You Are The Reason (English Version)

Chapter 4: The Armed Men

Katherine was on her way back to her room just as Gabriel stepped out of his. She ignored him completely, walking past without a word or glance in his direction.

Inside her chamber, Arianne approached her.

"Kath, what happened?"

Katherine offered a faint smile but said nothing. She moved slowly toward her room. Her body was still aching, and she had no energy left to argue with her grandfather again.

“Hey, Kath! If you’re dealing with something, you can talk to me, okay?” Arianne called out from the other room. Katherine smiled slightly at her cousin’s words but quickly returned to her serious expression.

Meanwhile, Gabriel was watching Katherine’s room via CCTV, keeping a close eye on her movements. He noticed she still seemed downcast, which stirred a twinge of sympathy in him. He sighed and pulled his eyes away from the laptop—just as a message appeared on his phone.

In the days that followed, Katherine’s condition gradually improved. Still, after the last argument with her grandfather, she couldn't insist on leaving the mansion.

Arianne frowned as she looked at the clothes laid out on her bed.

"Ugh, these clothes are so faded now," she muttered while trying on one of her casual outfits. "Looks like they don’t even fit me anymore!"

She rarely wore most of them anyway. They hadn’t left the mansion in weeks.

“Here’s another one!” she exclaimed. “I’m seriously going to lose weight just staying in Grandpa’s house. That’s probably why my clothes don’t fit anymore.”

Boredom began creeping in. On impulse, she walked to Katherine’s room and knocked.

“Come in,” Katherine called.

Arianne stepped in, greeted by the sight of Katherine focused intently on her laptop.

“Phew, I just submitted the manuscript,” Katherine said with a tired sigh. “I hope they won’t ask for too many changes. That’s always the hard part.”

Noticing Arianne standing silently by the door, she asked, “What is it, Rian?”

“Well… my clothes don’t fit anymore,” Arianne admitted. “So, I thought maybe we could go to the mall? You might want to pick up a few things, too.”

“I can come with you if you want. I still have lots of unworn clothes in my cabinet,” Katherine replied. “Fashion’s not really my thing though. I’m more into books—fictional or nonfictional, English or Filipino.”

“Same here, but the real problem is whether Grandpa will even let us go out again,” Arianne said.

“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry—I’ll talk to Grandpa,” Katherine offered.

“No. Let me try this time,” Arianne insisted. “You always talk to him and end up getting scolded. Let me do this for once.”

Arianne felt a little guilty. Maybe this was her chance to speak to their grandfather and ask for permission. It had been almost two months since their last trip outside.

“I can still manage to convince Grandpa, no matter how stubborn he is,” Katherine said, beginning to stand.

“No, Kath. I got this, okay?” Arianne blocked her gently. “Just trust me. Grandpa just needs the right approach.”

“You sure?” Katherine asked.

“Yes! Trust me.”

“Alright. I’ll wait for you in your room,” Katherine agreed.

“Great. I’ll talk to Grandpa now,” Arianne said and quickly left for Mr. Rodelio’s office.

Thirty minutes later, Katherine was still waiting when Arianne finally returned—her face clouded with sadness.

“I told you, Rian,” Katherine said, sighing. “You should’ve let me handle it.”

Arianne remained quiet for a moment, then sat beside Katherine and gently placed her hands on her cousin’s shoulders.

“Kath?” she said softly. Her sad expression suddenly brightened into a smile. “Kath, Grandpa said yes!”

Katherine furrowed her brows, not quite believing what she was hearing.

“He agreed to let us go to the mall,” Arianne repeated cheerfully.

“Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent sure,” Arianne said, flashing a thumbs-up.

“What did you say to him?”

“I just told him I needed to buy some formal clothes since my old ones don’t fit anymore. He said yes—as long as we go together.”

“That’s great! We’re finally getting out of here after what feels like five years,” Katherine said jokingly.

“Exactly! Good thing I checked my cabinet.”

“Anyway, it’s already ten o’clock. Let’s get some sleep,” Katherine said as she noticed the wall clock.

“Huh?” Arianne blinked. “Oh, right… but I’m not sleepy yet.”

“We still need rest,” Katherine insisted.

“Alright, alright!”

“We’ll enjoy tomorrow more if we’re not sleep-deprived,” Katherine added before returning to her room.

“Good night, Kath!” Arianne called out, finally settling in bed.

The Next Day

Arianne and Katherine were already in the car, accompanied by their personal bodyguards, on their way to the mall. Upon arrival, they walked into the building while Yael stayed behind to park the car.

They stopped by a boutique, where a sales staff greeted them warmly.

“Do you have a dress that would suit my body type?” Arianne asked first. The staff guided her to a rack of dresses.

“Thanks!” she said with a grin.

Meanwhile, Katherine browsed through the blouses. One caught her eye—a purple top with delicate girly designs along the sleeves.

“Hey, Kath, help me pick something!” Arianne called, pulling her cousin toward the fitting room. “You’ve got good taste. Come on!”

“Sure,” Katherine replied with a chuckle.

“I’ll try these on now. Tell me what you think!” Arianne disappeared into the fitting area.

They spent over an hour in the boutique before deciding to head to the bookstore.

Arianne handed the shopping bags to Charlie, one of their bodyguards.

“Could you please take these back to the SUV?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Charlie replied cheerfully and left.

While wandering the bookstore, Gabriel’s phone buzzed.

From: Hannah

Luke, can we meet right now?

A smile crept onto Gabriel’s face.

From: Gabriel

Where are you?

From: Hannah

I’m at the mall.

From: Gabriel

Which mall? Galaxy Mall?

From: Hannah

Wait—what are you doing there?

From: Gabriel

My boss is shopping here. I came along.

From: Hannah

Ah, I see. I’m at Jebaza Zu Resto—the place we used to go. Let’s meet there. I’ll wait for you.

From: Gabriel

Is something wrong? I thought you were out of town?

From: Hannah

Just come, Luke. We need to talk. You’ll find out soon.

Gabriel quickly excused himself from the group.

“I’ll be back shortly,” he told Alfred.

“Alright, boss. We’ll take care of them,” Alfred replied.

“Thanks.” Gabriel smiled and stepped away. He was excited. After over five months of barely talking, he was finally going to see Hannah again.

Meanwhile, Katherine was browsing mystery and thriller novels. After paying for her books, she and Arianne decided to go to the cinema.

“Hey, isn’t that Lady Green?” a young girl in jumper shorts said to her friend. “The author of Twin Brother’s Love?”

“Really?! That’s her!” the girl in a cropped blouse confirmed. They ran toward Katherine.

Instantly, Katherine’s bodyguards moved to block them.

“Lady Green!” the girls cried. “It’s really her!”

“Let them through,” Katherine instructed calmly. “They’re my readers.”

“Are you sure, Miss Katherine?” Alfred asked.

She nodded.

“But we can’t be sure if it’s a trap or not,” Yael warned.

“I can handle this,” Katherine said with quiet confidence. “Come closer,” she told the girls warmly.

“Thank you!” they beamed. “Can you sign the books we bought earlier?”

“You’re even prettier in person!” said one girl.

“You look like a goddess!” added the other.

“Can we take a picture with you?” they asked, holding up their phones eagerly.

Arianne smiled from a distance, watching her cousin interact with fans.

“Thank you, Lady Green. We’ll take another photo with you when your next book comes out,” one of the girls said as they hugged her.

“Take care and study hard, okay?” Katherine said gently.

“You’re honestly our inspiration,” one of them gushed. “Because of your stories, we’re doing better in school!”

Katherine smiled, deeply touched. “Thank you. I’m glad my stories have taught you something meaningful.”

Certainly! Here's your scene edited with correct grammar, natural pacing, heightened suspense, and a touch of action—all while preserving the original concept and tone of the narrative. The transitions have been tightened, emotions made sharper, and the flow adjusted to match the escalating tension in a novelistic style:

---

The young woman couldn’t help but be moved by her fans. It was a significant milestone in her life—to have inspired so many youths to live better, wiser lives and to steer clear of trouble. She was grateful. Grateful that there were still young people who chose to follow the light they saw in her words and actions, rather than be swallowed by the shadows threatening their future.

Just as she thought it was over, a second wave of fans surged toward her, flooding the area once more. They were calling her name, clamoring for more autographs. The sudden swell of the crowd made her personal bodyguards shift into high alert.

After a few minutes, the excitement seemed to wane. The crowd’s attention shifted toward another area, drawn by the sudden appearance of someone familiar.

Denzel.

Katherine froze, her breath catching in her throat as she caught sight of him.

“Haze!” she called out impulsively, the name tumbling from her lips, surprising them both.

“Kath? You’re here too?” Denzel approached her with a grin, unaware of the stir his presence would cause.

“Oh, it’s Lady Green and Mr. Denzel!” a woman among the crowd exclaimed.

“Are they dating?” another one asked eagerly.

“Actually, you look good together!” someone else chimed in, her voice teasing and light.

The comment sent a pulse through Denzel’s chest. If only, he thought. Maybe one day…

“Kuya Denzel, can we take a picture with you?” one fan asked, already pulling out her phone.

“Sure, why not?” he replied, flashing his usual friendly smile. He never had the heart to refuse the love of his fans.

Meanwhile, just a short distance away, Gabriel was making his way toward a quiet restaurant, eager to reunite with someone he hadn’t seen in a while. He spotted her instantly, sitting alone in a corner booth.

“Luke!” Hannah stood, surprised. “You made it.”

Gabriel smiled as he slid into the seat across from her. “Let’s order first,” he said, excitement evident in his voice.

It wasn’t often someone like Gabriel—composed, stern, and calculated—let his guard down. But with Hannah, things were different. He loved her. Deeply. And though they rarely saw each other, his feelings never faded.

“Okay,” she replied, forcing a smile. She let him order for both of them.

Their lunch began lighthearted, full of laughter and catching up. But as the minutes passed, a subtle tension started to build. It was in her eyes. Her tone. The way she kept fiddling with her fork.

“Is there something wrong?” Gabriel asked, sensing the shift.

“Luke…” Her voice trembled. He froze, his glass halfway to his lips. “I think…”

Her words faltered. She struggled to speak. Her courage wavered.

“Hannah,” Gabriel said softly, concern darkening his eyes. “Talk to me.”

“There’s something wrong with us,” she finally whispered.

Gabriel blinked. “Wrong with our relationship? What do you mean? Why would you say that?”

His voice rose involuntarily, before he quickly checked himself. “Hannah, what are you trying to say? You’re making me nervous.”

“I’m sorry, Luke,” she said, eyes glistening. “I’m just... tired. I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this. I’ve been feeling this way for a while now, but I was scared to admit it. You always seem to put your work first. I feel like I’m always second.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she wiped them away with a trembling hand.

Gabriel sat in stunned silence. “If only you knew how hard I try to balance everything, Hannah,” he murmured. “I’ve never once thought about giving up on us. Everything I do—every sacrifice—is for our future. For our marriage.”

He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

“I’m sorry,” she said, voice breaking. “I’ve already made my decision. It’s not working anymore. We should break up.”

The words hit him like a slap. Gabriel sat frozen, unable to move. He hadn’t expected this. Not from Hannah. Not after everything.

“Let’s break up,” she repeated quietly, rising to her feet.

He reached for her arm instinctively, but she gently pulled free.

“I’m sorry, Luke. This is where it ends.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him sitting in the corner booth, shattered. Tears silently fell from his eyes. Everything they had—the sweetness, the laughter—now dissolved into bitterness and heartbreak.

He couldn’t bring himself to move. He just sat there, staring at nothing, unable to grasp what had just happened. The future he had dreamed of with her was gone.

Meanwhile, Alfred had already sensed something unusual. A presence. Someone else was watching them.

His phone buzzed.

From: Arianne

Kuya Fred, somebody has been watching us since earlier.

He replied quickly.

Alfred: Be on alert. Don’t let them know you’ve noticed.

“What did Kuya Fred say?” Katherine asked Arianne, her voice low.

“He said we need to stay alert,” her cousin replied, eyes scanning their surroundings.

“Is something wrong?” Denzel asked when he noticed Katherine’s expression turn serious.

“There are people watching us,” she replied, tension rising in her voice. “I’ve already told Kuya Fred.”

Denzel nodded grimly. “Then we need to move. Now. But carefully. You and Arianne go ahead and blend into the crowd. I’ll handle my fans later.”

Katherine agreed without hesitation. “Okay.”

Patricio and Yael guided them as they slipped slowly into the throng.

The crowd swelled again, and the pressure became intense. Fans pushed closer, calling her name.

“Lady Green, can we take a picture with you?” a tall woman with glasses asked.

“Lady Green, please sign our books!” another group of women added eagerly.

“I’m sorry,” Alfred interjected, maintaining a calm tone. “Miss Katherine has to leave now. You may take photos, but signing will have to wait for another time.”

Still, the crowd grew louder and more persistent. Katherine, surrounded by her guards—Yael, Patricio, Charlie, and Arianne—tried to make her way out.

“Wow, Ma’am, your fans are intense,” Charlie muttered, sweating as he pushed against the tide of people.

“Not all of them are fans,” Yael added, scanning the perimeter. “Some are watching us a little too closely.”

When they already far from the crowds, Katherine breath heavily. Turning her mood into a nervous after she feels there's something wrong around. They keep walking for several minutes until there somebody that stopped them.

Suddenly, Denzel and the rest of the group arrived, only to halt as five masked men in black stepped into their path.

Everything fell silent.

“You really thought you could escape?” the lead man sneered, his voice cold and mocking.

“What do you want from us?” Denzel asked, the fear creeping into his voice. Two women clung to him. He noticed Katherine’s hand trembling beside him, her expression blank but her eyes sharp.

The masked man chuckled, surveying them one by one.

“Tell me,” he said slowly, “which of you is Mr. Rodelio’s heiress? Who among you goes by the name Katherine Grace Yuzon?”

He leaned in slightly. “Just point her out—and the rest of you can go free.”