Adrien opened the door to his mansion and stepped in quietly. He had just left his Chinese lesson. He closed the door behind him and started up the stairs.

He briefly glanced at his fathers' door before sighing and heading down the hallway to his room.

Plagg peeked his head out of Adrien's shirt pocket. "Are you okay?" the creature asked.

"Yeah," Adrien replied. He sat on his bed and stared out the window. Part of him wanted to confront his father about the scarf, but he didn't want to waste his time. He was a busy man after all and the issue was minuscule.

A knock was heard at the door and Nathalie entered, holding a clipboard. "Adrien, your father would like to have a word with you."

Adrien looked up, surprised. "Okay," he said.

He got up from his bed and followed Nathalie down the stairs and into Gabriel's office. He saw his father, scribbling something down on a piece of paper. Adrien cautiously took a seat while Nathalie stepped out.

Gabriel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Everything okay?" Adrien asked quietly.

He shook his head. "No, son. It isn't."

"What's wrong?" Adrien asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gabriel lifted up a piece of paper and held it in front of Adrien's face. It was his Chinese practice paper.

"What is this?" he asked harshly.

Adrien inspected the paper. He didn't see anything wrong. "My Chinese practice?"

Gabriel slammed the paper down on the table. "Wrong! It's failure." He skimmed the answers on the paper with his finger. "Wrong, wrong, wrong."

Adrien widened his eyes and looked at the paper for himself. "But..."

"Were you even trying?" Gabriel asked. "This is completely unacceptable young man!"

"I'm sorry," Adrien mumbled. "I couldn't focus."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow and sat back in his chair. "You couldn't focus? What kind of an excuse is that?"

"It's not an excuse it's the truth!" Adrien exclaimed.

"I want you to be successful, Adrien," Gabriel said. He gestured to the paper. "This is not success! This is garbage!"

Adrien dropped his head. "Okay. I'm sorry," he muttered.

"Go on. This better not happen again," Gabriel ordered. He turned in his chair and started working on his computer. Adrien left the room.

He sighed and went up to his bedroom. Sitting on his bed, he toyed with the blue scarf in his hands. He had never examined it so closely. Surely his father would have his name on the tag.

Adrien opened up a piece of the blue scarf to reveal the tag. It was flipped over. Of course! He should've located it sooner. Now he could know for sure that his father made it.

Adrien flipped the tag over and nearly lost his breath. The cursive name didn't read 'Gabriel Agreste.' Instead it read, 'Marinette.' Just like the signature on the derby hat she made for a class project.

Adrien widened his eyes. But Nathalie said the scarf was from his father... she lied to him? And Marinette.. she was probably only sparing Adrien's feelings. Even she knew how miserable his relationship with his father was. Adrien stood up, confused and hurt. He needed to confront his father about the issue.

The boy left his room and walked straight to Gabriel's office. "Father," Adrien said at the door.

Gabriel sighed in annoyance and swiveled around in his chair. "What is it?"

Adrien held up the scarf. "You didn't make me this."

"Of course I did," Gabriel smiled.

Adrien messed with the scarf until he found the tag. He showed it to Gabriel who fake gasped.

"I swear I didn't-"

"Don't even try to cover up your lie," Adrien interrupted. He waved the scarf in the air. "Is this what my life is now? Lies?"

Gabriel frowned. "Adrien, stop overreacting. I was busy that day and needed to give you something."

"Yeah, poor Marinette's gift?" Adrien spat, his volume growing. "She had to play along. She did all the hard work!"

"Enough!" Gabriel yelled. Silence filled the room. "You should appreciate the things I do around here!"

"Why? Because it seems like the more things you do, the more lonely I am!" Adrien replied, his eyes watering. "I'm tired of... not being good enough! Being shamed for no reason! You not being there for me!"

Gabriel pinched the bridge of his nose while Adrien caught his breath. Then, he kept talking. "You're so angry all the time and it's frustrating! I try to be there for you, now why can't you be there for me? Not only do you forget my birthday but then you lie about it as well! How do you think that makes me feel?"

Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, young man. How does it make you feel?"

"I miss how things used to be, father!" Adrien whimpered. "I know mom left, but-"

"Don't bring her up!" Gabriel shouted. "Things won't be the same! They never will be! Ungrateful child!"

Adrien silenced, his eyes widening.

Gabriel cleared his throat and composed himself. He patted Adrien on the back, using that as an apology.

Adrien tried to not fall apart right then and there. The realization that his father didn't care whatsoever hit him hard. Adrien's heart ached with pain and sorrow. He nodded slowly.

He turned on his heels and exited the room. He walked past Nathalie and out the front door. Nearing the park, he sat on a bench and sighed. He slipped off the ring from his finger and looked at it. Considering he was a very likely victim of an akuma attack, he had to be prepared to get the ring away from him as soon as possible. Plagg flew out of his pocket nibbling on some cheese.

"Well, I feel like crap," Adrien mumbled, inspecting the silver ring design.

Plagg scoffed. "I don't blame you. A pat on the back is a poor excuse for an apology."

"I'm being serious," Adrien sighed.

"Me too," Plagg nodded, scratching his chin. "Tell ya what. Lemme finish this Camembert and then we can go for a stroll in the park to get your mind off things. My treat."

Adrien lowered his head. "Plagg, I think something's wrong."

"I'll say. Your dad's a jerk," Plagg replied with a yawn.

"...Shut up," Adrien mumbled.

"Ok, sorry. I know he's your dad and you love him or whatever. Doesn't mean I have to like him."

Plagg closed his eyes and was about to take another bite of his Camembert when the ring flew at him and hit him in the side. Plagg opened one eye. "Huh?"

"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" Adrien screamed at the top of his lungs. Plagg watched in horror as Adrien gripped his head in pain. A purple butterfly outline appeared over the blonde boys' face.

"I won't! I won't! I won't!" Adrien yelled, tears running down his face. His face was contorted in pain.

"Adrien!" Plagg yelled. He watched in shock, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't understand. This can't happen." His eyes traveled to the ground where the ring was lying.

"Plagg, listen to me," Adrien said in a strained voice. His face was outlined in red with sweat drops running down his forehead. "Get the Miraculous out of here. Find Ladybug, she'll know what to do."

Plagg swooped down and picked up the ring. He held it close to him as he stared at his beloved owner. His ears folded back. "Adrien..." Plagg mumbled sadly.

"Please go," Adrien whispered, the transformation beginning to cover his entire body. His face turned white with cracks running down his cheeks that started from his eyes. Almost like a porcelain doll. His normal clothes were replaced with a black body suit, and a blue scarf wrapped around his neck. His hands shook uncontrollably. "I'm sorry."

Adrien gasped in fear as the purple butterfly outline reappeared on his face. Then, his face rested, and he looked calm. His eyes darted over to the ring in Plagg's arms.

Plagg shook with fear, his tail curling in between his legs. His ears were folded back.

"That ring," Simulacrum hissed. "Give it back."