Page 308 of Scarbound

Noeul accused her of making excuses. Yujin denied it with a perfectly straight face.

He stayed anyway.

During those quieter weeks, Duri finally kept the promise he had made on the night they found Noeul.

Ji-Woo found him alone in the kitchen one evening. Noeul had already gone to bed, and Yujin was speaking on the phone in her room.

Ji-Woo leaned against the counter. “You said you’d explain.”

Duri looked at him blankly.

“The penthouse,” Ji-Woo added. “The inheritance. The enormous part of your life you apparently forgot to mention.”

Duri sighed. “I didn’t forget.”

Ji-Woo’s expression tightened. “That makes it so much worse, you asshole.” Hurt sharpened his voice. “You didn’t forget. You chose not to tell me.”

Duri lowered his eyes. “My father left us years ago. When he died, his will left most of his estate to eomma. A smaller part came to me.”

“After abandoning you both?”

“Yes.”

Ji-Woo frowned. “Why?”

“We don’t know. Guilt, probably. Eomma says money was the only apology he knew how to make.”

Ji-Woo looked around the enormous kitchen. “And that’s how she bought this place.”

Duri nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want the money to change anything.”

“You thought I’d treat you differently?”

Duri hesitated. “I was afraid you might.”

Ji-Woo stared at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“Probably.”

“You still should’ve told me.”

“I know.” Duri looked at him. “I’m sorry.”

Ji-Woo let him suffer for another moment. “Fine. But you’re paying the next time we go out.”

Duri blinked. “I always pay.”

“And now I know why.”

Duri shook his head, but some of the tension left his shoulders.

***

By late May, more than a month had passed since the rescue. Seoul had shed the last traces of winter. The air was warm, with the first hint of summer beneath it. Trees filled the streets and parks with green, their leaves stirring whenever the wind picked up. Spring had settled fully over the city.