“Where is Miss Astrid Copperfield? Why didn’t she come?” asked a police officer.
Keith sighed helplessly. “She’s just upset with me–first calling the authorities, then threatening to break up with me. It’s nothing serious, I’m sorry for causing any trouble.”
Michelle clung to his arm.
The officer raised an eyebrow at Keith and remarked, “I thought Miss Copperfield was your fiancée?”
Michelle immediately let go, her face flushed with embarrassment as she stammered, “We’re just good friends.”
The officer turned his focus back to Keith.
“So, when the helium in the hot air balloon started leaking, you jumped with your good friend, leaving your pregnant fiancée behind?”
“Astrid knows how to skydive,” Keith explained calmly. “Chelle is afraid of heights and has no experience, so I had to prioritize her safety.”
“But Miss Copperfield said over the phone that her parachute was faulty.”
Keith dismissed the concern with an exasperated chuckle.
“She’s just being dramatic, jealous, and picking a fight–she even threatened to break up with me today.
“As the pilot, it’s my responsibility to check the parachutes before takeoff. Whether for tourists or my girlfriend, I take that seriously. I stand by my word–there was absolutely nothing wrong with the parachute. I stake my
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Chapter 5
reputation on that.”
The more confident Keith appeared, the more anxious Michelle became. Yet, she kept up her act. “Keith is always so professional. He wouldn’t overlook something like that,
The police, lacking solid evidence, didn’t immediately challenge him. “If you get in touch with Miss Copperfield, have her come in herself.”
I stood right there among them–nothing more than a restless spirit.
As they left the station, the troubles continued to loom over Keith.
Tears welled up in Michelle’s eyes as she whispered, “It’s all my fault. If I knew how to skydive, Astrid wouldn’t have been jealous or caused you trouble.”
Her feigned remorse successfully triggered Keith’s protective instincts.
