CHAPTER 9-----YOU WANT YOUR DADDY, RIGHT?

"No." Dimitri growled out. He held onto her hand and as she turned, he pulled her to him. Ramona nit so gracefully fell onto Dimitri.

"What?" She whispered, staring into his blue orbs. Dimitri's eyes moved to her lips and he locked his. They stayed in that position for a while until Dimitri said,

"My phone fell under the bed," He replied and then added, "And you're crushing my ribs."

Ramona quickly stood up and scowled at him, "Weren't you the one who pulled me?" She growled then bent down to get the phone. Dimitri stared at her bending figure and groaned internally.

"Well, I didn't ask you to fall on me." He retorted. Ramona stood up and threw his phone at him.

"Then don't grab my hand and pull me to you like we're acting some zee world film." Ramona uttered, shaking her head and turning to leave the room. Dimitri let out a wild laugh and watched her pull the door open and leave.

Ramona walked to Maha and Aiden's room to check on them but at their door, she heard some hushed whispers.

"I really don't like him anymore." Maha whispered.

"I never liked him in the first place. It's only because of mummy that I even pretended to like him." Aiden replied. For a while they kept quiet until Aiden said, "Yes, even his name sounds stupid."

Ramona slowly pushed the door open and the kids jumped in fright. Aiden quickly disconnected the call and threw the phone behind him without Ramona's knowing.

"Who were you guys talking to? And who were you talking about?" She asked, coming to sit on their bed.

"We weren't talking to anybody. You sure you weren't just hearing voices, mom." Aiden joked. Ramona frowned slightly then shrugged.

"I'll believe you. The second question?" She asked.

Aiden and Maha glanced at each other then Maha finally sighed and replied, "Mom, we don't like your boyfriend."

Ramona's frown deepened and she looked at Aiden. Aiden nodded at her and she pursed her lips. "Why don't you? I thought you liked him."

"Liked. Past tense, mum. Back then. Before. I don't like him again." Maha explained, shrugging her tiny shoulders.

"Does this have anything to do with Dimitri?" Ramona asked, scowling.

"It doesn't. We just don't like Danny anymore." Aiden said. Ramona glanced at him for a while and smiled. He was wearing his reading glasses and he looked cute.

"Okay then. I'll think about it." Ramona smiled. She put Maha down and kissed them both goodnight and left the room.

"She could've caught us." Aiden said as he sighed in relief and picked up his phone.

"At least we've told her half the truth. Now we just need her to realize the other half." Maha spoke, sitting on the bed beside Aiden.

"First averagely smart thing I've heard you say since you were born." Aiden teased.

"Whatever. Just call up aunt Jules." Maha replied, rolling her eyes.

"Why'd you guys disconnect the call?" Jules asked, picking up.

"Mom came into the room." Aiden answered.

"Oh. Alright, back to what you guys were telling me." Jules said.

"We've sent you both Maha and Dimitri's pictures so you can see it too. Don't you think they look alike?" Aiden asked and waited for a reply. On the other side of the line, Jules furrowed her eyebrows and clicked on the images Aiden sent her. She stared at them for a while then the realization suddenly hit her.

"You're thinking he's your father?" Jules inquired, still staring at the pictures.

"Don't you?" Aiden said. Maha shifted closer so she could listen better.

"They do look alike. In fact, now that you mention it, I kind of remember a blurry image of him. I can't remember clearly but I think, by my guess, that we've found your dad." Jules stated, slightly gasping.

"So now we have to get him and mum closer and throw that other one away." Maha said.

"To be honest, I never really liked him." Jules said.

"Nobody did. It was all for mum." Aiden said. "So what's the plan?"

"You want your father, right? You also want Mona to be happy, sure?" Jules asked.

"Yes."

"Then do as I tell you."

After Jules ended the call with Maha and Aiden, she laid on her bed and let out a frustrated groan. Her phone tanga few times then she picked up.

"Were you sleeping?" Ramona asked from the other side.

"No. Just got off a call actually. What's up?" Jules asked.

"Okay. Uhm, I'm gonna go full rant on you. Sorry in advance. So today, something weird happened between me and Dimitri. He came into my room and saw me half naked and then Danny came and was kind of jealous. Maha and Aiden went all rude on him and then later, Dimitri needed me to help him change his bandage so I did. You know how they do in all those Indian films? Well, he pulled me and I fell on him then we had those moments and well, I don't know but I felt something tingly when he held my hand." Ramona let out in one breath.

"Huh?"

"Should I repeat myself?" Ramona inquired.

"No, no, no. I heard quite well. I'm just a bit confused but it's okay." Jules said. She wasn't prepared to hear Ramona go all Eminem on her. The thought made her chuckle slightly.

"Okay. What do you suggest I do?"

"Firstly, you calm down." Jules said.

"The kids also told me they didn't like Danny."

"Then you have your answer. Well, not really. All I can say is follow your heart." Jules said, yawning. Ramona caught on to the tiredness in her voice and quickly wrapped up the conversation. Maybe they'd talk tomorrow.

Ramona walked to her windows and gazed at the stars. Maybe her kingdom, maybe Xanthoria, was one of the stars she had been staring at since her childhood.

And truly, unknown to her, she had and was staring at Xanthoria. The same Xanthoria where Queen Malina was currently trying to escape.