“No need for resistance. Unless you want more trouble, just hand over your granddaughter to us,” the officer said in a calm but firm tone.
“I won’t oppose that, Mr. Domingo,” Mr. Rodelio replied, having noticed the surname embroidered on the officer’s uniform. “If you wish to search the entire mansion, by all means—go ahead.”
The officer handed him a document. “Here is the arrest warrant for your granddaughter.”
He nodded, taking the paper without flinching.
“I’ll surrender my granddaughter into your hands,” he announced in a voice that carried just enough conviction to mask the truth—that she was already gone.
Without another word, Mr. Domingo signaled to his team, and the officers swiftly entered the main area of the mansion.
“Follow them,” Rodelio immediately ordered two of his own men to monitor the police's movements.
“Yes, Mr. Rodelio,” the guards answered, quickly trailing behind the uniformed men.
For nearly an hour and a half, the police combed every room, every corridor of the mansion—but Katherine was nowhere to be found. Some of them were already showing signs of frustration.
“Looks like we’ve been played,” the commanding officer muttered.
"They figured out we were going to make our move at this hour.” added another officer, likely in his thirties.
“That’s impossible. The operation was confidential,” Mr. Ramirez said, his brows furrowing. He couldn't fathom how the Yuzons had learned of the raid.
Unbeknownst to him, someone from within his own team had leaked the operation to Mr. Rodelio. Still, the older man remained calm, feigning ignorance effortlessly.
“We’ll extend our search beyond the mansion. She can’t have gone far,” Ramirez declared.
He cast a hard glare at Mr. Rodelio. “This isn’t over. We will find your granddaughter.”
Rodelio said nothing. He merely waited for the officer to finish his threats.
“If I were you, I’d tell us where she is. Otherwise, you’ll be implicated for aiding and abetting a fugitive,” Ramirez warned.
“Don’t test me, Mr. Ramirez,” Rodelio replied, his voice steel. “My granddaughter is innocent. Whoever’s behind this—whoever orchestrated her downfall—let fate decide their punishment.”
He spoke with unwavering conviction. If he couldn’t use his wealth, power, and influence to protect Katherine, then what was the point of having them? He would fight for her to the very end.
Ramirez said no more. He stormed out of the estate, shouting commands to continue the search elsewhere.
Meanwhile, aboard the private jet, Katherine stared out the window, her thoughts racing. She was still trying to comprehend everything—how they had managed to escape, how everything had been arranged down to the last detail. One of her grandfather’s men had personally escorted them to a private airstrip. It all felt surreal.
“Just a few more minutes and we’ll be there!” Gabriel called out, his voice echoing through the cabin.
Katherine glanced at him briefly, but quickly averted her gaze. The bitterness in her heart remained. Forgiving him felt too heavy for now.
“You okay?” Arianne asked groggily and woke up in a sudden.
“I’m fine,” Katherine replied shortly. Her tone made it clear she wasn’t in the mood for conversation. Her emotions were in turmoil—fear, confusion, sorrow, and regret all tangled together.
She exhaled deeply and stood. “I’m going to the toilet.”
Arianne simply nodded and turned her eyes to the clouds outside the window.
“Where are you going?” Gabriel asked, catching sight of her walking down the aisle alone.
Katherine didn’t respond. She kept walking, determined not to engage. But Gabriel stepped into her path, forcing her to stop.
“Ahem!” Yael coughed loudly, clearly amused by the tension between the two. Gabriel glanced his way.
“Let me through,” Katherine said, her voice sharp.
Gabriel didn’t move, still trying to get a word out of her. Arianne, from her seat, was already watching them with interest.
“Where exactly are you going?” he asked again.
“You’re questioning me for going to the toilet? My god,” she scoffed with sarcasm.
“You didn’t say you were going to the bathroom. I was just asking—”
Gabriel stopped himself. There was no use arguing with her. He simply stepped aside, allowing her to pass. Still, his eyes followed her all the way until she disappeared behind the door.
“Yikes, seems like there is someone’s head over heels for Miss Katherine,” Patricio teased, munching on his favorite snack beside Charlie and Yael.
Gabriel ignored them, keeping his gaze fixed on the plane window. Five minutes passed. Still no sign of Katherine. He stood from his seat, concern tightening in his chest.
Inside the small airplane lavatory, Katherine broke down silently in front of the mirror. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The pain was unbearable—her life felt like it was collapsing piece by piece. She had once lived with restrictions, but now it was worse. She was hunted. Her reputation was shredded. Her freedom—gone.
She wiped her tears and drew in a deep breath. She had to stay strong.
When she opened the door, she wasn’t surprised to see Gabriel waiting.
“What took you so long?” he asked softly.
She didn’t answer. She turned her back to him and walked away.
Gabriel bit his lower lip in frustration. He noticed her flushed cheeks, the subtle redness around her eyes. She had been crying—he knew it. His heart ached, wanting so badly to hold her, to comfort her... but he couldn’t. Not yet. She still hadn’t forgiven him.
An hour later, the plane neared a remote island—Montereal, one of the private properties owned by Mr. Yuzon.
“We’re almost there,” Gabriel announced after returning from the cockpit.
“Finally!” Yael stretched, relaxing in his seat.
Katherine, however, remained quiet. Her expression was unreadable, her mind miles away.
The plane descended slowly, landing on a small private airstrip on the island. Within minutes, they began disembarking.
A man was already waiting for them on the ground—Derick Cuneta, the caretaker of the island and the estate on it.
"Welcome to Isla Montereal," the man greeted warmly. "Sir Rodelio informed me in advance that you would be arriving today."
They were now walking toward a house nestled in the middle of the island. It was noticeably smaller compared to the mansion they lived in back in the city. Made of bricks, its structure radiated strength and resilience.
Gabriel gave a small nod and continued walking in silence. A few minutes later, they reached the modest mansion and entered.
Several men were stationed inside, clearly there for security. They were immediately greeted by a woman with an athletic build, almost Amazonian in presence, along with two other assistants who appeared to help manage the house.
"I'm Derick, by the way," the man introduced himself. "And this is Kendra," he added, gesturing to the muscular woman. "She's the assistant caretaker of the estate."
Derick paused briefly as he looked at Gabriel. He hadn’t expected to see him again—especially not here. They had once been part of the same team during an operation against a human trafficking syndicate a year ago.
"Nice to meet you all," Kendra greeted, her tone is brisk but respectful. "If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to come to me."
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment—except Katherine.
"Is she the heiress of Sir Yuzon?" Kendra asked, her gaze now on Katherine.
Alfred answered for her, "Yes, Miss Kendra. She is."
Kendra smiled slightly, studying the young woman with a curious gleam in her eyes.
"She looks a lot like Sir Rodelio," she chuckled, prompting small smiles from the others.
"If you'd like to rest now, please follow Aling Feliciana and Mang Antonio," Derick interjected, noting the fatigue on their faces from the long journey and the stressful escape. "The island’s security is tight. Outsiders are quickly detected. CCTV cameras are installed all over the mansion and even around the island."
"That's good to know," Gabriel replied approvingly.
"Aling Feliciana, please escort the ladies to their rooms," Derick instructed.
"You gentlemen can follow Mang Antonio," Kendra added politely.
Once they reached their designated rooms, the group flopped onto their beds. Five of them shared this side of the house, while the other half of the team settled across the hall.
"Wow, I didn’t realize Sir Gabriel’s future wife was this loaded," Yael teased. Charlie lying beside him is grinning.
Gabriel let out a sigh. "I already told you, I have a girlfriend. So stop linking me with Miss Yuzon."
"Oh please! Don’t pretend. It’s written all over your face—you’re head over heels for Ma'am Katherine."
Their laughter grew louder at Yael’s bold remarks.
"You think we didn’t notice earlier? Please."
Gabriel exhaled deeply before responding again.
"I’m not lying. I do have a girlfriend. We’re in a long-distance relationship."
"Weh?" Patrick chimed in skeptically. "The real question is—who matters more to you now?"
Gabriel fell silent, unsure how to answer. He had many things to consider. He still respected Katherine’s feelings despite having hurt her by keeping his true identity a secret. It wasn’t intentional. During his training, he had learned to protect confidential information, especially concerning personal matters.
"You know you can’t choose both, right?" Yael said, pushing further. "You have to be real with yourself, Boss Gabriel."
"Sorry… I really don’t know yet," Gabriel replied, visibly conflicted.
"Well once you figure it out, let us know," Yael said with a wink.
Gabriel just laughed awkwardly that torn between emotions and his teasing friends.
Back at the Lhorin residence, Melanie was pacing the living room, restless and irritated while waiting for updates from the police.
"Oh my god, Mama!" Avril snapped. "You’re making me dizzy of watching you."
"The police are taking too long! We’ve been waiting forever and still no report," Melanie muttered, clearly impatient.
"Chill, Mama. Don’t worry—everything is under control," Alicia tried to calm her. "Here, sit down and just read a magazine."
An hour passed. Still no police. Melanie’s eyebrows were arched again in frustration. After another thirty minutes, the doorbell finally rang.
The housekeeper rushed out. A few seconds later, the officers entered, prompting all three women to rise. The police scanned the area as they were welcomed inside.
They got straight to the point. "Miss Yuzon managed to escape. We didn’t find her during the operation."
Melanie was in disbelief. "How could she has escaped? No one even knew about the raid!"
"That’s what we’re trying to figure out," Mr. Domingo replied calmly.
"Damn it! I thought you were going to catch that witch," Avril growled, practically shouting. "Didn’t you secure the information better?"
The officers kept their composure. "Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll find her."
"Do you have any idea who might’ve tipped them off?" Alicia chimed in.
"No leads yet," one officer replied.
"This is ridiculous! What’s the point of being cops if you can’t even handle this properly? You’re always asleep on the job!" Avril snapped again.
The police didn’t respond to her insults.
"The search for Miss Yuzon isn’t over. We’ll do everything we can to find her," Mr. Domingo promised.
"And don’t show your faces again until you catch her. Is that clear?" Melanie warned coldly.
The officers nodded silently and exited the house.
"What we should do now, Sir?" asked a younger officer, about 25 years old.
"We keep searching for Miss Yuzon," Mr. Domingo said with determination as they climbed into their vehicle.
FRIDAY MORNING. Katherine was growing increasingly frustrated as she stared at her phone. Arianne noticed it.
"Hey, Kath! Something wrong?"
"I've been trying to get a signal since yesterday. Nothing." Arianne shook her head—Katherine was the only one unaware of the communication blackout. "I tried two networks, even searched every corner of this house—still nothing."
"Of course. It’s an island. There’s no signal here," Arianne explained, avoiding the full truth. Gabriel and the caretakers had warned her not to reveal the reason to Katherine—it was too dangerous. They couldn’t risk getting tracked.
"Tsk. How am I supposed to get Denz’s texts?" Katherine complained, eyes still glued to her phone.
Kendra the caretaker, overheard and approached them.
"What’s going on here?" she asked, glancing between the two cousins.
"Well…" Arianne hesitated, unsure whether to explain. But Katherine spoke first.
"There’s no signal anywhere—not since yesterday."
Kendra nodded in understanding. Just then, Gabriel and the others entered the room.
"You won’t find any signal here," Kendra said. "There’s only one cell tower on this island—and it’s managed by someone Sir Rodelio trusts."
"So how am I supposed to talk to my friends?" Katherine asked and feel frustrated.
"Sorry, Miss Yuzon. We can’t allow you to connect to any network. It’s too risky. The enemy could track us," Kendra explained gently.
"We’re also using VPNs for safe and secure internet use," Derick added.
"Fine. I get it," Katherine muttered, forcing a smile though the frustration lingered. Her eyes locked with Gabriel’s, who remained expressionless. She was sure he was the one behind the restriction. No one else held that kind of authority around here.
"I wanna go upstairs," she said flatly and turned to leave. Bored and restless, she headed to her room and lay on the bed.
A knock came at the door. It was Arianne.
"I really hate this life," Katherine muttered bitterly. "I feel like I’ve lost all freedom. My career’s ruined. Am I cursed, Rian?"
"You’re not cursed, Kath," Arianne replied softly. "You were just born into a life others envy."
"What’s there to envy? Money, properties, big businesses and fancy houses?" Katherine scoffed. "Always surrounded by bodyguards? Honestly, I’d prefer a simple life with no fear of being hunted down."
"I understand you, Kath… but someday, you’ll also understand why."
Later, Arianne drifted to sleep. Katherine, however, stared at the ceiling—sleepless, her mind racing.
Two hours passed. Still unable to sleep, she quietly left her room for some fresh air. But just as she was about to step out the door.
"Sorry, ma’am. Sir Gabriel left strict orders. You're not allowed outside," the guard said, blocking her path.
Katherine looked to the ceiling in exasperation.
Kendra soon arrived and glanced at both of them.
"Miss Kendra, Ma’am Katherine wanted to step outside. I told her she’s not allowed."
"I just wanted to get some air," Katherine said.
"Let her go," Kendra said gently.
The guard stepped aside. Katherine gave Kendra a faint smile of thanks.
"Just don’t wander far, Ma’am, or we’ll be in big trouble with Sir Rodelio and Gabriel," Kendra added.
Katherine frowned slightly. Gabriel again.
"Why does he get to call the shots around here?" she thought bitterly. "Is it all about the money he'll get from Lolo? Tsk."
She nodded politely and just walked outside. Her eyes fell on a small hut with a swing nearby. She sat on it and gently rocked the back and forth.
Moments later, her heart began to pound as she saw Gabriel walking toward her.
She gripped the swing’s iron handles tighter, tension flooding her chest.
Here’s the continuation of your scene translated into natural, novel-style English (non-literal but faithful to the tone and content):
---
"Why are you still up?" Gabriel asked as he approached.
"Couldn’t sleep," Katherine replied shortly.
"Same here."
She glanced at him briefly, then quickly looked away.
Gabriel’s gaze, however, didn’t waver. It lingered on her, intense and unreadable, making her heart beat a little faster. There was something different in his eyes tonight—so raw, so vulnerable. And at that moment, he finally admitted to himself what he had been trying to deny.
He was in love with her.
And he had already made his choice.
It wasn’t easy. He still had a girlfriend waiting, unaware of everything happening. But once things returned to normal, once they were out of danger, he knew he had to come clean—with her, with everyone. There was no point in hiding anymore.
Still, there was something else he needed to face first.
Katherine.
He didn’t know how she’d react. But he owed her the truth.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves twisting in his chest. Then he turned to her, voice soft but serious.
"Can we talk? There’s something I need to tell you about… about what really happened… about me."
But before he could finish, Katherine stood up abruptly from the swing.
"I should go."
Before she could take another step, Gabriel instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist—not roughly, but firmly enough to stop her. She froze. Slowly, she turned back to him.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved.
"We need to talk," he said, his voice low but commanding, eyes locked on hers.
He wasn’t letting this moment slip away again.