{"id":510,"date":"2026-01-21T15:39:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=510"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:39:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:39:29","slug":"paper-vows-novel-chapter-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/paper-vows-novel-chapter-24\/","title":{"rendered":"PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 24"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
PAPER VOWS<\/div>\n
ALARIC CLACK<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Jade has blocked my fourth Facebook account. She doesn\u2019t know that I don\u2019t mind creating a thousand accounts just to talk to her. As much as I know she is Date\u2019s woman, I am enjoying messing with her. Dante ignored my message last night \u2013 know I hit a nerve, and I don\u2019t care. It\u2019s not like he is going to do anything to me.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Just for fun, I create a Jade Lyon account and then call Jade Marshal with it. At this point, I think she knows that anyone who is trying to call her via Messenger is me because she immediately declines the call. I call again; she declines, but I call again. I wonder if she has told her man about this. Let\u2019s see what Dante Lyon is going to do about me calling his woman. In my defence, what if I don\u2019t know that she\u2019s his woman \u2013 to me, she is a woman I met at the club and liked.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I hear the intercom. I get off the couch and go to attend to the gate. This morning, I called my doctor, and he came to see me. Luckily, I didn\u2019t break anything, just bruised. I feel a lot better with the medicine I got. I also wouldn\u2019t have let this slide if it were someone else who is not Dante Lyon. I have a good working relationship with Denzel, so I will let it slide. But I will mess with his woman just for fun.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
There is a car I don\u2019t recognise parked outside my house. The person toots when they see that I am trying to figure out who the person is. I should have carried my gun in case this person is here to cause trouble. I finally decide to open the gate, and the person drives in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cGood morning, Mr Clark,\u201d a man says, walking out of the car. I recognise him from the club. He is the man who was with Jade last night at the club. I bet all the money in my account; Dante Lyon sent him here to deliver a message to me.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cGood morning, messenger sent by Dante Lyon.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cMr Lyon requests your company,\u201d he says, looking like I don\u2019t have a choice for all this.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cAnd if I say no?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cForce will be used, Mr Clark. It\u2019s either you come with me willingly or by force,\u201d he says. I have nothing to do, and I am not scared of Dante Lyon, so I\u2019m going to go see him. Just for the fun of it.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWell, get the door for me.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Looking irritated, he opens the back seat door for me. I get in and wait for him to close it. It must be nice being close to Mr Lyon. One doesn\u2019t need to get doors for themselves. The man who didn\u2019t even bother to introduce himself gets into the car and starts driving.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cCan we get coffee on our way there?\u201d I ask the man driving. He ignores me. \u201cI see you are uptight like your boss.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
My phone rings – it\u2019s Denzel calling me. I hope it\u2019s not bad news. Sometimes bad things happen when the boys are offloading the merchandise.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Me: Dee! What\u2019s up?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Denzel: I am good, checking if you are still alive?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Me: I am still very much alive. Your brother asked to see \u2013 I am on my way there.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Denzel: What did you do this time? I told you to leave Dante alone.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Me: I didn\u2019t do anything. A man showed up at my house and told me your brother requests my company.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Denzel: Let me call him.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Me: Don\u2019t worry about it, I can handle myself. How did it go with offloading the merchandise?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Denzel: Everything went well.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Me: Talk later, let me go meet your brother.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Denzel: You are always causing trouble, Ric, but in everything you do. Don\u2019t be Dante\u2019s enemy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
He hangs up. I put my phone away and ask the man who is driving me how far we are. He tells me that we are fifteen minutes away. Indeed, in fifteen minutes we are driving into 4th Street Club. I have never been to 4th Street this early. The place feels weird without the lights and the music.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cDante Lyon!\u201d I walk into his office. \u201cYou are a terrible host. I was expecting to be invited for breakfast at your house.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI don\u2019t eat with my enemies,\u201d Dante responds, serious as always. \u201cTake a seat.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know you and I are enemies.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
He says, \u201cYou have made yourself my enemy by bothering my woman.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cYou mean Jade Marshal?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cOnly I get to call her that. She is Miss Marshal to you. Are we clear?\u201d he asks. As if I would ever listen to another man tell me what to do.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWhy am I here?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Dante answers, \u201cSo we can talk like men. It seems like night didn\u2019t teach you anything. Not only did you send me that stupid message, but you kept bothering my woman. You know she is mine, meaning you are doing this on purpose.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cOn purpose? I would never.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cDo you think this is funny? Is this a joke to you, Clark?\u201d he says. I think I am pissing him off and I love it. I get to the man who gets under Dante Lyon\u2019s skin. I love it.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWhile we are still on Jade Marshal, your relationship is public. What\u2019s up with that? You never put your relationships in the public.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Dante gets off his chair and comes to sit on the table, in front of me. \u201cWhat I do doesn\u2019t concern you. Leave my woman alone, this is a warning, next time I won\u2019t be this kind.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cAre you threatening me, Dante?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThis is not a threat,\u201d he says and without notice, a knife drives into my lap. \u201cThat is a threat. Next time I won\u2019t be this polite.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cWhat the hell, Dante!\u201d I groan in pain.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
He roughly yanks out the knife and wipes the blood off with a handkerchief. \u201cStop bothering my woman, next time it will not be your lap. And if you bleed on my floor, we are going to have a problem.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Denzel barges in, \u201cDante, what are you doing?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cYour friend will fill you in. You two better make sure there is no blood on my floor.\u201d Dante leaves the room.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
ARIA WILLOW<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I am out shopping. I was bored, so I decided to go out and do a little shopping. One of the assistants is helping me, but it\u2019s not fun shopping alone \u2013 I left Kelly at home. I would have invited Paula to join me, but she is out with her man. My girl is in love, and things are promising with her man. I think we will be attending a wedding soon. I hope I also get into a serious relationship soon.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cLovely shoes,\u201d says a feminine voice from behind me.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I turn around to see if it\u2019s someone I recognise. I have never seen this lady in my life. I put on a smile and say, \u201cThanks, I got them here actually.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cIn this store, I would love a pair, they are gorgeous,\u201d she says and then looks behind her as if looking for someone, \u201cJade! Come see these shoes.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Jade? Is this the Jade I know about? I recognise her when she shows her face. It\u2019s Jade Marshal. Dante\u2019s Jade. She looks at my shoes and then at me. I am wearing a brown, string top, knee-length, body-hugging dress. She is wearing jeans and a tee. Doesn\u2019t she know that she is Dante\u2019s woman? She has to look the part.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Jade says, \u201cYour shoes are pretty. You are also pretty.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThanks, you are Jade Marshal, right?\u201d I ask even though I know it\u2019s her. \u201cDante\u2019s new woman.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d she answers.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I extend my hand to her, \u201cMy name is Aria Willow.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cI know you from Instagram. You are prettier in person. I barely recognised you,\u201d Jade shakes my hand. \u201cThis is Giselle, my sister.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cNice to meet you, ladies. I am doing a little shopping, it\u2019s not fun when alone,\u201d I say.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cJoin us,\u201d Giselle offers. \u201cIf you don\u2019t mind, of course.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThat would be lovely, you ladies are kind. And let me show you where to find these shoes,\u201d I say, leading Giselle to the shoe session. Jade stays behind, checking her phone, then joins us moments later.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cBoyfriend?\u201d I ask Jade, then I laugh to show that I am joking. \u201cI forgot, you are Dante\u2019s woman.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThat was my mom. You know how mothers are.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I nod, \u201cI know that very well. Sometimes I have to pretend I don\u2019t know that lady. She still treats me like I am a teenager.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThat\u2019s mothers for you,\u201d says Giselle, then she says, \u201cI am hungry, can we get food after this?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I don\u2019t know if she is talking to me too, but Jade answers, \u201cYeah, we can get something. Do you want to join us, Aria?\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u201cThat would be lovely, ladies, thank you,\u201d I answer with a smile, then reach for my phone to text Paula.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2018Having lunch with Jade Marshal. I ran into her at the VCT boutique.\u2019<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAPER VOWS ALARIC CLACK Jade has blocked my fourth Facebook account. She doesn\u2019t know that I don\u2019t mind creating a […]<\/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-510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-paper-vows-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510","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=510"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":524,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/510\/revisions\/524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}