Page 145 of Scarbound

“This is between me and Noeul.” Chung-Hee shoved Kija back with one arm. “Stay out of it.”

Kija steadied himself. “You’re hurting him.”

Chung-Hee’s grip remained firm.

Kija stared at him. “Is this how you treat someone you claim to love?”

“When he disobeys,” Chung-Hee replied flatly, “there are consequences.”

Kija’s expression hardened.

“No.”

The word came out quietly, then more firmly.

“No, Hee. What the hell are you doing?”

“This doesn’t concern you.”

“It concerns me when you come into my home and hurt someone in front of me.” Kija stepped closer. “And especially when he was right.”

Chung-Hee’s eyes narrowed.

“He came here for Ji-Woo. For Haneul.” Kija pointed toward the photographs. “At least look at the paintings before you decide what story you want to believe.”

For several seconds, Chung-Hee didn’t move. Then he released Noeul. Noeul immediately stepped away from him.

“Five minutes,” Chung-Hee said.

Kija stared at him. “What?”

“Five minutes.” Chung-Hee looked toward Noeul. “After that, there will be no more private contact between you two. Anything that needs to happen will go through me or San.”

Noeul didn’t answer.

“I asked you something.”

Still nothing.

“Noeul.”

Noeul looked at him.

The humiliation had settled somewhere deeper than tears. Chung-Hee had struck him in front of another person because Noeul had refused to obey.

Not because he had done something wrong. Not because of Haneul. Not because of Gong.

Because he had said no.

Kija watched him carefully. The young man who had been excitedly taking notes only minutes earlier now stood rigid and pale, his cheek red, his eyes distant.

“Noeul…”

Noeul turned away from Chung-Hee and gathered Ji-Woo’s portfolio first, then the photographs of his own paintings. His hands shook slightly.

Kija moved as though to help him. Noeul stepped back. The gesture stopped him.

Noeul took a breath and turned toward Kija. “Thank you for welcoming me into your home, Kija. Thank you for spending your time helping Ji-Woo. And thank you for letting me meet one of my favorite artists properly.”