Semua Bab The Price of Hidden Sins: Bab 101 - Bab 110

The sky had long surrendered to nightfall when Josh pulled his car to a gentle stop in front of a small café nestled at a sleepy street corner. From the outside, it seemed nothing out of the ordinary—just another cozy little place lost in the city's map of hundreds. Yellow string lights dangled under a weathered white canvas awning, swaying faintly in the breeze. A modest chalkboard beside the entrance announced the day’s specials in colorful, looping cursive: “Homemade waffles & caramel drizzle — Try our choco mint surprise!”It could’ve been any café. But the moment Josh pushed the door open, and the tiny brass bell above it gave a cheerful ring, Ashley felt it—a warmth that wasn’t just from the indoor heating or the soft lighting. It was subtler than that. Gentler. Like stepping into someone’s fond memory.Inside, the atmosphere felt like a lullaby. Soft pastel colors embraced the walls—muted pinks, mint greens, dusty blues—giving the room a delicate charm. Small tables dotted the

The oversized grey T-shirt hung loosely on Ashley's frame, brushing halfway down her thighs. Its sleeves were far too long, nearly swallowing her hands, hiding the curves that were usually defined beneath her sharp, structured outfits. Her hair was still damp, slightly fluffed from the shower, and her skin looked fresh, radiant with the kind of glow that only came from warm water and a moment of peace. Her bare feet made no sound against the wooden floor.Josh froze in the doorway, one hand still gripping the doorframe. He hadn’t meant to stare. But the sight in front of him hit him in a way he couldn’t quite explain. Like stumbling upon a painting in a forgotten gallery—quiet, understated, but suddenly too much.It wasn’t that Ashley looked beautiful. She was always beautiful, even when angry or annoyed. It was something else tonight. Something softer. More exposed. Real.Ashley turned, sensing his presence, and met his gaze.“What is it?” she asked, a little uneasy, catching the way

They stood there, the distance between them shrinking ever so slightly, the quiet of the night wrapping around their shared uncertainty like a fragile cocoon.Ashley’s mind raced with doubts, memories, and fears. But beneath it all, something new was stirring—something like trust.She lifted her hand tentatively, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I want to try, Josh. I really do. But I need time.”Josh smiled, the kind of smile that reached his eyes and warmed her soul. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”She smiled back, a flicker of relief breaking through the tension.“Thank you,” she said softly.They stood on the balcony a while longer, wrapped in silence that felt less like distance and more like an unspoken agreement: to be patient, to be kind, and to be real with each other—no matter how messy or slow the path might be.As the stars twinkled overhead, Ashley realized that for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t alone in the darkness.And m

In the dining room, the only sound was the occasional clink of cutlery against plates. Ashley stared at her food without really eating. Josh, sitting across from her, seemed calm. He ate at a steady pace—neither rushed nor completely relaxed—as if trying to maintain a neutral atmosphere, something difficult to achieve after the tense nights before.Finally, Ashley put down her fork. Josh looked up, his eyebrows slightly raised. “Full?”Ashley nodded, then met his gaze directly. “Can I ask you something?”Josh didn’t answer with words, just gave a small nod—an invitation to speak.Ashley took a deep breath, carefully choosing her words.She sat at the dining table, her spoon suspended mid-air. The last bite of her creamy corn soup never reached her mouth. Josh sat opposite her, busy cutting a piece of roast beef as if the world around him needed no attention.Silence enveloped them like a thick fog, heavy and directionless.“Why did you come to me?” Ashley’s voice finally broke the

Without thinking, her hand reached for Josh's work bag, lifting it and placing it by the table like a habit forged over years of marriage. It was automatic, almost unconscious. But the moment she realized what she’d done, Ashley froze. Her fingers hovered in mid-air, and she blinked rapidly, as if her mind were chasing its own awareness.She quickly dismissed her surprise, forcing a casual tone into her voice. “Oh, I ran into an old friend today—someone I knew back in New Zealand,” she said, walking to the kitchen to grab two glasses of water.Josh was changing out of his shoes and into house slippers. “A friend?” he asked. “What’s his name?”“Mark,” Ashley replied with a nod. “He was a senior back in school. Helped me out a lot when I first moved there. Really kind.”Josh glanced up. “Mark… He’s a guy?”Ashley nodded again. “Yeah. He owns his own company now. An online travel agency. We caught up for a bit, and he offered me a job—something design-related for his company.”Josh, who