Chapter 4 - I Knew You Would TryAva drove her elbow into Ethan’s chest.
The impact forced him backward against the opposite seat.
His expression twisted with surprise.
Ava released the loose belt and lunged toward the cockpit.
“Help!”
The pilot’s shoulders shifted.
Before he could turn, Ethan caught Ava by the back of her blazer.
The fabric tightened across her shoulders.
He yanked her away from the cockpit and slammed her against the side of the cabin.
Ava protected her abdomen with both hands.
Pain flashed through her hip.
Ethan grabbed her wrist and tried to pry her fingers from the safety rail.
“You knew?” he demanded.
Ava looked directly into his eyes.
“I knew you would try.”
His triumphant expression flickered.
For the first time, uncertainty entered his face.
Ava had wanted that reaction.
Fear made careless people reveal themselves.
Ethan looked toward her sleeve.
The cuff had shifted just enough to expose the edge of the concealed wrist device.
“What is that?”
Ava pulled her arm close.
Ethan reached for it.
She struck his hand away.
The pilot turned partially in his seat, but Ethan shouted toward him with a false laugh.
“She’s frightened by the height!”
The pilot hesitated.
Ava saw the doubt in his posture.
Ethan did too.
He stopped pretending.
With both hands, he shoved Ava toward the open doorway.
Her knees struck the cabin floor.
Wind dragged her hair outward.
The coastline vanished beneath the helicopter’s belly, leaving nothing but open ocean directly below.
Ava clawed at the metal threshold.
Her pearl earring tore free and disappeared into the sky.
Ethan leaned over her.
“You should have stayed out of my accounts.”
Ava’s eyes widened.
He had just confirmed motive aloud.
The wrist device vibrated again.
Every word had been captured.
Every movement had been logged.
Ethan thought he was ending her life.
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Instead, he was completing the evidence.
👉 Ava’s secret device had recorded his confession—but she still had to survive long enough for it to matter.
