Page 192 of Scarbound

“You’re doing it again.”

Chung-Hee frowned. “Doing what?”

“Deciding for me.”

“No.”

“You knew what Gong did to Haneul. You thought I knew too.” His breathing trembled, but his voice held. “And you still came into my life.”

Chung-Hee went still.

“Why?”

“I told you why.”

“No. You told me you loved me.”

“I do.”

“Then why does your love always hurt?”

The question silenced him.

Noeul swallowed. “Was it revenge?”

Chung-Hee’s face hardened. “What?”

“My brother raped yours.” Noeul’s voice cracked around the words, but he forced himself to continue. “So what was I supposed to be? His replacement? Someone you could punish because Gong was already dead?”

“Stop.”

“Is that why you treated me like that?”

“No.”

“Why you controlled me? Humiliated me?”

“I said stop.”

“Why you forced me to give you oral?”

Chung-Hee flinched as though Noeul had struck him.

“Was that love too?”

“What did you just say to me?”

“You heard me.”

Chung-Hee released him.

For one brief second, Noeul thought he had finally gotten through.

Then Chung-Hee struck him.

The blow snapped Noeul’s head sideways. Pain burst across his mouth. He tasted blood.

Neither of them moved.