#ml gabriel

Chapter 31 Preview:

Marinette blew out a heavy breath. ‘Right – I guess we have to cut this short. Sorry, everyone.’

Chloe arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. ‘Why are you apologising? It’s not your fault these insaniacs are so insistent on terrorising Paris – years after magic abuse went out of fashion, I might add.’

Marinette shot a terse glance at Gabriel, expecting him to shrink, or otherwise look mortified. Instead, the ghost of a smile played on his lips. Was he –

No.

But –

Oh my god.

Was it actually possible? Did Gabriel Agreste have a sense of humour?

Chapter 27 Preview:

Marinette got to her feet, readying herself to follow Hugo out of the kitchen and into the living room. But just as he went out to greet the twins, she paused, letting the door fall closed behind him.

Through the door, she could hear Emma greeting Hugo and chattering loudly to both her brothers, not letting them get a word in edgeways, as usual. It sounded like she was talking about today’s akuma attack.

Not an akuma. Just a crazy person, followed by insane versions of ourselves.

LAST CHAPTER!

Biting her lip, Nathalie's attention was drawn back to the 8 of Swords. This morning’s news footage rolled again in her head. Ladybug might only be a child, yet she’d stood up to Hawk Moth like possibly no one had stood up to Gabriel. Once upon a time, Nathalie might have done the same. The old Nathalie would’ve cut ties with Gabriel long ago.

But the old Nathalie hadn’t had a heart.

On cue, it throbbed so hard that it hurt. Wincing, she touched her breast, feeling the heavy pulse through her blouse. One thing she’d learned since meeting the Agrestes was that her heart had magic of its own. It had to, to have made her overturn her life for a man – a man like Gabriel, no less.

A noise jolted her from her thoughts. Her alarm, a crude notification that it was time to collect Adrien from school. It was almost time to tell Gabriel what they’d done.

Her heartbeat quickened, the stress piling on top of her again like soil on a grave, making it difficult to breathe. If things kept up like this, she might not survive long enough for the magic to take her. Was protecting Adrien really worth that?

Yes.

The answer was sharp and immediate.

Chapter 17 Preview:

The butterfly flew at Nathalie again, and she moved to brush it aside – but Gabriel grabbed her arm, stopping her. His grip was firm, if not painful, but his voice was soft.

‘Don’t fight it, Nathalie. Let it in. Let me in. Isn’t that what you wanted all these years?’

He said this so innocently that part of her wanted to say yes. That was what she wanted. At last, he recognised it. At last, he wanted the same thing.

Then her gaze widened, seeing beyond the eyes to the mask that now sheathed his face – and she remembered. What he wanted was his wife. And he’d already demonstrated that he’d do anything to get her back.

She jerked her arm free, taking a step back – but he came forward again, flanked by not just one butterfly but dozens.

Now hundreds.

Now thousands. They were multiplying before her eyes.

Chapter 20 - Preview:

‘Thank you.’ Adrien crossed the lobby and called the lift, clenching his hands together as he waited for it to arrive.

This was it. He was really doing this. He was about to voluntarily visit Gabriel.

When the lift arrived, he stepped inside, regretting the decision as soon as the doors shut. In desperate need of a good oiling, the contraption rattled and jerked its way up to the fifth floor. At least if the cables snapped, it wouldn’t be far to fall. He’d probably live.

The question was, how the hell had Gabriel Agreste ended up in a place like this? It wasn’t exactly the Le Grand Paris.

Thank goodness, the lift stopped and the doors opened, releasing him. A woman walked past, and he ducked his head before they could make eye contact. Hurrying the other way, he headed down a hallway right out of Purgatory, finally hesitating outside Room 512.

He lifted his hand – then pulled it back, giving himself another chance to back out of this.

Then he knocked on Gabriel’s door, holding his breath as he waited for an answer.

Please don’t let him be home, his younger self prayed.

Chapter 15 - Preview:

Amelie sniffed hard, then let out a loud breath. When she spoke again, her voice was clearer. Stronger. ‘I don’t even know why I’m crying. I’ve wasted so much of my energy on that man as it is. God knows he doesn’t need it from me in death. I just – I need to put him to rest, then move on. The funeral is the day after tomorrow. Will you be there?’

Adrien’s brow shot up at the word funeral, obviously able to hear.

‘I’ll…have to speak to Gabriel,’ Nathalie said.

Amelie made a noise of disgust. ‘You shouldn’t need his permission to go to a funeral.’

‘I know,’ Nathalie said, maybe too quickly. ‘But you know I’m responsible for Adrien. And his father might not….’

She trailed off there, unable to finish her sentence. Every word sounded weak to her own ears – like an excuse.

Amelie was quiet down the line. The kind of quiet that carried judgment and pity and resignation all at once.

After a long time, she said, ‘Maybe I’m not the only one who needs to move forward.’

Chapter 7 Preview:

Nathalie stood rigid beside Gabriel in the secret lift. He pressed a button, and they started to rise – leaving Emilie in the basement.

The basement Gabriel had somehow installed right beneath their feet without any of them knowing.

When they emerged in his office, the last hour or so already seemed like some mad hallucination. Outside, the sun had come up, its rays fighting through the heavy curtains.

But they’d really done that. They’d really put Emilie in some high-tech coffin, and they’d really left her down there.

Now, they had to deal with the aftermath.