just to exist here?"

His eyes burned into the camera. "I may not have been born here, but I've bled for this place. I've fought for the people I love here. And if that's not enough to prove I belong, then nothing ever will be."

The comments went absolutely insane.

@StandingOvation: This man just gave a speech that hit harder than any politician's.

@TearsBruh: Okay, I didn't expect to get emotional watching this.

@HeBelongs: Nah, Gurvi isn't just some guy. He's one of us.

@BakerySupport: I'm pulling up to that bakery tomorrow. Y'all better support this man.

Marinette's heart clenched as she looked at him. He wasn't just defending himself—he was standing his ground in front of the whole world. And the world was finally starting to listen.

Alya's mom let the moment settle for a second before shifting gears. She glanced at the notes she had prepared but decided to follow the energy of the interview instead.

She looked directly at Gurvinder. "There's something people have noticed about you, Gurvinder. The scars." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Some of them are old, some new. Many have speculated, but today, I want to ask you directly—where did they come from?"

The comments flooded instantly.

@CuriousMind: Finally, someone's asking this!

@SeenThemToo: Yeah, he always wears full sleeves, but you can tell there's more to it.

@RespectHim: He doesn't owe us this answer, but damn… I wanna know.

Gurvinder sat still for a moment, his fingers lightly gripping the fabric of his pants. Marinette, sitting beside him, instinctively reached for his hand, grounding him.

He exhaled sharply, then looked up. His voice was calm, but there was something raw underneath.

"You want the truth?" he said, tilting his head slightly. He let out a small, humorless chuckle. "Fine."

He rolled up his sleeves slowly. The camera caught the faint but unmistakable marks—thin, deep scars, some barely visible, others more pronounced. The comment section froze for a moment before exploding.

@OhMyGod: Wait… those aren't just training injuries, are they??

@Heartbreaking: How does someone his age even…?

@ChloeDefendersSitDown: She really cried about one slap while he—? Nah, I have no words.

Gurvinder tapped one of the longer scars near his forearm. "This one? I got it when I was nine. My uncle didn't like that I lost a fight that night. So he made sure I wouldn't lose the next one."

Silence. Even Alya's mom, who had been doing interviews for years, felt a lump in her throat.

He moved to another mark near his wrist. "This one was a belt buckle. Didn't move fast enough." His voice was steady, as if he were reciting facts. "And this? A knife. Underground fights don't always have rules, especially when the money's good."

Marinette's grip on his hand tightened, her nails pressing against his skin.

He finally looked back at the camera. "I don't tell you this for pity. I tell you this because people look at me like I'm some violent thug, like I chose this life." His jaw clenched. "But I never had a choice."

Alya's mom swallowed, composing herself. "And yet, after everything… you still fight. You still protect."

Gurvinder nodded once. "Because someone has to."

The comments were no longer just messages—they were an uproar.

@Warrior: I don't care what anyone says. He's stronger than all of us.

@WipingTears: Man, I was ready to judge him, but now? I just wanna shake his hand.

@Bakery4Life: Ayo, EVERYONE better be at the bakery tomorrow. I don't wanna see a single empty shelf.

Alya's mom took a deep breath. "Gurvinder, I don't think you realize how many people you're reaching right now."

Gurvinder smirked faintly, his usual wit creeping back. "Well, if they're listening, they might as well hear the rest."

And just like that, the entire city was watching.

The air in the room grew heavier, the weight of his words already pressing down on everyone. The comments had slowed for a moment as people processed what he had just revealed. But Gurvinder wasn't done.

He exhaled, his hands moving to the buttons of his shirt. Marinette's breath hitched beside him, but she didn't stop him—this was his choice. Alya's mom hesitated for a second, unsure of where this was going, but she kept quiet.

One by one, the buttons came undone. As he pulled the fabric off his shoulders, the camera caught it all—the scars, the brutality of his past carved into his skin. His body was strong, chiseled from years of fights and survival, but it was also a roadmap of pain.

Old wounds crisscrossed his torso, some faded into thin white lines, others still dark, reminders of deeper cuts. His back bore the worst of it—deep, jagged scars that could only be from a whip. But the most brutal mark was the one that stretched across his abs, slashing upward to his chest—a thick, brutal lash, the kind that could only come from someone intending to break him.

The comment section froze.

Then it erupted.

@WhatTheHell: Ain't no way…

@CryingForReal: THIS is the guy they're calling a thug? THIS?

@IWantBlood: His uncle did this?! Where is he??

Alya's mom, a seasoned journalist, had seen a lot in her career. But nothing—nothing—had ever made her feel this sick. She had interviewed victims before, but Gurvinder wasn't speaking like a victim. He wasn't broken. He was standing tall, shoulders squared, eyes steady.

"You all saw the headlines," he finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "The orphan kid, the illegal immigrant, the street thug who slapped the mayor's daughter." He scoffed, shaking his head. "You think I wanted any of this?"

He gestured to the scars. "You think I chose this?"

Silence. The camera captured every detail—his wounds, his raw honesty, the fury behind his calm expression.

"I've been fighting my whole life, but not once for myself. Always for someone else. Always for survival." He looked directly into the camera. "And now I have something worth fighting for. A family. A home. People who actually give a damn about me."

He put his shirt back on, buttoning it up slowly.

"So go ahead," he said, his voice laced with quiet defiance. "Call me whatever you want. But just know this—I'm not running. Not anymore."

The internet had already made its decision.

Alya's mom was still processing the rawness of what had just been revealed. Gurvinder's scars, his painful past, and his unwavering strength—it was overwhelming, and it was clear how much of an impact it had on everyone watching. But now, she had one last question to ask.

She turned to Marinette, her voice steady but curious.

"Marinette," she began, "you could have helped anyone. There are so many people struggling, so many out there needing help, but you chose Gurvinder. Why him?"

Marinette felt her heart race. She had thought about this many times, but now, saying it aloud, especially in front of a live audience, felt heavier than ever. She glanced at Gurvi, sitting beside her, his eyes steady and warm, but there was a quiet sadness there. He had been through so much, and yet here he was, fighting for himself, for her, for them.

She took a deep breath and met Alya's mom's gaze.

"Because I saw him," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Not the way everyone else saw him, not as some lost cause, but as someone who deserved more. More than just pity, more than just judgment. He deserved someone to believe in him."

The room fell silent as Marinette continued.

"When we first met, he was broken, but he still gave. He gave without asking for anything in return. And when I looked at him, I saw a person who had been fighting so long that he forgot what it felt like to be cared for. I couldn't just stand by and watch him suffer alone, not when I knew what he was capable of. Not when I knew that, deep down, he was still someone worth loving."

Her words hung in the air. The room was still, everyone waiting for her to continue, but it felt like time was suspended.

"I didn't know everything about him at first. But I knew that I couldn't let him be invisible anymore. I couldn't let him carry that pain alone, not when I was right here. And now, I would never, ever regret it. I'd do it all over again, in a heartbeat."

Marinette's voice faltered for just a moment as she turned toward Gurvinder. Her eyes softened, her heart swelling with affection for him.

"I've never been more certain of anything in my life. And I... I just—"

Without another word, and without even thinking, Marinette reached out, cupping Gurvinder's face gently in her hands. She leaned in and kissed him, right there, live on the news.

The moment was electric, both intimate and public in a way neither of them had ever expected.

Gurvinder, stunned at first, melted into the kiss, his hands instinctively reaching up to hold her close. It was a kiss that spoke volumes—of love, of trust, of everything they had been through together.

The camera flashed as the kiss lingered for a few seconds longer, and the world watched.

The comments exploded.

@HeartToHeart: Okay, this is THE moment. I'm crying. THIS IS REAL LOVE.

@LoveWins: They're perfect. She's literally the embodiment of loyalty and courage.

@StopTheTears: Why am I tearing up? This is so pure, so real.

Alya's mom, who had been witnessing the entire exchange, sat back, her eyes wide with shock and something close to admiration.

The interview was over. But this moment—this kiss—was one that would change everything.

As the cameras shut down, the weight of the moment still hung in the air. The room was silent except for the faint hum of equipment powering down. Alya's mom, who had maintained her professional composure throughout the interview, let out a slow breath. She looked at Marinette and Gurvinder, her expression unreadable for a moment before she finally spoke.

"I've done a lot of interviews," she admitted, her voice softer than before. "I've seen politicians twist their words, criminals justify their actions, celebrities paint perfect pictures of their lives. But this..." she shook her head, almost in disbelief. "This was different."

Marinette, still slightly breathless from the emotions of it all, squeezed Gurvi's hand tightly. He hadn't spoken yet, but she could feel his grip, warm and reassuring.

Alya's mom turned to Gurvinder directly.

"You were raw. Unfiltered. You showed the world the truth, not just through your words, but through your scars, through your pain. And I know the world can be cruel, Gurvinder. But you..." she paused, as if choosing her words carefully. "You're stronger than I think even you realize."

Gurvi, who had been quiet the entire time, finally let out a dry chuckle. "Strong? I don't know about that. I just know I don't have the luxury to be weak."

Alya's mom studied him for a moment before sighing. "Maybe. But not everyone who suffers fights back the way you do." She then glanced at Marinette, her eyes softening. "And not everyone is lucky enough to have someone who loves them the way she does."

Marinette felt her cheeks warm, but she didn't look away. She wasn't ashamed of what she did. She meant every word, every action.

"This won't be easy," Alya's mom continued. "There will be backlash, people will twist this interview, they'll dig even deeper into your past. But at the same time, there will be those who support you. Who see you for what you truly are." She exhaled and looked between the two of them. "Whatever happens next... just be ready."

Gurvinder nodded. "I always am."

Alya's mom gave him a long look before standing up. "I should go home and start preparing for what's to come." Then, with a rare, small smile, she added, "You two take care of each other. You're going to need it."

With that, she left, and as the door shut behind her, the room fell into silence again. Marinette turned to Gurvi, her hand still in his.

"No matter what happens," she whispered, "we'll face it together."

Gurvi simply nodded, but this time, there was something different in his eyes. A quiet determination. The storm wasn't over—if anything, it was just beginning. But for the first time in a long time, he wasn't standing alone.