{"id":509,"date":"2026-01-21T15:39:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=509"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:39:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:39:06","slug":"paper-vows-novel-chapter-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/paper-vows-novel-chapter-23\/","title":{"rendered":"PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 23"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PAPER VOWS<\/div>\n
CHAPTER 23 (SPONSORED BY Thembelihle)<\/div>\n
JADE MARSHAL<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI should go to bed,\u201d I say to Giselle. We have been quiet for about ten minutes now. I was reading the comments in today\u2019s post with Dante. I am loving the love I am getting. I can imagine if all this was hate, I would have long deleted all my accounts. The time is now eleven fifty-two. I should go to bed. I don\u2019t know when Dante is coming, and I am not going to wait for him. He said he would love to find me in his bed, not find me still asleep.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m going to bed, G\u2026\u201d I pause when I notice that she is fast asleep. She didn\u2019t wash off her makeup, and her skin is going to punish her for that in the morning. I also don\u2019t want to wake her up, so I cover her up and leave the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When we got here, I introduced Giselle to Anne, then Anne had someone prepare a room for Giselle. I don\u2019t know why they didn\u2019t let her use the room I used the first time I was here. Anne said that one is not for guests.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u2018You are lucky I am a mature adult now. I would have come there and shown you what happens when one messes with those I love.\u2019 I send a test to James. I cannot believe he has been playing my sister for ten years.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I make my way to Dante\u2019s bedroom, our bedroom. I am starting to get used to the house. I know which room is which. I think getting lost earlier helped me know the place better. I walk into the bedroom, take off my jumpsuit and hop into the shower. After showering, I look for something to wear in Dante\u2019s closet. I pick out a black tee, put it on and go back to the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The room feels bigger when Dante is not around. I get under the covers and sigh heavily. Is this how my nights will be? No cuddles before bed. I quickly sit up when I hear the door open.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou are still up,\u201d Dante says, after closing the door.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I have never been so excited to see a man in my life. He is just in time to put me to sleep. I get out of bed and walk toward him with a lot of excitement. The excitement in me dies down when I see the lipstick stain on his tee. He is wearing a white T-shirt. How did he not see that someone left a lipstick stain on this t-shirt?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cHi,\u201d I turn around in front of him and go back to bed. He was out there hugging women with pink lipstick while I was here wishing he was with me.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Dante asks as I get into bed.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat happened with what?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He sits on the bed on my side, but I face the other direction. \u201cJust a second ago, you looked happy to see me; now you are acting like I did something.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDid you do something?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He answers, \u201cI don\u2019t know, you tell me. I was happy to come home to my woman; now I feel like I did something.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGoodnight, Dante Lyon.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat are you even angry at, Jade?\u201d he asks. I ignore him and cover my head. \u201cJade, what happened?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I ignore him. I don\u2019t want to talk because I feel like I will snap at him. Dante leaves the room \u2013 I think he is going to shower. I close my eyes and try to ignore all the thoughts in my head. Does he have another woman? Am I his cover life so that he can sleep around? Did he cancel plans with me so that he could be with another woman?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My heart is heavy. As much as the past few days have been lovely and I experienced the greatest joy, this makes my heart heavy. It hurts how much I have fallen in love with this man. If the thought of him being with another woman hurts me so much, what am I going to do if he one day looks me in the eye and tells me he will never love me? I feel the tears burning my eyes. Oh my God, I am crying for a man. Is this how much I have fallen in love? I sniffle, wiping the tears under the blankets, but they keep pouring.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cJade!\u201d I hear Dante\u2019s voice. \u201cAre you crying?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cNo, my sinuses are acting up.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou don\u2019t have sinus problems,\u201d he pulls the blankets off me. He is wearing black shorts only. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? Did I do something?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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For the first time, Dante Lyon shows emotions; he shows concern. His gaze meets mine, and I feel the weight in my heart lifting a little. He wipes off the tears on my face with his thumbs. Now I feel stupid, I am crying because I saw a lipstick stain on my man. Why do I even care so much for a man who hasn\u2019t even told me he loves me?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When I look down, Dante lifts my face and makes me face him. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s stupid.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI still want to know,\u201d he insists, still wiping the tears off my face. At this point, I think the alcohol that I had is making me this emotional.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou had a lipstick stain on your shirt. Were you with another woman?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Keeping his eyes locked on mine, he says, \u201cI didn\u2019t realise I had lipstick stain on my t-shirt. I don\u2019t know where I got that from. I bumped into a lot of people at the club. But lipstick stain or not, you are the only woman I am romantically involved with. I don\u2019t do one-night stands or random hook-ups.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou are not cheating on me?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cDo you think I would invite you into my life only to cheat on you? I\u2019m not that heartless, Jade Marshal,\u201d he says. His voice is soft yet firm.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cSwear on your mother.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cMy dead mother?\u201d he asks. I am sure he loved his mother and wouldn\u2019t lie on her. \u201cMy mother is dead, the dead don\u2019t do anything but swear on her. You are the only one.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cNext time, don\u2019t come home with lipstick stains.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI will make sure to double-check myself before coming into the house,\u201d he says. His eyes soften a little when he says, \u201cI didn\u2019t know you cared so much that you would even cry.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI also didn\u2019t realise I am in too deep like this.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He leans and chastely kisses me on the side of the mouth, \u201cI will try and make sure today doesn\u2019t repeat itself.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThat would be lovely.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He kisses me again, this time deepening the kiss. He moves closer until he is hovering over me. \u201cYou can worry about everything else separating us, but cheating will not be one of them.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m glad to hear that.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He kisses me and makes love to me – I fall asleep immediately after. I dream about Dante and me getting married and living happily ever after.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Dante shaking me away wakes me up.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGood morning,\u201d I yawn, sitting up.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cGood morning, I asked Anne to dish breakfast for you,\u201d says Dante, placing the tray of food on my lap. I look at the wall clock, it\u2019s now ten am. Dante must have switched off my morning alarm.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cBreakfast in bed, lovely.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI also would like to apologise for last night. I didn\u2019t mean to make you cry,\u201d he says. He sounds sincere.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cLast night I was a little drunk. I overreacted.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He says, \u201cYou reacted way better than I would have. I would have k*lled someone if you had come home with something that shows you were with another man.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cNow, who has a temper between you and me? Maybe I should hide the guns.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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His phone rings. He tells me that he will get it while I eat my fruit salad, then we shower together. Why do I get a feeling he enjoys showering with me? While checking my messages, someone calls me via Messenger. I decline the call and view the person\u2019s account. The account was created years ago, yet the person has never posted anything. They go by the username Clark. The person calls again, but I decline the call. They call again; I decline. They call again, and this time I answer.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Me: Can you stop calling me?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Clark: Good morning, Jade Marshal.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I recognise the voice, but I don\u2019t know where I know it from.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Me: Who are you?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Clark: I have broken ribs because of you. You should know me.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Me: What are you talking about? I don\u2019t even know you.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Clark: It\u2019s Ric, Alaric from the club.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Me: Oh, you\u2026 I had forgotten about you.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Clark: You owe me a date and to cover my medical bills. I cannot feel my body because of you.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Me: Maybe you should stop bothering me to avoid getting hurt again.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I hang up, and he calls again. I hang up and block him this time. I have no interest in talking to him. Dante walks back into the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He says, \u201cGiselle said to say hi. She is now having breakfast.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhat time did she wake up? I hope she is not bothering the helpers.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Dante sits on the bed and says, \u201cShe is allowed to bother them. They get paid so they can be bothered.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My phone rings, it\u2019s a name I don\u2019t recognise calling me on Messenger. I hang up and put my phone down.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe can go bath,\u201d I say to Dante.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My phone rings again, and I decline the call. Dante asks, \u201cWho is that?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThat guy from the club found me on Messenger. I forgot his name, Clark something. He is being a pain in the stomach. Let\u2019s go bath.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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PAPER VOWS CHAPTER 23 (SPONSORED BY Thembelihle) JADE MARSHAL \u201cI should go to bed,\u201d I say to Giselle. We have […]<\/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-509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paper-vows-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509","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=509"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":523,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/509\/revisions\/523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}