{"id":504,"date":"2026-01-21T15:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=504"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:38:00","slug":"paper-vows-novel-chapter-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/paper-vows-novel-chapter-18\/","title":{"rendered":"PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 18"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PAPER VOWS<\/div>\n
CHAPTER 18 (SPONSORED BY Anonymous)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Dante asks after walking into the room. I closed the drawer too harshly, and he heard it slam. He knows very well that I was going through his things. He is just asking so that I tell him myself what I was doing. Where do I begin to ask? This man has a gun. A whole gun. What does he need a gun for? He is rich; I am sure he can hire bodyguards if it\u2019s about his safety.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cJade Marshal?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I look up at Dante, who is now standing opposite me. I force out a smile and say, \u201cCool office.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s\u2026okay.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAre you ready to leave?\u201d I ask. He is now wearing blue jeans and a white tee. It feels weird seeing him outside formal clothes. He looks different. I think I like him more in formal clothes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe will leave after you tell me what you are doing here? Looking comfy and all that.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I answer, \u201cI gave myself a tour of the house, since I was promised one but never got it. I got lost and found myself here. I decided to look around.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cFind something you like?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I get off the chair, walk towards him, pointing at that ugly portrait of his, \u201cI like everything besides that portrait. You have one just like it in your bedroom, and I don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI like it.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI think we can go,\u201d I say, ready to leave the room, but he blocks my way.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDo you want to ask about something before we leave?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Dante is so straightforward it\u2019s uncomfortable. My asking what I want to ask is me also admitting that I was going through his things. Do I even want to know the answers to what I saw?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I ask, \u201cI saw the envelope with everything there is to know about me. I know you told me that you did a little digging \u2013 I just didn\u2019t expect you to go that deep. There are things in there that not even my parents know about.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI already told you that I needed to know what I am getting myself into if I am going to marry you.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI get that, but that is a lot of information. How did you get all that?\u201d I ask.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI am a billionaire, sweetheart. I can literally do anything I want.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I mumble, \u201cYou can even own a gun?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThere we are, the real question you wanted to ask, why do I own a gun?\u201d he says, taking my hand. We moved closer to the table. He sits on the table and says, \u201cMy money and status alone put me at risk. As someone who doesn\u2019t want bodyguards, I need a gun for my own protection.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIf it\u2019s for your own protection, then what is it doing in your drawer? Shouldn\u2019t it be in a box, locked?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He answers, \u201cThe helpers know that they are not allowed to go through my stuff, that\u2019s why I left it there. I have one in here, one in the bedroom. I also always keep one in my car and whatever club I am at.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIn other words, you own multiple guns?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAgain, for safety – they are all licensed,\u201d he replies. I don\u2019t know how I feel about the guns thing. Guns make me uncomfortable. \u201cSay what\u2019s on your mind, Jade Marshal.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI am still getting to know you. What if you are a man with a temper and we happen to get in an argument and you shoot me?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He chuckles. Trust Dante to be serious when he is supposed to be laughing, and chuckle in serious moments. \u201cNo offense, but between the two of us, you are the one who has a little bit of a temper. I should be worried about you one day shooting me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI don\u2019t like guns, Dante. They are very dangerous, and they make me uncomfortable.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He responds, \u201cI wish I could say I will get rid of it. I need to keep it there. It\u2019s for safety measures \u2013 nothing more.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I sigh heavily. I have read many stories about rich and famous people and how they cannot go out without people bothering them. Not forgetting those who have been almost attacked by people, and some have been killed. I guess it\u2019s one of those things one doesn\u2019t think when it doesn\u2019t concern them. When inside, that\u2019s when you realise how hectic it all is.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I look at Dante and ask, \u201cDoes it mean I also need to have a gun?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou have Elis to keep an eye on you. His job is to drive you everywhere you want to go and keep you safe.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cSounds like a very dangerous life.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He gently strokes my face with his fingers, \u201cI know, but I promise nothing will happen to you. Not on my watch.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIf anything happens to me, you will have Giselle to deal with.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAnd that\u2019s something I never want to do,\u201d he pulls me to him until I am in front of him. \u201cAre we good? Any more questions?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cNo question. For now.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThen we can go,\u201d he says, takes my hand, and leads us out. I cannot help but think about that gun. Has his life been in danger before? Has he ever used that gun before? Even worse, has he ever killed someone with that gun?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Dante opens the car for me, and I get in. As I check my messages, Giselle still hasn\u2019t responded to my text message. That doesn\u2019t sound like her. She should have responded by now. I try calling her, but it rings until it goes off.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cSomething is wrong with Giselle,\u201d I say to Dante when he also gets into the car.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhy do you say that?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI sent her a message hours ago; she still hasn\u2019t responded,\u201d I say, checking her location. Giselle and I are always sharing our locations. \u201cShe is at the police station. I think something is wrong, let me call James.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Dante starts the car. We drive out, heading GR Police station on the West side of GoldenRock. That\u2019s Giselle\u2019s location. James is not picking up his phone, and Dante is calling someone at the GR Police station to see if anyone knows anything about why Giselle is there.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat did they say?\u201d I ask Dante as soon as he gets off the phone. What could Giselle be doing at a police station? Why is James not answering his phone? Did something happen between them?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYour sister is arrested for assault.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDid they tell you what happened? That doesn\u2019t sound like Giselle.\u201d That’s something I would do, not Giselle.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what she did. I called someone who is getting her out right now and handling the whole situation.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThanks,\u201d I whisper. I am sure he is questioning getting with a Marshal. I am sure he is thinking violence runs in the family. \u201cAt least we had not yet bought the movie tickets, right?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou had already paid? I am so sorry, I hope we can still go after all this,\u201d I say to him. He sounds like the type who has things done exclusively. I hope he had not paid for the whole theatre for us. It sounds like something Dante would do.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it \u2013 we will go some other time.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The way Dante is so relaxed, one would swear he has been in this situation before. As soon as we park the car in the parking area, we see a man walking out of the police station with Giselle. I reach for the door, but Dante locks it.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDon\u2019t get out. Anyone can take a picture of you. We don\u2019t want people talking about your sister,\u201d he says, calm as always.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI wonder what happened?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Dante doesn\u2019t respond. Isn\u2019t he even a little bit curious as to what happened? The man with Giselle gets closer, opens the backseat door for Giselle, and she gets in. Dante opens the glove box, takes out a cap and glasses. He puts them on and gets out of the car to talk to the man who brought Giselle. They walk away as if going back into the police station.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I am sitting in the front seat, so I look behind me and say to Giselle. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI am fine.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat happened? Why didn\u2019t you call me?\u201d I ask her. Her eyes are puffy as if she has been crying.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe will talk when we get home,\u201d she lies down on the seat. \u201cThanks for coming to get me out.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhere is James?\u201d I ask. She doesn\u2019t respond. Why do I get a feeling that James is the reason she was arrested? \u201cIs the car here too?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s back at James\u2019s house. They only took me with my bag.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDo you want water?\u201d I can imagine being arrested; it must be traumatising.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI am fine, thank you for coming to get me. They wouldn\u2019t even let me make a phone call. Now I have a criminal record because of a man.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A part of me wants her to tell me here what happened, but I will wait until we are home. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you went through that. What did they say when they were releasing you?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cNothing, that man just came to get me and lead me out. He said Mr Lyon is here to get me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The car door opens, Dante walks into the car, hands me Giselle\u2019s bag and a brown envelope. \u201cCriminal record wiped \u2013 it won\u2019t be on her record.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThanks, love.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAPER VOWS CHAPTER 18 (SPONSORED BY Anonymous) \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Dante asks after walking into the room. I closed […]<\/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-504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paper-vows-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504","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=504"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":518,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/504\/revisions\/518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}