Adrien woke up to an empty bed and a quiet household. He looked at his hand as he saw a slight discoloration, a sign that he used to wear a ring on it, specifically his engagement ring. He knew that what he said was wrong, but what else was he supposed to do. He tried to collect his thoughts, given that he'll sure be bombarded by reporters today, some are probably outside right now.

At times like these he usually has Plagg to tell him what to do, but the tiny god was just as speechless as him. This was the first time after receiving his miraculous did he ever feel alone again. Now that he brought it up, his father's in prison after being outed as Hawkmoth, Natalie, as well, is being confined, but under medical professionals for her condition. His mom, finally dead and buried to rest in peace under the beautiful mausoleum surrounded by flowers that was created just for her.

Looking at the clock, he knew that he would need to get up for work. He sighed as he forced himself out of the bed. He entered the bathroom and began splashing water on his face. He looked at the mirror and saw his reflection steering back at him. He pointed a finger at it and said, "You did nothing wrong. The whole break up was for the best. For her best," he whispered the last part. He took a deep breath and exhaled it with the same pressure. He could feel his companion's eyes burning on the back of his head. He turned towards those eyes and shouted in desperation, "Say something, anything! Please, I can't take the silence anymore!"

Plagg gloomily looked away also unsure what to say. But he felt his holder's frustration, anger, and helplessness. It seemed like even the human understood the emotions going through his mind. He fell to the floor as her curled up like a small child bawling out in hopelessness.

"Why am I still like this? Why can't I do anything? Aren't I supposed to be free?" he murmured to himself as he tried to choke back the tears. This time the tiny cat approached him and gave him a reassuring hug telling him, "It's alright, it'll be alright. I'll always be here for you."

Adrien sniffed back some hiccups as he wiped a tear off. "Did I really make the right choice?" he asked for some reassurance. Plagg wiped off the tear in his other eye and answered, "For her, yes. But for you, you're going to have to wait it out a little longer. But I'll help you out, kid."

He smiled gratefully at his friend, this gave him strength to move forward. He knew how painful and horrible this would be for the both of them, but through it all once he can tell her there could be hope for them afterwards.

He finished cleaning himself then got dressed as he dreaded the horde of reporters camped outside of his house. He quickly got out and was greeted by his driver. He entered the car as his chauffeur drove him to his workplace.

As expected, once the gates opened and out went the car, flashes of cameras and dozens of small time reporters and tabloid writers, began shouting out their questions. He sighed, knowing that it'll take a while for them to be the talk of the city.

He leaned against the window as he turned his attention back to his business meetings later. Once they were safely inside the building, he got out and headed to his office. He could feel all eyes on him as his employees began whispering as he passed by. He replaced his solemn look with his father's cold stare, making everyone gossip in a more quiet tone. He greeted his secretary, Aurore, as she took his coat from him.

"Have you finalized my meeting with the advertising department?" he asked as he shrugged his coat off. "Yes, sir. It starts in fifteen minutes," she replied and she took it.

"By the way," she said with a bit distaste in her mouth. "Lila Rossi asked me to let her in your office as a surprise," she added as she forcefully hung his coat.

This action made him wince, given that Aurore usually expresses her feelings in private. But when her words sunk into him he turned to her with surprise. "You did what?" he asked a bit flabbergasted. She sat down while twirling her now short hair and explained, "I asked her to leave and schedule an appointment, but she opted to enter when the interns arrived and began congratulating her."

Adrien didn't want to do this right now. He ran his hand down his face in irritation over the girl's pushy attitude. He nodded to himself and ordered, "Next time, don't allow her to do that." Aurore nodded as she got back to work.

Taking a deep breath, he entered the room to find Lila sitting on his office chair holding the picture of him and Marinette when he proposed. Hearing the door open she turned and smiled at him as she sauntered her way there. He closed the door behind him while he kept a neutral face.

"You need to throw this out, now," Lila said as she looked back at the picture in hand. "And why should I?" he asked coldly taking the picture from her and placed it back on his desk. He sat down on his chair and began to go through the documents his secretary left. Lila leaned on the desk, seductively exposing her cleavage at him through her sweetheart blouse as she placed a flirty finger on his computer and turned it away from him.

Adrien looked up at her, rather annoyed by her interruption, shooting her a glare. She then sat on his desk as she leaned forward and took the picture again. "If someone sees this in your office they would assume that you still haven't gotten over your relationship, labelling you an arsehole," she explained.

"I know I'm an arsehole, they can't hurt me more than you have," he growled at her. She sighed as she began to explain again, "If you want this to work, you have to listen to me. When a person breaks up, they take away reminders of their exes making them move on. You really are such a sapling in relationships."

Adrien scoffs at her as he looks at his watch. "Of course you'd know what to do after a break up. It's an occupation at this point," he sarcastically pointed out.

Lila glared back at him, rather displeased at his insubordination. "Maybe I haven't made myself clear," she began as she got up from where she sat and made her way to where he sat. "You will be the good boyfriend and ideal partner in front of the camera and quit your complaining," she threatened.

Adrien merely rolled his eyes at her, wanting her to leave. "If you are so keen in making us look like a happy couple, you could start by not barging in my office. It'll definitely brighten my day," he stated as he reviewed the project the advertising department proposed. "Doesn't your fiancé surprise you at work?" she asked rather offended by his suggestion.

"Marinette and I respect each others boundaries and work. I expect you to do the same," he commanded with his cold eyes. Lila rolled her eyes in return as she toyed with the paper weight in his desk. "Ugh, whatever. You're just as boring as your cousin," she said as she sat down on his desk again.

"You may know the secrets of a lasting relationship, but you still have a lot to learn through break ups," she added. Adrien rolled his again as he looks back at his watch. "I'm not going to throw it away. That's final and I'm not replacing it with a picture of us," he said as he got up from his seat.

"Where are you going? I'm not done talking with you," she scolded as she glared at him. "Unlike you I have important things to do, like my meeting in ten minutes," he replied as he made his way to the door.

"If you're not throwing it away, I'm going to dispose it myself," she threatened as she took the picture out of its frame. Adrien quickly snatched it from her hands and placed it in his drawer.

He turned around ready to leave, only to have her push him on the desk as she began kissing him violently. She messed up her hair, as well as, his suit as she forced her tongue into his mouth. He tried to pry her off him, but not to the point of hurting her that may lead to her using it against him. She began trailing kisses down his neck, onto his chest as she forced him to touch her.

Adrien could only feel disgust and contempt over the woman in front of him. He wanted her to stop so bad, luckily for him his luck hasn't ran out yet.

A knock on the door disturbed them as Aurore opened it. Lila groaned in disappointment, all for her act, but behind it she was grinning maliciously, glad that someone walked in on them. She pushed herself off Adrien dramatically as she put on an innocent look.

"Monsieur Agreste your meeting starts in five minutes. If you don't have anything important to do right now, other than sticking your hand under her blouse, the department would really appreciate it if you were there now," said Aurore in an annoyed tone.

"Yes, of course. Sorry, thank you for reminding me, Aurore," he said and gladly pushed Lila off him. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I just missed him so much. I forgot that he had a meeting," Lila said in a dramatic tone as she fumbled to fix herself, leaving as if she had done something incredulous, which she had.

Once gone, Aurore approached him, seeing that he was having a difficulty fixing himself. She began buttoning the two top buttons as he began fixing his hair.

"Why did you have to break her heart?" she finally asked as he avoided her stare. "I had to, she's not fit to my family's requirement and ready carry my family name—" he replied, but was choked by the tie she was fixing. "You say another word about Marinette being an embarrassment and I swear to God I'll hang you by your toes in front of the company building from the 35th floor," she threatened and began loosening the tie.

They remained silent as she stepped back and headed to the door. She stopped and said, without looking back, "Your hands were trembling when I walked in. I hope you trust me well enough to tell me what's going on." Afterwards, she opened the door leaving him in the abyss of his lonely office.

As much as he wants to have his pity party, he needs to set aside all of his emotions to get back to reality. Looking at the picture of the four of them, placed across the room, one last time he gathered up his strength and pushed forward to face his present arrangements.

Behind ones heart ache is another's suffering.