It had been a month, and during that time, Anselmo was moved out of the hospital to a small home close to the Bradleys. Esmeralda was allowed to stay in the house with her father and care for him. However, Sosuke convinced her that she should work with Amelia to get her mind off the stress and worry. Amelia did everything she could to help calm the young woman. Esmeralda did find comfort with the older woman; Amelia was like a mother to her.

Bradley and Sosuke worked from home and communicated with many physicians to get started with the treatments. However, they received terrible news: there weren't many materials or medicines to begin the treatment. Bradley and Sosuke found this suspicious and decided to dig deeper. Bradley asked Issa to help with the investigation since he's more tech-savvy. It was found that there was medicine available, but it was restricted to Anselmo.

Issa called to see what was going on, but all Issa could get was that the provider had to permit them to provide the necessary equipment and medicine to Anselmo.

The men were angered, but Bradley contacted Germany and other European countries to see if they had what was needed for Anselmo. They did, but Bradley would have to go in person to sign the paperwork by hand. He had dual citizenship but had to show other forms of paperwork since he did not need treatment. Bradley didn't want to leave his wife and Esmeralda unattended, but Sosuke and the other uncles reassured Bradley that they would watch over them. Gol D and his wife volunteered to stay in Bradley's household until his return.

Bradley went to Germany.

However, Esmeralda didn't know what was going on. Sosuke and the rest of the family had to lie to her that there weren't sufficient treatments yet, but they would soon be in production, and their order would quickly arrive. Metztli didn't ask any further since she trusted Sosuke and his family. At that moment, Esmeralda sat by her father's side; he hadn't woken up yet; she was worried, but Sosuke reassured her that he was still alive.

"Papa, I'm sorry I haven't been with you for a while. It's just that things have changed, and they were things that I didn't expect. I can no longer lie, but everything went downhill. However, not everything is lost. I met many wonderful people. I thought the rich were snobbish and arrogant, but not all of them. I guess we misunderstood them, papa." Esmeralda smiled. "I met Sosuke and his family; they are very friendly and good people." She got a hold of her father's hand. "I-I wanted to tell you this when you woke up, but I have feelings for Sosuke. I admit he's very handsome, but his looks didn't get to me. It was his goodness and kindness."

Esmeralda didn't know that Sosuke stood outside the room carrying some bag of food. He was about to enter but refrained when he heard her speak. He kept on listening.

"When I first met Sosuke, I thought he was so full of himself and that he was someone that shouldn't be with. When I accepted his invitation to meet, I realized that he acted in such a way as to hide his vulnerability. I never met such a real man before."

Sosuke felt his heart skip a few beats. His eyes were wide; he put his right hand over his heart. His heart was beating so fast that it almost hurt. He didn't realize that Esmeralda had left the room and saw him standing there. Her eyes became wide. Sosuke slowly turned to her. Their eyes met. "Sosuke, did you-?" She was unable to finish her question. Sosuke dropped the food and hugged her with all his might.

Esmeralda hugged him back with all her might. Both felt the other's warmth, contentment, and safety. They looked at one another; Sosuke lowered his face to hers and kissed her. Esmeralda was surprised by the sudden action, but his lips were warm. She kissed him back. Their hands trailed to the other's back and waist. They deepened their kiss; their tongues fought for dominance, but Sosuke overcame hers. Soon, they separated from the kiss and looked at one another.

Esmeralda blushed and tried to look away, but Sosuke gently lifted her face. "You are the first. The first to understand me, see me for who I am and what I perceive to be and have."

"Sosuke, I-"

"I-I love you."

The young woman gasped when Sosuke told her those words. She didn't realize that tears had formed and dripped from her eyes. She slowly smiled. "S-Sosuke, y-you?"

"Yes, I said it; I love you! I love you with all my heart and soul. I have always feared falling in love because I thought I didn't deserve it. However, I can't hold in those feelings since I met you! You don't have to love me back, but-"

Esmeralda got a hold of his face. "I-I'm so happy to hear you say that, Sosuke. I also felt the same sentiment. I-I-I love you!"

Sosuke was about to respond when his cell phone rang. He let out an annoyed growl. When he saw the caller ID, he saw it was Gol D. "Uncle, sorry, but this is not the right time."

"Sosuke, there's something wrong with Amelia! You need to come straight away!" Gol D hung up.

"What's wrong?"

"I need to go to my uncle's house. Don't worry. I promise I will be back soon. Sosuke kissed her and then went on his way. Esmeralda stood there, shocked. The young woman touched her lips and smiled. "He loves me."

.............................

Sosuke finally got to his uncle's house, minutes away by car. He ran to the house and got inside. "Uncle, Ace, Rouge, I'm here!"

Rouge walked out of the kitchen with a bowl in hand. "Oh, Sosuke, you came sooner than expected."

Sosuke noticed her calm demeanor of Rouge. "Where's Uncle and Ace?"

"We're here, cuz." Ace walked in. "Pops is in Uncle Bradley's study. They're talking on the phone; it seems he was able to get the paperwork done. Uncle Bradley will be getting on a plane tomorrow."

"Where's Aunt Amelia!? I got a call that something was wrong with her?"

Ace and his mother looked confused. "My pops never made a call. Aunt just took her medicine and is sleeping." He noticed the look of shock on Sosuke's face. "What's going on, cuz?"

"If uncle didn't make the call, then who did?" Sosuke immediately felt a painful pang in his heart and stomach. His eyes became wide with horror. "Esmeralda!"

"What are ya talking about!? What happened to Esme!?"

Without warning, Sosuke ran out of the house to his car and drove off without waiting for Ace. He was breathing heavily. Sosuke felt sweat forming on his neck and back.

............................................

Esmeralda got the bag of food. Sosuke bought groceries and thought cooking a meal for her and Sosuke would be nice. She was preparing the food and materials in the kitchen when she heard a knock. The young woman entered the living room and looked through the door peephole. She noticed a woman in a FedEx uniform carrying some boxes. "May I help you?"

"Good afternoon; I got packages for Sosuke Aizen Hellsing from Mr. King Bradley Hellsing."

The young woman gasped in excitement. "The materials for my papa arrived." She opened the door. Two men wearing black clothing grabbed her, pushing her inside the house. The young woman felt horrified and was about to scream, but one of the men put a cloth over her lips. She tried to move away, but one got behind her as he held the fabric to her lips.

Esmeralda smelled a strong odor, and it was making her lose consciousness. She tried punching and kicking, but another man grabbed her legs, and she was dragged out of the house with cloth on her lips. All she could think about was her father, Sosuke, and the others. Before she got into an SUV, she lost consciousness.

...........................

Sosuke returned to the house where Esmeralda and Anselmo hid like madmen. He felt dizzy but fortunately arrived safely. He noticed that the door was slightly opened as he parked his car. His eyes became wide, and his lower lip trembled. Sosuke ran to the house and opened the door. There was nothing amiss or in disarray. "Esmeralda!"

There was no answer. Sosuke ran around the house, calling for her, and she was nowhere in sight. He ran upstairs and called up her, but it was the same result: Anselmo was still in bed and unconscious. Sosuke felt his legs getting weak, and he fell to the floor. Ace finally made it to the house. Once he got inside, he couldn't help but feel the pit of his stomach hurt. He ran up the stairs and saw Sosuke in Anselmo's room. "Sosuke? What's going on? Where's Esme?"

"Sh-She's gone! Gone! She was kidnapped! There was a setup!" yelled Sosuke.

Ace was taken aback. "Ya gotta be kidding! Wait, you don't think!?"

Sosuke punched the floor. "It was Yhwach! Who else could it be!? He took her, but how did he know she was here!?"

Ace was about to speak, but he and Sosuke heard a faint whisper. "Esmeralda, mi hija..."

Sosuke stood up and went to Anselmo's side. The older man began to wake up, but he could only keep his eyes half-opened. "Donde esta mi hija?" (Where is my daughter?)

"Senor Anselmo, ¿cómo te sientes?" (How do you feel?)

Anselmo looked at his surroundings as he was breathing heavily. "Mi hija. Escuché los gritos de mi hija." (My daughter. I heard my daughter's screams)

Sosuke and Ace eyed one another. "Sólo descanse señor. Llamaré al médico para que te revise." (Just rest, sir. I will call the doctor to check on you.) He then looked at Ace. I need to contact the medic. Call your father and my uncles and tell them what happened."

Ace nodded as he went to the living room. He didn't show it, but Ace could feel his body trembling. He was scared for the first time, not for himself but for Esmeralda. The young man tried not to think the worst, but it was difficult not to. However, Esmeralda was strong-willed and survived many hardships in her life. Ace felt she would not give in to Yhwach; he called his father first and informed his uncles.

....................................

Yhwach stood by the window of one of the rooms in a house he had barely bought. The house belonged to one of his business partners. Yhwach knew that his business partner was having an affair and was doing shady stuff. Particularly, Yhwach couldn't care about the lives of those who worked with him. However, his brothers and nephews knew all about his home, so he improvised.

Yhwach threatened the business partner to sell him the house, or Yhwach would have exposed all his wrongdoings. Reluctantly, the house was sold, and Yhwach waited for his chance there. Frankly, Yhwach had a plan and sent many spies to watch over Esmeralda and her activities. He found out where Esmeralda and her father were living. He ordered Jugram to put his partial plan into motion. It worked, and it made Bradley leave the country. When Esmeralda and the others were not in the house, he ordered one of his spies to install miniature cameras and microphones so he could hear and see everything happening.

Yhwach's plans changed when he heard Sosuke's confession to Esmeralda; he loved her, and she felt the same. Not only that, he saw them kissing. Something in Yhwach made him snap; he changed his plans. He was the one who made the call to Sosuke, making sure he sounded like Bradley. Once Sosuke was out, Yhwach ordered his men to kidnap Esmeralda.

Esmeralda would soon be arriving, and all he could feel was excitement. All his plans had to be changed, but it was no consequence. Yhwach saw an SUV coming; he smirked as he walked out of the room and to the living room while standing on the top floor. Yhwach's men entered, and one of the men held the young woman on his shoulder. "Bring her to her room."

The man lifted Esmeralda upstairs, entered the room, and gently put her to bed.

"Well done." Yhwach got out his phone and made a few taps. "Expect your payments in two hours. Inform the others."

"Yes, sir." The man walked out of the room.

Yhwach closed the door behind him. Suddenly, he felt his heart beating rapidly. He finally had Esmeralda within his grasp. The older man slowly walked in front of her unconscious body. Her hair grew more and was slightly wavy. Yhwach reached for partial strands of her hair; it was soft and smelled like lavender. He slowly let her hair fall. Then, he slowly touched her face, which was also soft; it made him shiver. Yhwach then parted, sat on one of the lavish chairs, and waited for her to wake up.

.........................................

Esmeralda felt like she was floating mid-air in the darkness. It was strange to her; she felt at peace. Before her, a white light appeared. The light was small at first but extended more into a figure. The figure became feminine. Esmeralda's eyes became wide as she recognized the figure. The woman had a youthful appearance with light beige skin; her long dark brown hair touched her waist. She wore a long, plain white dress with a white scarf tied to her waist. The woman wore traditional Romani earrings and bracelets. Her eyes were hazel, her lips were light pink, and she had an average body. "M-Mama...?"

Esmeralda reached out to her mother. "Mama!" Suddenly, she woke up while sitting on the bed. Some sweat formed on the back of her neck and back. She was breathing heavily, trying to regain herself. She was confused as memories slowly came back to her. She remembered the house, her father, Sosuke, and the men. The men! Esmeralda noticed some parts of her surroundings and didn't recognize them. She looked around, and her eyes stopped in a particular spot. Her eyes became wide with shock.

Yhwach sat on a chair like a throne with a drink in hand. "You're awake, my dear."

Esmeralda struggled to comprehend what was going on. She tried to speak but felt as if her throat was dry. "How...?"

"Does it matter? I had to plan a lot, although it wasn't my original plan. How are you feeling? I know the chloroform must make you feel weak; you shouldn't overexert yourself." Yhwach stood up and slowly walked to her.

Esmeralda backed away from him; her back hit the wall. "No, get away from me! Sosuke! Sosuke! Help!" she screamed.

Yhwach stopped. "Sosuke's not here, my dear. He will never find you, and I will make sure of it. I've waited patiently for this moment and will not have it ruined. You should have accepted my proposal initially, and you would have had a comfortable life, but you refused me." Yhwach finished his drink whole. "Everything changed when you told Sosuke you loved him."

The young woman stilled. "What? How did you...?"

"I have my ways, my dear, and I'm not happy with that if you must know. I couldn't let you both fall more for one another any longer. I promise you that you will never see him again."

The two were silent for a moment. Suddenly, Esmeralda stood and jumped out of bed, trying to escape the room. Yhwach used his speed, held her by the arm, and pulled her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her. Yhwach put his nose on her neck, smelling her scent. Esmeralda stilled as she felt his nose and lips on her skin; it made her skin crawl. Then the memories of him trying to rape her came back to her. She screamed and struggled to get out of his grip. "No! No! Please don't touch me! Get away from me, you monster!"

Yhwach stopped what he was doing; he pushed her to the bed. Esmeralda scrambled back to the wall, hugging herself. Yhwach eyed her with no expression. Then, he opened the door and was about to leave. "Your food will be brought to you. Do well to behave, and I promise you won't be able to escape; there are guards everywhere." He exited the room, and when he did, he locked the door behind him.

"She called me a monster. I will make her realize that I am no such thing."