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The Price of Hidden Sins
The Price of Hidden Sins
Penulis: Honnesh

1. Wedding Day

Penulis: Honnesh
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-01-02 20:08:23

“Ashley, cous,” she heard the greeting as her glass was clinked by another champagne glass.

Her head turned toward the source of the voice. And her eyes caught a familiar figure she last saw around five years ago—as a surprise guest at her home in New Zealand. That girl had arrived in pieces then, heartbroken and a mess, if memory served her right. And her following days had been forcibly filled with listening to the girl's non-stop cry.

The corners of Ashley's lips were drawn wide without realizing it. She warmly embraced the eccentric girl standing before her. Dressed in a bright yellow babydoll dress paired with a hot pink blazer, fifteen-centimeter heels of the same color, and an array of piercings sparkling on her face and ears.

Sera Song, her cousin. Who had a similar fate to her, though their circumstances weren’t entirely the same.

The one person in their family who could be just as annoyingly stubborn as she was. And yet, ironically, the only family member who always bothered to keep in touch with her.

Even though Sera often brought chaos into her life, and their interactions caused her inconvenienced or frazzled, Ashley didn’t mind. Instead, she felt happy and entertained. Sera’s presence, for all its trouble, indirectly made her feel like she still belonged to the Song family.

Because the rest of her relatives, including her own parents, barely spoke to her unless it was strictly necessary. Aside from urgent matters, they would rather ignore and treat her as if she were an invisible ghost.

“You lucky girl,” Sera teased, a mischievous grin playing on her lips, "You’ve got a reason to stay in Korea forever.”

"Is that what you think?" Ashley’s smile faded slightly.

She didn’t mind the idea of 'staying in Korea forever'. But whether it would bring her happiness or simply add to her burdens, she was still uncertain.

Even though Joshua Lim—who had officially become her husband an hour ago—had been treating her very well so far, she couldn't just take that for granted.

Considering that what they are doing is a political marriage.

Everyone has their own motives. And everyone, perhaps, wore a mask.

“I almost thought you wouldn’t show up. You missed the ceremony, and the party is already halfway through.”

Sera leaned closer to Ashley’s ear. Her hand that was not holding the glass was cupped near her mouth. “Sorry. I'm stoned. I drank too much last night.”

She followed with a crisp chuckle. “My mom doesn’t even know when I got to Korea.”

Ashley's eyes narrowed to hear Sera whisper.

“As if that’s a secret?” she teased, striking back at once.

Sera responded with a glance full of annoyance. Though there was nothing she could deny from Ashley’s two-sentence statement.

First, everyone knew Sera was a heavy drinker. Her parents had even struggled to prevent the news of her addiction and mischief from spreading. Secondly, because of her uncontrollable behavior, her parents had sent her away from Korea immediately after high school graduation. In order to minimize news that could potentially affect the company's stock.

Their shared story of exile is probably what made Ashley open enough to accept and tolerate all sides of Sera. And according to her, for Sera, being friends with her might be like having an ally.

Two girls who were forced to live away from their own families. To the Song family, they were thorns rooted in the flesh. There was a risk of rotting, but even if the thorns were pulled out a thousand times, their roots would still remain.

“Thanks, though, for coming,” Ashley sighed, ”Seeing you makes me feel less alone.”

Sera clicked her tongue.

“How pathetic,” her gaze sweeping over Ashley from head to toe. "So that’s why you’re standing here all alone? No one in the family wants to claim you, and no one out there wants to be your friend either?"

Sera's expression was made up to look exaggeratedly shocked with widened eyes and a gaping mouth—prompted a mix of irritation and amusement.

“You do realize, don't you, that you have such a nasty mouth,” Ashley countered, half-annoyed but unable to suppress a laugh. Sera had a way of delivering harsh truths as effortlessly as a joke.

Ashley raised her glass, gesturing toward the buffet table.

“I managed to get approval to bring two people. You've met one of them. Bella. Remember?”

Sera's eyes followed the direction. Spotting a person she had often quarreled with over trivial matters, back when she ran away to Ashley's house.

“How could I forget?” Sera grumbled, “I’ve never met anyone with such a horrible personality."

Ashley grinned slightly. As much as she hated to admit it, Sera wasn’t wrong. Bella—her childhood friend, next-door neighbor, and probably the person who sided with and protected her the most—could turn into a monster at one time, but could also have the tender heart of an angel at another. It took a long time to truly understand that girl, indeed.

“Also there are some friends from middle school I still keep in touch with. You might recognize some of them," Ashley added, nodding toward a small group of guests not far from where Bella was.

“The blond guy next to Bella,” Sera’s eyes lit up, more interested in the first piece of information than the latter. “Is that your other friend? Is he Bella’s boyfriend?”

“Yes… and no.”

Hearing that, Sera immediately put her glass down on the cocktail table in front of them. Then quickly took a mini mirror from her bag, touched up her makeup, dabbing on powder, and fixing her lipstick.

Ashley watched the whole scene with resignation while sighing repeatedly. As if she knew exactly what Sera was up to and where this was headed. “Whatever. But if you get hurt, don't come looking for me.”

“You said he's your friend,” her hands were busy putting her things back into the bag, ”That means the percentage of him not being a jerk is about fifty percent. The rest, it's your responsibility.”

“What resp—”

Her words were not even finished, but Sera already took a few steps away. Her head was shaken faintly and her grin stretched thin. No matter how much she was warned or threatened, nothing would stop Sera. So she just let her cousin go without moving an inch from where she stood. At least, as far as she knew, her friend was not a jerk.

Left alone, she sipped two to three mouthfuls of her drink as she looked around again. Looking to see if Josh was still laughing with his friends or had moved on to another place to make small talk with family acquaintances.

Without any meaningful intentions, Ashley had done this several times since they parted ways to greet guests. It was almost like a reflex, though she didn’t understand why. It could be because she was subconsciously curious about what the man was truly feeling behind that ever-present smile. Or, she simply wanted to confirm his whereabouts—nothing more.

Once she found him, Ashley cast her glance quietly near the fountain. The place where the man was currently chatting with his other friend.

Then went back to sipping her drink with a wandering mind. When will this boring event end? Why was time moving so slowly? What if she ended it herself?

The thought impulsively urged her to cross the garden and head to her room. But her plan suddenly slipped her mind as she passed through the restaurant door that connected the hotel’s garden to the lobby. Ashley accidentally caught the figure of Josh who had already walked into the restaurant from another door. His face looked flustered with an equally agitated look in his eyes, repeatedly checking his phone screen and circulating his gaze around the room in turn.

Then when the man stopped his repetition and hurried to the point of almost running towards the lobby, Ashley's curiosity got the better of her. She lifted the dangling tail of her sheath dress as she walked quickly to follow him.

At the far end of the lounge, the figure in a jet-black suit disappeared behind the rows of palms that served as partitions. Showing a faint silhouette between the gaps of the not-so-lush leaves.

The closer Ashley got, the more clearly she heard the sobs of a girl’s voice. So she slowed her steps, careful to keep her shoes from tapping too loudly, and making sure she did not hear wrong.

“Why did you come? You shouldn't be here.”

Josh's deep voice softly broke through the muffled cries.

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Bab terkait

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   2. The Girl He Loves

    Ashley stopped and looked around, searching for a spot that could conceal her completely while still letting her hear their conversation. To her left, about three to four steps away from where Josh was, stood a large pillar. Ashley very carefully walked on tiptoe and hid behind it.“You mean I can't see you?” The girl's voice sounded raised. “You said you wouldn't leave me. But what? Look. What I was afraid of actually happened, right? All your words turned out to be a bunch of bullshit, huh, Josh?”“No, no. That's not what I meant. If they see you—” Josh paused for a moment. Instead of finishing his sentence, he remained silent for a long time.Ashley's neck spontaneously stretched longer, thinking her ears couldn't pick up their voices. But no matter how hard she focused her hearing, not a single sound could be heard.Even so, Ashley remained still, waiting like a statue. She even breathed in and out very slowly.“I was just afraid you'd get hurt,” Josh's voice reappeared.At this m

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-02
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   3. Reveal It or Not?

    The look on Ashley's face was a complete mess. Something inside her head was boiling, and her chest felt like it was being beaten from within. Creating an agonizing sensation of pain.She was angry.Very angry, and hurt.She couldn't even bear to imagine what she looked like now. Because even without seeing her reflection, she could guess how messy and pathetic she looked.Ashley slowly tried to stand up. Fixing the top of her dress and brushing off the dust floor on her dress. As for her disheveled hair, she ran her fingers through it, ruffling and combing as best she could do.Only when she felt that her hair no longer stuck out too much, she stepped out from behind the partition. She avoided making eye contact with whoever it was and moved quickly to the elevator. This time, luck seemed to be on her side. No one else got into the elevator with her. And the hallway on the floor where her room was located was also empty.The first thing she did after making it into the room was run s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-03
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   4. The Apartment We Share

    “You want us both to sleep in the same room? Here?” Ashley stared at Josh with an incredulous look in her eyes, as if the man had just uttered some nonsensical words. “Yes.” “You have a girlfriend. You said she's the only one you love,” Ashley tried to restate their situation as clearly as possible, ”But still you want to sleep in the same room with me?” And once again further emphasized her question. “Yes.” “Wow,” Ashley unconsciously shook her head and widened her eyes in disbelief at what she had just heard. She completely failed to understand the man's train of thought. She had no idea what he was planning, but at this moment, Ashley felt played. “I don't understand. But I still want to move.” Not wanting to comply with Josh's unreasonable demand, Ashley reached her hand into the closet next to him again. But once again, Josh prevented her from reaching the clothes. But the difference was, this time, his grip was tighter and more painful. “I’m not repeating myself. Just do

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-04
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   5. Washing Away the Kiss Marks

    Ashley's forehead creased into a deep frown.The moment the man approached with a white box, she immediately scrambled off the bed and back away. Giving as much distance as possible until her back hit the closet. Until there was no more room for her to run.Her body stiffened, her posture was now rigid—showing a very defensive position.The turmoil of anger still filled her chest, pressing against her ribs, and threatening to explode. Mixed with a variety of inexplicable feelings, and also a sense of... fear?She couldn’t explain the faint, ghostly shiver that swept over her at this moment. Which made her palms wet in cold sweat and clasping tightly without her even realizing it.It didn’t make sense. Wrath suited her current state far better than this unreasonable fear. Because, Josh was the one who had made many mistakes. A lot, in fact. And it all happened in just a matter of one day.So, shouldn't he be the one who was currently stricken with fear? Shouldn't he be the one on his kn

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-05
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   6. Bitter Conversation

    After calming down enough to regain her composure, Ashley slowly opened her eyes. Her hand reached out for the bath glove.This time, she rubbed her entire body gently—not filled with anger like a moment ago. After all, her face still felt a bit burned, and the scratch marks on her skin stung every time they were exposed to soap.Normally, the source of her suffering came from one thing only—her family. Outside of that, her life for the past twenty-five years had gone pretty well. So she hadn't expected to encounter misfortune at the hands of a pair of ignorant lovers.The girl had scratched her face the first day they met, while the man had smeared insults on her—pride and also face.Ashley clicked her tongue, a bitter taste still settling in her mouth. It felt like her anger would boil over again just thinking about how roughly Josh had kissed her earlier.She had no idea what to do next.She was already too tired and fed up to deal with Josh again. But thinking about it, if she ins

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   7. This is Going Nowhere

    Ashley spoke passionately, but her voice caught in her throat, suddenly dry and tight, cutting off her words. And because it was uncomfortable, she was busy clearing her throat.Josh watched her patiently. When she fell silent, struggling to continue, he finally spoke.“I just don’t want any more misunderstandings between us. And,” he sighed, “I don’t like being seen as a jerk. I'm also sorry for not telling you about my relationship. But clearly, I didn't lie.”"You didn't lie? How can you say that after what I saw?""I never said I was single. You never asked either, did you? So technically, I didn't lie."Ashley looked at him with a scornful glare. Unbelievable. This man could twist words and manipulate situations so smoothly, so cunningly.“I didn’t even know whether you were single or had a boyfriend,” Josh narrowed his eyes, locking his gaze onto Ashley's. "Or maybe you have a boyfriend too and just didn’t tell me?""As if! I’m a woman with morals. There’s no way I would agree t

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-06
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   8. Divorce

    He looked up. His eyes glanced at the girl who was staring at him intently.“Ah—Yes?” Josh stopped typing, leaving the sentence he hadn't finished. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”Ashley scoffed. “Are you sure? I don’t think so,” Ashley's tone sounded mocking, “You probably don’t even remember what we were talking about.”At the same time Josh also noticed Ashley deliberately glancing at the cell phone that was in her hand. So he put his phone down.“Oh really?” her tone is still the same.Josh sighed, rubbing his temple. “I’m listening, Ashley. You were explaining why you suddenly want a divorce when you've never thought about it before.”“Yes. Huh—no, no,” Ashley hurriedly corrected herself. “Who said I just thought of it now? Of course, I’ve thought about it. Who in their right mind would want to be stuck forever in a fake, business marriage like this?”Josh raised an eyebrow. He never thought Ashley would describe their marriage in such a variety of terms.It made him want to confront

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07
  • The Price of Hidden Sins   9. Left Alone

    Josh realized that if their conversation continued, it would only go around in circles without being resolved. Ashley didn’t seem to be in the mood to forgive him, and she certainly wasn’t about to agree to his request. Yet that was the core of the problem—where Ashley had found out he was in a relationship with another girl.Maybe, it had crossed his mind that if Ashley knew, there would be a price to pay. Because she was going to live this marriage like a real marriage—as her mother always insisted.But he hadn’t expected to get caught this quickly. And now, he might be paying a bigger price than he had ever anticipated.Because once trust is broken, piecing it back together is harder than fixing shattered glass.Josh finally broke the silence. “What if I apologize for everything? For everything that made you angry?”Ashley lifted her head and looked at him.“And what would I get in return for forgiving you?” she asked. “You’re only apologizing because you don’t want me exposing you

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07

Bab terbaru

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   66. Home but Feels Like Hell

    Josh pushed his suitcase and Ashley's suitcase while she was already inside the house.Ashley had been very cold to him since their last day in Paris.Although every time he asked her what made her behave that way, she always replied with the same lines “I'm fine”, “I'm just tired”, “I'm not angry with you”, “I'm just the way I am”, “I'm not really angry, why would I be angry, I have no right to be angry”, “I'm just being normal”, “We agreed not to bother each other, so I'm more comfortable with us keeping our distance”.All the girl's words boiled down to one conclusion: she was indeed angry with Josh, she just didn't want to admit it.Whereas the previous few days they had enjoyed their days in Paris very much. There was even a moment when Josh felt that the two of them could be good friends.As the plane landed back in their hometown, Ashley could barely stop herself from screaming. Every second on the plane, he thought of only one thing: when he got home, he wouldn't pretend to be

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   65. Paris (5)

    Sharon's first night in Paris, after she arrived and met Josh, the hotel felt very different to Ashley. As expected, Josh did not return to their room that night. Instead, he stayed in Sharon's room which was located right next to theirs. Ashley lay down on her bed, but the sadness that was choking her heart prevented her from sleeping. Amidst the silence of the night, Ashley could hear quite a few noisy and disturbing sounds - laughter, small talk, and above all, the sound of Sharon who was probably enjoying her evening with Josh. Every second felt like time stood still, yet filled with anxiety.Ashley pulled the blanket closer to her body, trying to calm her mind. However, in the darkness, the loneliness and hurt continued to haunt her. It was a very hard night. Ashley thought, why did this happen to her? The two of them-Josh and Ashley-had shared beautiful moments. They had laughed together, talked about the future, and planned things. But now, Ashley felt like a stranger in Josh's

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   64. Paris (4)

    That morning, the Parisian air felt colder than usual, as if it shared Ashley's pent-up anxiety. Upon opening her eyes, she was surprised to find herself in Josh's arms, closer than ever before. Their position this time was very different-their faces were too close, almost inches apart. They stared at each other with their eyes wide open, both stunned.Josh seemed to have just realized their position. Reflexively, he pulled his body slightly, separating the distance between them. However, their gazes remained focused, as if time had slowed down. There was only an awkward silence between them. Josh, who usually looked relaxed, now looked a little uneasy. On the other hand, Ashley could only look at the man with mixed feelings-between confused, upset, and not knowing what to do."Ma-sorry," Josh stammered, finally breaking the silence. "I... didn't mean-"Ashley looked at him sharply. She could feel his irregular heartbeat, perhaps even faster than usual. "I... don't know what to say,"

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   63. Paris (3)

    Josh and Sharon spent their days in Paris full of laughter and fun.As per the list they had made long before their departure, they started exploring one tourist spot after another.Their first destination was, of course, the Louvre.They walked hand-in-hand through the iconic pyramid-shaped glass entrance, Sharon's eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.Inside the museum, they stopped for a long time in front of the Mona Lisa painting, talking quietly, joking about how small it was compared to their expectations. Josh took many photos of Sharon in front of other famous paintings.No matter that there was a ban on photography in some parts, Josh quietly stole moments - too eager to capture Sharon's contented smile.Afterwards, they walked to the Eiffel Tower.There, they took pictures at various corners of the Champ de Mars park, and then climbed to the top of the tower, getting a bird's-eye view of the entire city of Paris.Sharon hugged Josh tightly as the wind picked up, chuckling and tea

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   62. Paris (2)

    Josh sighed, his eyes closed for a moment, as if holding back a burst of frustration. He walked over to the sofa, looking at it with skepticism.“It's small and hard, Ash,” he said, his tone getting heavy. "I've been exhausted since Korea. Had to spend the night with Sharon..."Josh stopped, realizing his mistake in saying the name.Ashley's face instantly changed. The look in her eyes froze.“Yes, of course,” Ashley muttered, her voice laden with bitter sarcasm. “You're exhausted from ‘serving’ Sharon, then think I should just understand?”Josh growled in frustration. “That's not what I meant!”Ashley approached, standing just a few steps away from him, her body tensed like a bow ready to shoot.“Every time I try to feel better about all this, every time I start to think maybe we could be friends, maybe even... more, you always remind me who I am in your eyes!” she said sharply."Just a formality. Someone you married because of a contract, while your heart is elsewhere."Josh returne

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   61. Paris (1)

    Josh had finally arrived in Paris.The long, tiring flight paid off a little as he set foot on the European soil, greeted with beautiful afternoon skies, cool air, and the typical hustle and bustle of the city of love.Ashley walked beside her, pulling her small suitcase.They both looked a little clumsy-not because they were not used to being together, but because each of them was still trying to find a new rhythm in this strange relationship of theirs: a loveless marriage, but with an official status to live up to.They arrived at the luxurious five-star hotel.Josh took care of the check-in while occasionally stealing glances at Ashley who looked beautiful in a beige coat and white scarf. For some reason, there was something about her that felt different that day. More calm. More natural.They took the elevator to the highest floor.Ashley stepped in first as the door opened. "Wow..." she muttered spontaneously.Josh just smiled a little at her amazed expression.Their room was eno

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   60. Goodbye Sharon

    Two weeks have passed since the warm but awkward meeting between Josh, Ashley, and their two moms. Many things have changed since then. The wounds on Ashley's body are slowly healing, both physically and mentally. Mrs. Kim finally declared Ashley healthy, and the news brought a wave of new plans-including the long-delayed honeymoon.Josh's mom, with her typical enthusiasm, decided to give a special gift: a honeymoon trip to Paris. Everything was organized in perfect detail, from the first-class flight to the luxurious hotel overlooking the Seine River. Ashley herself could hardly believe it was all happening so fast. But, on the other side of the city, Josh faced a more complicated dilemma.The night before departure, Josh sat in his car, staring at his phone screen that displayed Sharon's name. He took a deep breath before finally pressing the call button.When Sharon picked up, Josh could almost feel the anger simmering from the other side of the line, even before a word was spoken.

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   59. Another Mother

    After cleaning herself, treating her wounds, and taking her medication, Ashley let out a long sigh. There was one important thing she had to do today.Ashley stared at her phone screen hesitantly for a long time. Before finally pressing the “Mom” contact and pressing the call button. She waited for the phone to connect.Her heart was beating lightly when her mother's voice came from the other side. In a low voice, almost a whisper, Ashley said, “Mom,” she said softly as she heard her mother's voice on the other end. "Today I'm going to see Dr. Kim for a consultation on the treatment of my injuries. After that... Can I stop by to see her for a while?"She didn't mention names, there was no need. Between them, it didn't take too many words to understand who she meant. A few seconds of silence passed, before her mother finally replied in a soft yet cautious tone, "Alright. I'll have them arrange access for you today."Ashley breathed a sigh of relief. There was something warm and bitter

  • The Price of Hidden Sins   58. Seeing The Old Woman Again

    Josh came home the next morning, his face tired but still forced a faint smile. Ashley had expected it. There was no need to explain. When the door opened and the sound of Josh's footsteps could be heard, Ashley only glanced briefly from between the kitchen doors.He was heading out, a small bag slung over his shoulder, sandals already on.“Where are you going?” asked Josh, his voice heavy as always, but this time there was a curious tone he couldn't hide.Ashley buttoned up her jacket. "To the family dermatologist. I want to start treatment for these wounds," she said with a faint smile, pointing to her still slightly bruised cheek.Josh put the car keys down on the table with a loud noise, as if accidentally venting a small annoyance. “I'll drop you off.”Ashley immediately shook her head. "You don't have to. I can do it myself. Besides, you look tired. Get some rest."“I can, really—”“No need, Josh.” Her voice sounded firmer than she would have liked. It made Josh pause for a mome

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