All Chapters of The Price of Hidden Sins: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

It had been three days since Ashley received the call from Mark, informing her that she had passed the initial screening and was invited for an interview. Three days should have felt short—brief, even. But for Ashley, it felt like an entire season of relentless rain pouring over her heart, soaking every corner of her thoughts with anxiety. She hadn't told Josh yet. She hadn’t told him that she applied for a position at Mark’s company, a rival of Josh’s firm back in Korea. And while she also hadn’t mentioned it to her mother, Ashley felt more at ease on that front. Her mother would likely support her decision, especially since it was only a junior designer role. It wasn't a managerial position or anything prestigious. She would still have to go through a six-month probation period. Everything seemed manageable… on that side.But with Josh? Things were more complicated.That morning, Ashley stood in front of the bathroom mirror for what felt like forever. The overhead light glowed dimly

The car slowed to a stop at the side of the road, right in front of a small, cozy-looking café. Through the window, a round pendant light illuminated the neatly arranged wooden tables. The place wasn't too crowded, quiet enough for a private conversation—the perfect spot for the meeting Ashley had hoped would never happen.“Is this the place?” Josh asked.Ashley glanced at the café's sign through the car window before switching her gaze to her phone screen. The café's name and location matched the message Mark had sent earlier that morning.Ashley nodded slowly. “Yes. It's really near our apartment. Just a five-minute drive.”Josh said to his driver, “Mr. Smith, wait for us here. We won't be long.”Ashley turned immediately, her face anxious. “Wait. Are you coming too?”Josh nodded lightly, his expression relaxed. “Why not? I want to meet your friend.”"Josh... you don't need to come. Seriously. Just go straight to the office. Your work will be in disarray if you're late.”Josh replie

Mark called Rick while under the influence of alcohol and sadness over memories of his younger brother.The call connected after a few rings, and Rick's characteristic deep voice came through on the other end, slightly breathless, as if he had just taken a deep breath before answering.“What's wrong, Mark?”One sentence. But it was enough to shatter something that had been cracked for a long time inside Mark. At that moment, the entire room seemed to spin. His head felt heavy. The alcohol made everything feel like it was floating, but the pain grew sharper, like a blade that never dulled.“Do you still remember Michael?”Rick paused for a moment before answering with great heaviness. “Mark—”“Michael… was my brother. My only brother. My only family…” Mark’s throat felt tight and painful. The dryness and burning sensation seemed to choke him mercilessly—without pause.On the other end, Rick’s long sigh could be heard.“Mark, please. Where are you? Do you want me to come see you?”The w

The elevator jolted slightly as it halted on the ground floor, its metallic doors parting with a reluctant hiss. Ashley bolted out like breath held too long, chest rising and falling as though the silence upstairs still chased her. Her heels clicked frantically against the polished marble of the empty lobby, a ghostly metronome in a building that had long since fallen asleep.Glass doors slid open at her approach. The night air slapped her cheeks—cool and sharp, cutting through her panic like icy water. She stepped onto the sidewalk, her bag slung awkwardly over her shoulder, glancing left and right. The street was mostly deserted, but the amber glow of street lamps painted puddles of light on the wet asphalt.And then, as if the universe threw her a bone, a taxi drifted by—slow, almost eerie in its timing.Ashley raised her hand with urgency, and the taxi stopped with a sigh of brakes. She climbed in, closing the door with fingers that still trembled.“Where to?” the driver asked wit

Ashley sat before the vanity, bathed in the soft glow of the lamp, slowly wiping away the remnants of her makeup. Each stroke of the cotton pad was heavy, deliberate—as if she were trying to erase the memory of everything that had happened tonight. Her eyes were distant, her mouth pressed into a thin line, her shoulders stiff with unspoken tension.Josh appeared in the doorway a moment later, his footsteps light against the hardwood floor. He stood there in silence at first, taking in the sight of her—the woman he loved, unraveling in quiet exhaustion.He stepped closer. "Ash," he said gently. "I’m serious, what’s going on? Why did you send me a message like that? You know I’ve been trying to reach you."Ashley didn’t look at him. Her gaze stayed fixed on her reflection in the mirror. "I told you. My battery died.""Still," Josh persisted, pulling out the chair beside her. "Your message... It was very strange. 'Please track my location, in case something happens'? What was that about?