**DAY 1: Introduction & Main Characters**

In the bustling college town of Oakwood, Australia:

**Main Characters:**

**Ethan Blackwood** (Male Lead): 19, charming, intelligent, and mysterious college sophomore.

**Ava Morales** (Female Lead): 19, beautiful, witty, and determined journalism major.

**Side Characters:**

**Liam Chen**: Ethan's best friend and computer genius.

**Sophia Patel**: Ava's loyal and gossip-loving roommate.

**Professor Henry Lee**: Strict but fair journalism professor with secrets.

Story Begins:

Ethan Blackwood walked into Professor Lee's journalism class, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Ava Morales. She was arguing with Professor Lee about a recent assignment. Ethan was intrigued by her passion and beauty.

After class, Liam approached Ethan. "Dude, what's with the staring? Ava's got a rep for being untouchable."

Ethan smirked. "Challenge accepted."

Meanwhile, Ava discussed the encounter with Sophia. "That guy, Ethan Blackwood, was totally checking me out! But there's something mysterious about him..."

As they parted ways, Ava received a cryptic text: "Meet me at old oak tree tonight. Come alone."

Her heart raced – who could this be, and what did they want?

**Ava Receives Mysterious Message**

Ava's heart raced as she stared at the cryptic text:

"Meet me at old oak tree tonight. Come alone."

She showed Sophia the message. "This is freaky! Who could this be?"

Sophia's eyes widened. "Maybe it's Ethan Blackwood – he was totally eyeing you in class!"

Ava blushed. "Don't be ridiculous... but what if it is him?"

As night fell, Ava stood alone near the old oak tree, phone clutched tightly.

A figure emerged from darkness – tall, broad shoulders, familiar messy hair...

"Ethan?" Ava whispered.

He stepped closer, voice low and mysterious. "I've been wanting to talk to you, Ava. About Professor Lee's class... and something more."

** Ethan's Hidden Agenda Revealed**

Ava's heart skipped a beat as Ethan stood closer, his eyes locking onto hers.

"What could Professor Lee's class possibly have to do with... something more?" Ava asked cautiously.

Ethan glanced around nervously before responding in a low tone:

"Professor Lee is hiding something. A big story – one that could ruin careers and reputations. I think he's using our class to distract from his own investigation..."

Ava's journalist instincts sparked. "What kind of story? Tell me!"

Ethan hesitated, then pulled out a folder from his jacket.

"These documents were leaked to me. They imply Professor Lee's involved in an Aussie university scandal..."

Suddenly, Sophia appeared out of nowhere. "Ava, we need to go – Liam's waiting with news about Ethan!"

Ava's eyes narrowed at Ethan. "What has Liam found out about you?"

** Liam's Bombshell About Ethan & Professor Lee**

Ava turned back slightly to Ethan, then continued walking with Sophia to meet Liam.

Liam awaited them in the college café, eyes fixed intensely on Ava. "Finally, you're here. Ethan's connection to Professor Lee is staggering..."

Ava slid into the chair beside Liam. "Tell me everything!"

Liam leaned in closer:

"Ethan Thompson (his real name) was Professor Lee's protégé at our rival college. But after Ethan's expulsion, Professor Lee seemingly cut ties..."

Sophia interrupted, "Seemingly? What do you mean?"

Liam revealed:

"My hack found encrypted emails between them – ongoing correspondence! Professor Lee has been feeding Ethan info on the university scandal..."

Ava's mind reeled. "Why would Professor Lee trust his former protégé turned enemy?"

Liam dropped the bombshell:

"Because Ethan is Professor Lee's son. A secret he's kept hidden for years..."

Ava's eyes widened like saucers as Liam's bombshell hung in the air:

"Ethan is Professor Lee's son. A secret he's kept hidden for years..."

Sophia looked stunned, mouth agape. Ava slowly turned towards the café entrance, expecting Ethan to burst in any moment.

And then he did.

Ethan's face was pale, eyes fixed intensely on Ava. "You know," he stated flatly, voice low and even.

Ava nodded slowly. "Liam just told us. You're Professor Lee's son..."

Ethan approached their table, his movements deliberate. Liam and Sophia slid back, sensing tension.

Ethan stopped beside Ava. "I wanted to tell you myself, but..."

He trailed off, searching for words.

Ava prompted gently, "But what, Ethan? Why keep this secret?"

Ethan drew a deep breath before beginning:

"Growing up, my mom warned me about Professor Lee's reputation – ruthless in academia and politics. When I enrolled in his college program, he didn't acknowledge me publicly... said it would ruin his reputation and mine."

Sophia whispered, "That's messed up."

Ethan nodded grimly. "He only contacted me privately – mentoring me in journalism while keeping our relation hidden. After my expulsion... he cut official ties but still guided me secretly."

Ava's expression softened. "You were trying to redeem yourself through exposing his scandal... and prove yourself apart from his name."

Ethan's eyes locked onto hers. "Exactly. Ava, my feelings for you are real – not influenced by my family secret or Professor Lee's agenda. Can you still trust me?"

Liam and Sophia exchanged glances, then discreetly exited the café, leaving Ava alone with Ethan.

Ava searched Ethan's face, her heart racing with emotions. She took his hand, her voice barely above whisper:

"I want to trust you, Ethan. But we need to uncover the truth together – about Professor Lee, the scandal, and your family..."

Ethan's face lit up with hope as he squeezed her hand.

Ava and Ethan sat in his college dorm room, surrounded by notes, documents, and laptops.

Their investigation began with Ethan sharing everything he knew about his father's scandal:

"Professor Lee allegedly embezzled university funds, bribed officials, and manipulated research grants. But he's clever – leaving minimal digital trails."

Ava nodded intensely. "We need physical evidence or whistleblower testimony. Let's start with people close to him..."

Ethan listed names:

**Dr. Rachel Kim**: Professor Lee's research partner and possible accomplice.

**Victor Martinez**: Former university accountant who abruptly resigned.

**Maya Singh**: Professor Lee's former assistant, now transferred to another department.

Ava prioritized them. "Let's divide and conquer: I'll approach Dr. Kim and Maya, you tackle Victor Martinez."

Ethan agreed, handing Ava a folder. "Background info on Dr. Kim and Maya. Be careful, Ava – Professor Lee will suspect something if he sees you questioning them."

Ava smiled determinedly. "I've got a cover story – researching a journalism project on university research collaborations."

As Ava left to investigate, Ethan called Victor Martinez, disguising his voice:

"Victor, this is an old colleague from auditing. Heard rumors about Professor Lee's finances... care to discuss?"

Victor's hesitant voice replied, "Meet me at Java Corner café, 5 pm. Come alone."

**Ava's Investigations:**

Ava met Dr. Rachel Kim at the university café.

Dr. Kim seemed nervous, glancing around before speaking lowly:

"Professor Lee's research grants were suspiciously inflated. I questioned him, but he claimed 'university approvals'... which never existed."

Ava thanked Dr. Kim and moved on to Maya Singh.

Maya revealed:

"I saw Professor Lee deleting emails and documents late nights. He ordered me to distract auditors during visits. I transferred departments to escape his wrath."

Ava realized both women feared Professor Lee – solid witnesses for their investigation.

**Ethan's Meeting with Victor:**

Meanwhile, Ethan arrived at Java Corner café, spotting Victor Martinez nervously sipping coffee.

Victor began:

"I discovered embezzlement evidence – ledger discrepancies, fake invoices... Professor Lee threatened my family if I exposed him."

Ethan's eyes widened as Victor handed him a USB drive.

"This contains audit trails, emails, and invoices. But beware, Ethan – your father has powerful allies... and a dangerous secret about **your mother**."

Ethan's face turned pale. "What about my mother? Tell me!"

Victor glanced around nervously before whispering:

"Professor Lee wasn't just hiding his son – he was hiding your mother's death wasn't an accident..."

Ethan rushed back to his dorm room, finding Ava already there, laptop open with notes from her investigations.

"Ava, we need to talk – now," Ethan said urgently, closing the door behind him.

Ava sensed his distress. "What happened with Victor Martinez? Your face looks like you've seen a ghost."

Ethan collapsed onto the bed, rubbing his temples.

"Victor gave me evidence against my father... but also revealed something about my family – something horrific."

Ava sat beside him, gentle hands on his arms.

"Tell me, Ethan. What did Victor say?"

Ethan took a deep breath before whispering:

"My mother's death... it wasn't an accident. Victor implied Father was involved – maybe even caused it."

Ava's eyes widened in shock as she pulled Ethan close.

"Oh my god, Ethan... this changes everything. Your father's evil goes beyond corruption – to murder?"

Ethan nodded slowly, tears brimming.

"I feel betrayed on every level. Family, trust, love – everything was a lie. Ava, I need your help to uncover the truth about my mother's death and bring Father down."

Ava held him fiercely.

"We'll do this together, Ethan. Always."

Just then, Ava's phone buzzed – a text from an unknown number:

"Ethan Blackwood's secrets are just beginning to unravel. Meet me if you want the truth about his mother's death."

Ava showed Ethan the mysterious text:

"'Ethan Blackwood's secrets are just beginning to unravel. Meet me if you want the truth about his mother's death.'"

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "This sender knows something about my mother... We need to meet them, Ava."

Ava agreed, responding to the text:

"Who is this? Where do you want to meet?"

The response came quickly:

"My name is Sarah Taylor. Ethan's mother, Julia, was my closest friend. Meet me at Riverside Park bench 14 at 2 pm. Come alone, but Ethan must attend."

Ethan's eyes widened. "Sarah Taylor... Mother mentioned her often! She must know everything."

At 2 pm, Ava and Ethan arrived at Riverside Park, spotting Sarah Taylor – a woman in her mid-50s with kind eyes – sitting on bench 14.

Sarah embraced Ethan warmly. "Julia would want me to tell you the truth now. Your father..."

Ethan leaned in intensely. "Yes, please – what about him?"

Sarah took a deep breath.

"Professor Lee was having an affair. Julia discovered his corruption and embezzlement schemes. She threatened to expose him – the night she died in that 'car accident'... was actually a deliberate crash. Your father killed her, Ethan."

Ava gasped while Ethan's world shattered.

**TO BE CONTINUED

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