Miraculous Read online

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

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  Little, Brown and Company

  Hachette Book Group

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  Visit us at LBYR.com

  Originally published in 2019 by Five Mile in Australia

  First U.S. Edition: May 2022

  Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2020941372

  ISBNs: 978-0-316-42948-1 (pbk.), 978-0-316-42947-4 (ebook)

  E3-20220317-JV-NF-ORI

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 1

  It’s early morning in Paris, and Marinette lies spread out on her bed with her mystical companion, Tikki, curled up on her tummy. Both are sound asleep. Tikki, a bright-red Kwami with a big black spot on her forehead, is the sworn guardian of Marinette’s superhero alter ego, Ladybug. Tikki has enjoyed watching over Marinette ever since the little Kwami first appeared in a burst of light and explained Marinette’s new role as a superhero. Tikki also loves snuggling up with Marinette at bedtime.

  Marinette’s phone alarm rings, breaking the peaceful morning silence, and she sits up like a shot. Tikki is thrown from her cozy spot on Marinette’s tummy, and she catapults across the room.

  “Happy birthday!” Marinette shouts to her empty bedroom.

  Tikki rights herself and flies into the air as Marinette jumps out of bed and slides down the ladder of her loft to the rest of her room. She zips across the floor on her wheely chair to her desk and taps the computer keyboard. Multiple images of Adrien surrounded by hearts appear on the screen.

  Marinette sighs deeply and gazes adoringly at her screensaver. “Happy birthday, Adrien,” she whispers, leaning forward to kiss the screen.

  Marinette has been looking forward to Adrien’s birthday for so long! She has spent hours knitting Adrien a beautiful blue scarf, and she plans to give it to him at school this morning.

  Marinette picks up the carefully wrapped gift, hugs it tightly to her chest, and spins in her chair. Finally, I have the perfect excuse to have a real conversation with him! she thinks with delight.

  The excited teenager is still close to bursting as she enters the kitchen. Marinette’s mother, Sabine, is having her morning cup of tea. She looks up at her daughter.

  “Marinette?” she says. “Don’t forget to clean your room after school today.”

  Marinette’s happy glow instantly fades.

  “Mom,” she complains, “it’s Friday, and I’m already doing something with Alya this afternoon!”

  “Fine,” Sabine replies. “I’ll go ahead and clean it, but don’t blame me if I come across any of your private stuff, like your emails… your diary—”

  “Okay, I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”

  The last thing I need is for Mom to start snooping through my diary and discover I’m a secret superhero on the side, Marinette thinks, leaning forward to kiss her mother on the cheek.

  “Have a nice day, sweetie.”

  “Happy birthday…,” Marinette says, turning back from the door to grin at her mom. “Uh… I mean, have a nice day!”

  Across the city, the birthday boy, Adrien Agreste, stares glumly into the bathroom mirror as he brushes his teeth. It sure doesn’t feel like my birthday, he thinks.

  Adrien had hoped his dad would come into his room this morning to wish him a happy birthday, but Adrien hasn’t seen him at all and it’s almost time to leave for school. He wonders if his dad has forgotten his birthday altogether.

  “Happy birthday, Adrien!”

  Adrien’s Kwami, Plagg, hovers beside him. He’s black with a long tail, pointy ears, and piercing green cat eyes. In his tiny paws, he’s holding a large and very stinky piece of Camembert cheese. It’s wrapped in a red ribbon. The strong, cheesy stench fills Adrien’s large bathroom.

  “Oh, Plagg!” Adrien cries. He pinches his nostrils to block the smell. “Get that filthy piece of Camembert out of my face!”

  Plagg shrugs, throws the cheese into the air, catches it in his mouth, and swallows it in one gulp.

  The fancy antique dining table in the Agreste mansion is set for twelve people, but only Adrien eats breakfast there ten minutes later. As far as birthdays go, this one truly stinks, he thinks.

  Adrien’s hopes rise as the door swings open. Although Gabriel Agreste is so busy that he never eats breakfast with his son on any day, let alone his birthday, Adrien wonders if his dad might have made time for his son today after all.

  Gabriel’s assistant, Nathalie, walks into the room, her high heels clicking, and Adrien slumps back over his croissant. Of course it’s not his dad. He was silly to think it would be.

  “Your schedule, Adrien,” Nathalie says. She hands him a computer tablet.

  “Thanks, Nathalie,” Adrien replies. “Hey, did my father get back to you about my birthday party?”

  “Well, uh… he… doesn’t think it would be a good idea,” Nathalie says.

  “Of course not,” Adrien mutters.

  “Happy birthday, Adrien.” Nathalie turns and walks out, leaving him alone again in the huge dining room.

  Adrien pushes away his half-eaten breakfast and gets up. He’s not feeling very hungry this morning.

  Adrien spots Nino Lahiffe as soon as he arrives at school. Nino is waiting for him on the front steps of Collège Françoise Dupont. It’s easy for Adrien to spot his best friend. Nino always has large headphones around his neck and always wears a red hat and large, round black-rimmed glasses. Adrien knows Nino wants to be a famous DJ when he grows up. He works so hard on perfecting his DJ skills! Adrien also knows Nino has no idea that Adrien is secretly the superhero Cat Noir!

  Today, Nino is holding a small plastic bottle of bubble liquid. As Adrien walks toward him, Nino blows bubbles at his best friend.

  “Dude!” Nino calls when he spots Adrien. “Happy birthday!”

  “Thanks, man,” Adrien says, grinning as he swats at a huge bubble floating by his head. At least Adrien can count on his best friend to remember his birthday.

  “Hey, what did your dad say about the party?”

  “He doesn’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Dude, seriously?” Nino says. “Has your dad always been such a downer? You’d think he’d at least remember what it was like to be young and to wanna party a little!”

  “No, I
’m pretty sure he was a downer back then, too.” Adrien shrugs. “Well, at least I tried.”

  It upsets Nino to see his friend looking so bummed out. “It’s your b-day, dude!” he says, putting his arm around Adrien. “Ask again!”

  Adrien shakes his head. Insisting won’t do any good when his dad has already made a decision.

  “You know what?” Nino says, not giving up that easily. “I’m gonna have a little convo with your pops.”

  “Don’t waste your time,” Adrien says sadly. “He’s not going to change his mind.”

  Just a few feet away, behind a low wall next to the school steps, Alya Césaire is also having a hard time trying to talk her best friend into something. Marinette holds Adrien’s present in her hands as she squats beside Alya.

  “You can do it!” Alya tells Marinette. “You can do it!”

  “I can do it! I can do it!” Marinette repeats, a determined look on her face.

  She pops up to peek over the wall, and every single bit of courage seeps out of her and onto the ground the moment she catches a glimpse of Adrien’s gorgeous face. She ducks back down and shakes her head.

  “I can’t do it! I can’t do it!” Marinette curls up in a ball and holds the present over her head, trying to shield herself from Alya’s glare.

  “No you don’t, girl!” Alya says, her eyes narrowed and her hands on her hips. “You’ve been stalling all morning! Now’s the time!”

  Alya gives Marinette a huge shove, and before she knows what’s happening, Marinette is standing in front of Adrien and Nino. She quickly hides the present behind her back with a sheepish giggle. The boys blink at her in confusion.

  “Um… uh… hey,” Marinette says.

  “Hey,” Adrien replies.

  Standing at the top of the stairs with her arms crossed, Chloé Bourgeois watches this awkward exchange and frowns. Why would Marinette think she can talk to Adrien? she thinks. Her parents own a bakery!

  Chloé’s father is the mayor, so Chloé believes that she is the only girl in the school good enough for Adrien Agreste. She thinks they’re destined to be together. Chloé makes it her business to know where Adrien is and who he’s hanging out with at all times.

  Chloé’s disgusted expression changes to one of fury when she spies the gift in Marinette’s hand. Chloé spins around to confront her friend Sabrina Raincomprix, who is cowering behind her.

  “Wait!” Chloé snaps at Sabrina. “Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing? Don’t tell me it’s Adrien’s birthday!”

  A trembling Sabrina consults her phone and gasps. How did I overlook this date in the Adrien Calendar?! she thinks.

  Part of Sabrina’s role as Chloé’s best friend is keeping track of all Adrien’s important events and occasions and making sure that Chloé is up to date with everything happening in his life.

  “Aaaagh!” Chloé cries in frustration. “Do I have to do everything myself? Seriously, what are you good for?”

  Sabrina gulps as Chloé turns and stomps off down the steps toward Adrien. Poor Marinette is still having trouble trying to explain why she is standing in front of Adrien, and she can’t stop babbling. “I—uh—I wanted to, um, gift you a make!” she stammers. “I mean, gift you a give I made. I mean—”

  Alya watches in horror, but Chloé decides she has heard enough.

  “Outta the way!” Chloé says, walking up and roughly pushing Marinette aside. Marinette flies across the sidewalk and lands on her hands and knees. Chloé instantly adopts a sweet expression and bats her eyelashes at Adrien.

  “Happy birthday, Adrien!” Chloé says. She lunges at him and kisses him loudly on the cheek.

  “Uh, thanks, Chlo’.”

  An embarrassed Adrien gently pushes her away from him.

  “Did you get the gift I sent you?” Chloé asks sweetly.

  “Uh… no.”

  “What?!” Chloé cries, pretending to be really furious. “Oh, those delivery guys! I bet it was too heavy, so they had to go back and get another guy to help. Those slackers! I’ll make sure they get it to you by tonight!”

  She plants another noisy kiss on Adrien’s cheek before slinking away. Nino grins at his friend and gives him a friendly punch on the arm.

  With a fierce look on her face, Chloé strides back over to Sabrina.

  “What did you get him?” Sabrina asks in a timid voice.

  “I didn’t!” Chloé snarls. “You did!” She points a perfectly manicured finger at Sabrina’s face, forcing Sabrina to pull back for fear of losing an eye. “And it better be amazing! And it better not be late!”

  Sabrina nods, a tiny whimper escaping from her mouth.

  “Ugh!” Chloé exclaims in disgust and then strides away. Sabrina follows right behind, frantically tapping a reminder into her phone.

  Marinette lies facedown on the sidewalk, the present still held out in front of her. She is furious at herself. How could I have let such a perfect opportunity to talk to him slip away? she thinks.

  “Dummy,” Marinette mumbles as she crawls back to her hiding spot beside Alya.

  “Get back there!” Alya orders. “Don’t be a pushover! Literally!”

  Marinette groans and begins to bang the present against her head.

  “Come on!” Alya says. She gives Marinette an encouraging thump on the arm. “You can do it!”

  Marinette breathes in deeply and stands up just in time to see the Agrestes’ long white limousine pulling up outside the school.

  “Gotta go,” Adrien says to Nino. “Photo shoot.”

  Marinette watches sadly as Adrien gets into the car. She drops her head in defeat as the car drives away. Alya comes over to stand beside her.

  Marinette turns to Alya. “Why can’t I just mean what I say?” she asks miserably.

  “Uh… say what you mean?” Alya asks, correcting her gently.

  “Exactly!” Marinette cries. “Come on,” she says, leading Alya toward Adrien’s house.

  The girls leave, and Nino watches with a determined look on his face as his friend’s car drives away.

  “Well,” Nino says aloud to himself, “looks like I’ve got some business to take care of with Adrien’s old man!”

  Chapter 2

  During the school’s lunch break, Marinette pulls hard on the mailbox slot on the front wall of the Agreste mansion. Close to the Eiffel Tower, Adrien’s home is surrounded by high walls and gates to keep it separated from the city. It also has high-level security, which is why Marinette and Alya are finding it impossible to do something as simple as drop Adrien’s present in the mailbox.

  “Huuunhhh!” Marinette grunts, pulling at it. “This mailbox won’t budge!”

  “Ring the doorbell,” Alya suggests.

  “Are you kidding?” Marinette cries. “What if Adrien answers and—”

  With an evil grin, Alya presses the buzzer beside the gate. Marinette shrieks in alarm. A robotic camera eye shoots out of the wall above Marinette’s head, and she shrieks again.

  “Yes?” The girls hear Nathalie’s clipped voice through a speaker below the camera.

  “Umm, hi,” Marinette begins. “I’m in Adrien’s class and I… uh… Did I already say that? Umm—” She stops abruptly and giggles nervously as she holds up the present for the camera.

  “Put it in the box!”

  The mailbox slot shoots open, and Marinette places the present inside.

  “Thank you,” she says, giving the camera a grateful smile.

  The mailbox slot slams shut, and the robotic eye instantly snaps back into the wall, leaving Marinette and Alya blinking at each other in astonishment.

  “Oooh!” Marinette cries, jumping up and down with excitement. “I hope he likes it!”

  “You signed the note, right?”

  Marinette freezes mid-jump, and her eyes almost bug out of her head as she realizes she didn’t sign it.

  Oh no! How will Adrien know it’s from me? she wonders.

  Alya sighs, dropping her head in her hands. “G
irl, girl, girl…”

  Marinette throws her head back and wails.

  Inside the mansion, Marinette’s present travels down a chute and along a conveyor belt that leads straight to an office. Nathalie retrieves the gift and sits back down at her desk.

  “Who was that, Nathalie?” Gabriel Agreste’s voice booms through the digital intercom on Nathalie’s desk. She presses a button and her boss’s face appears on the screen.

  “A friend of Adrien’s,” she explains. “She was delivering a gift for his birthday.”

  “Did you remember to buy him a present from me?” Gabriel asks.

  Nathalie’s face drains of color. “Er… you didn’t ask me to,” she replies nervously.

  “Of course I did!” he snaps.

  “Uh—yes, Mr. Agreste,” Nathalie stammers. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Good,” he says curtly before the screen goes black.

  Nathalie sighs and drops her head down onto her desk. She doesn’t know what to get Adrien, and even if she did, how would she have time to organize anything? Then she spies Marinette’s beautifully wrapped gift on the desk, and a smile of relief spreads across her face.

  The front-gate intercom buzzes again, briefly startling Nathalie.

  She smooths her hair and presses the button. Nino’s face appears on the screen.

  “Yes?” she asks the boy standing outside the mansion.

  “Uh… hi!” Nino says as he gives the robotic camera eye a nervous wave.

  A few minutes later, Nino stands beside Nathalie in the entrance hall of the mansion.

  “He’ll be here in a minute,” Nathalie says curtly.

  Nino fiddles nervously with his bubble bottle as he waits for Gabriel Agreste. Now that Nino’s actually here, he is feeling slightly less confident about trying to talk Adrien’s father into anything. Anyone who owns a sweet palace like this probably isn’t the kind of dude who can be talked into anything he doesn’t want to do, he thinks.