{"id":479,"date":"2026-01-21T15:32:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=479"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:32:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:32:57","slug":"paper-vows-novel-chapter-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/paper-vows-novel-chapter-3\/","title":{"rendered":"PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 3"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
PAPER VOWS<\/div>\n
CHAPTER 3<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cAm I allowed to turn down your proposal?\u201d I ask Dante. It has been an awkward couple of minutes, trying to process everything he just said. All this feels surreal to me. I feel like someone is messing with me and a cameraman is going to pop up under this table and tell me this is all a joke. Why would this man, who seems like he can get any woman he wants, choose me? Why me if he says he barely knows me and that last night was his first time seeing me?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Dante answers, \u201cYou are allowed to reject my proposal. I am not going to force you to marry me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI am very confused right now.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
He leans over, balancing on the table with his arm. \u201cWhich part is confusing you. I will gladly clarify.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWhy me? You don\u2019t love me, you don\u2019t know me. Why choose me?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI just chose you. I don\u2019t have any other reason other than that,\u201d he answers, nonchalantly.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, Dante. I don\u2019t even know what to say right now.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cDo you want to go home and think about it? You can take all the time you need to think about everything I just said and then get back at me,\u201d he says. How is he so calm about all this? He is asking me to marry him \u2013 that is a big thing. At least to me, it is a big thing.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI would like to think about everything.\u201d I know I could have just said no, but a part of me wants to think about it. He doesn\u2019t look bad, if being honest, he is the type of man I would go for. He also said that he can court me if I want, which I wouldn\u2019t mind. My mind is just all over the place at the moment.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Dante nods, \u201cYou can take all the time you need. Do you want to go home?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cYes, I am sure my family is worried. They last heard from me last night.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cOkay then, you can eat, when done, ask Anne to get someone to drive you home,\u201d he pushes the chair back and stands.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWait\u2026how do I reach you when I have an answer?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI put my number on your phone after charging it. You should consider putting a passcode on your phone,\u201d he gets his phone on the table, ready to walk away, but I stop him.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you want to get to know me or something? I mean, you want to marry me, don\u2019t you have questions?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWe will get to that when we are sure we are on the same page. I will hear from you, Jade.\u201d He leaves the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
After he leaves the room, Anne walks in and asks if she can help me with anything. I ask her to bring my phone for me while I try to eat something. My appetite is gone. It\u2019s not every day something like this happens in my life.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThanks Anne,\u201d I say, accepting my phone.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cDo you need anything else?\u201d she asks. I tell her that I will be ready to leave as soon as I finish eating. I watch as Anne walks away. I won\u2019t lie, it feels a little good to have this kind of life. Being taken care of like this.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
When I check my phone, I have a lot of messages and calls from my family. Most of the calls are from my sister Giselle \u2013 she is three years older than me. I live with her – she had told me to tell her when I get home. I am sure she is very worried about me. She is spending the week at her boyfriend\u2019s place. Last night, I sent her a lot of messages, crying about losing my job \u2013 that\u2019s why she is like this.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2018Hey, big sister. I am fine, I\u2019m about to get back to the apartment. I will tell you everything about last night when I get to the house.\u2019 I shoot a message to Giselle.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2018Where the hell are you? Your location has been off since last night and answer your goddamn phone!!\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I decline her call – she is calling me again. \u2018I will call you when I get home.\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2018ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!!!!\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I put my phone away and tell Anne that I am ready to leave. She asks if she can pack something for me for the road. What does she mean? Are we no longer in GoldenRock? I quietly follow Anne as she leads me out. This house is bigger than I imagined – the outside is just as beautiful. A car is already waiting for me as soon as we step outside.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cGood day, my name is Ellis, and I will be driving you home.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I nod at Ellis, then say goodbye to Anne. I get in the car and sit back. How am I going to explain all this to my sister? I wonder if she will even believe me. My phone vibrates. I check it, expecting another message from my sister, but it\u2019s a number saved as Dante Lyon.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2018Get home safe, I will be looking forward to your response \u2013 soon, I hope.\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I sigh, looking at the message. How does one even respond to that? \u2018I will tell you when I think about everything. Take care, your house is lovely.\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2018It could be our house if you accept my proposal.\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I put my phone away and lay back, resting my mind a little. Ellis and I are on the road for about an hour and forty minutes. It seems Dante\u2019s house is on the South of GoldenRock, whereas I am on the West side \u2013 the 4th Street Club is about fifteen minutes away from my house by car.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The car door opening snaps me out of my thoughts. The only thing on my mind has been what Dante said. All this is a little confusing to me. It\u2019s like someone is messing with my head. When I get out of the car, that\u2019s when I notice I am in front of my apartment building.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I look at Ellis and ask. \u201cHow did you know where I stay?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cMr Lyon told me to bring you here.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cOkay, thanks.\u201d I make my way to the front door, take the elevator to the eighth floor, where my apartment is. When in the elevator, I send Dante a text message asking how he knew where I stay – he doesn\u2019t respond.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cHey Jade! Where are you coming from? You look good.\u201d Mr Meyers asks when I bump into him. His apartment is opposite mine. His words remind me that I am wearing the expensive dress, shoes and jewellery and everything that just took place today.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cHey, Mr Meyers. I was out with a friend. How are you today?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Wearing a wide smile, he answers, \u201cI am good. Aren\u2019t you supposed to be at work?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my day off, see you around.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I reach into my bag, taking out my keys to unlock the door, but the door is unlocked. When I walk in, I am welcomed by Giselle and James\u2019s worried faces. James is my sister\u2019s boyfriend of fifteen years. I don\u2019t know why they are still not married. As for me, I long ago gave up on men. I have been abstaining for a solid six years – since I turned thirty.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWhere have you been? Do you know how worried I was?\u201d says Giselle, walking towards me. \u201cAnd why do you look like you walked out of a Fashion show?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cHey James,\u201d I first greet James, then we sit down. I explain to them everything that happened with Dante from when I was at the club until Ellis dropped me off at home.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWow,\u201d That\u2019s the first thing Giselle says after I tell them everything.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWow indeed.\u201d James also joins in, \u201cIt sounds like a scene from a movie.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cIt does.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cAre you going to take his deal?\u201d Giselle asks. I can tell James wanted to ask the same question.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I shake my head, lying back on the couch. \u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cYou not saying no means a part of you wants this,\u201d says James. Shouldn\u2019t he be giving my sister and me some space or something? He doesn\u2019t need to know my business.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThis man just wants a wife for display and he said he doesn\u2019t love me. I want a man who loves me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Giselle answers, \u201cBut you said he said he can love you if you want. You said he said he can court if that\u2019s what you want.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cBut couldn\u2019t he do that without me having to ask? He could have just asked me out at the club.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cMaybe he wanted to be upfront with you,\u201d says James.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. Something about all this feels off.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s all up to you, little sister and whatever decision you will make, we will support you,\u201d my sister takes my hand and gently squeezes it.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cOn the bright side, this guy could be loaded. You could live like a princess for the rest of your life,\u201d says James.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care about the money, James.\u201d That\u2019s a lie, I do care about money. Just last night, I was crying my eyes out over losing my job.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI need to make a phone call,\u201d James gets off the couch, kisses his woman and leaves the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
When James is out of sight, Giselle looks at me and asks, \u201cIs he at least hot?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cHe is a fine dark chocolate king.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cYou have been abstaining for a while now. Is this dark chocolate king worth putting yourself out there again and getting ready to be intimate with a man?\u201d she asks.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know – I will think about it all.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAPER VOWS CHAPTER 3 \u201cAm I allowed to turn down your proposal?\u201d I ask Dante. It has been an awkward […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paper-vows-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=479"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":489,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions\/489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}