#me thinking about possible culprits: she's literally the only one who could've done this

[minnieshark]

My theory on who could be behind the article in avsp (under the cut so no one gets spoiled and also bc it accidentally became an essay)

I think it's Ava/Simon, for multiple reasons. (I use Ava bc I'm too lazy to type more; it encompasses Simon as well)

1. MC pointed out that the article if full of information she had no way of knowing and in some cases even wondered how Hugo would've found out about certain details; Ava is the only one who could have known every detail for everything that was addressed in the article

2. Ava is the only one who knows about the book MC was planning to write. Hugo knew she was spying for information, maybe thought she was planning an article, but I don't think he knew much more. So unless Ava told anyone about the *fake* engagement, she's the only one who knows.

3. During her talk with her editor, MC finds out that it was sent from her official account which means that the culprit either had access to MC's Computer or remote access to the website. Regardless, the culprit would have needed one or more passwords and Ava is in a perfect position to obtain those passwords. MC obviously trusts her and has worked in front of her (i.e. library scene) and Ava could've either seen her type in the password, installed keystroke tracking software etc. (the mansion being hers she has easy access to all rooms, thus MC's computer and she looks young and tech savvy enough).

4. It's unlikely a multiple person job, it would take too much coordination in too little time (as Genevieve pointed out). The article was out incredibly fast and there is no way it could have been written this fast this detailed and well? It's more likely the article was a WIP updated whenever MC found out sth new

5. Ava has a fitting motive. She obviously wants the estaste and if MC betrayed her, she wouldn't be at fault for the failure of the relationship, her grandma wouldn't be able to blame it on her being irresponsible and it's unlikely they'd punish her by not giving her the mansion after this whole fiasco. However, all along the plan was for MC to break it off after her birthday and she still would've had the mansion, which leads me to her other potential motive:

6. Ava needed a way to not get the book published. Either it was her plan from the beginning, or she had the idea while their fake engagement unfolded. The book would've dug up a lot of dirt on the family and would've maybe ruined their public image. That's one thing, the other is that since MC would have published the book, everyone would have known it was her fiancee and with their breakup having been soon after her birthday, suspicion might have arisen.

7. Hugo is obviously still a suspect, considering the way he was behaving he either was in on it or knew something, but I definitely don't think it was his doing (what Genevieve said, plus he doesn't have access to MCs laptop, there's no way he would've been able to write an article this long this fast with this much information, some which is nearly impossible for him to know etc.)

Honestly I have no idea why Ava would do sth like that if she really ends up being the culprit, I don't want her to be it either, I love her too much. I also don't know how they would reconcile MC and Ava with the book being single LI and all. But she's the only one who I imagine could realistically have done this. Nigel could be a potential suspect, but he has nothing to gain from this and afaik he's not into the whole nobles and high society whatever thing.

The diamond scene in Ava's appartment would obviously speak against all this (and her behaviour at the ball and the moments where they looked like they were in love), but we know Ava is a good actress, after all she is selling the whole fake fiancee schmick incredibly well; it could also be regret of course

What might also be noteworthy: in her diamond scene in her appartment, when MC says: "[...] I'm going to find out who's really behind this. [...] [Y]ou can trust me." She asnwers: "...Can you?" with her shocked/surprised sprite. Instead of asking 'Can I?' and referring to MC saying she can trust her, she refers to MC saying she'll find the culprit. Also, by using a shocked sprite it suggests she is worried, or didn't expect this outcome, when it would make more sense for her to be relieved at MC's dedication to solve this, for which they would've/should've used a smiling sprite, maybe with a grey background. (Although this paragraph makes me feel like I'm reaching (a bit))