Page 317 of Scarbound

“I know. But I’m making it anyway.”

That made him laugh quietly. “All right. Tell Appa I’m fine.”

“Tell him yourself. He misses you.”

Noeul swallowed. “I will.”

After ending the call, he kept the phone in his hand for a moment. Ji-Woo glanced back at him.

“Eomma?”

Noeul nodded.

“What did she want?”

“To hear my voice.”

Ji-Woo’s expression softened. Noeul slipped the phone back into his coat.

“I told her I’d visit soon.”

“Good.”

Duri said nothing. He simply continued walking beside him.

The gallery wasn’t far. As they approached, Noeul felt anticipation beginning to replace the tension in his chest.

Art had always been one of the few things capable of quieting his mind. The thought of seeing Ji-Woo’s exhibition space made him strangely excited.

He followed his brother through the entrance. The familiar smell of polished floors and fresh paint greeted them. Noeul looked around. He immediately searched for the wall he had asked his brother to reserve for his art.

Then he saw him.

Chung-Hee.

Noeul stopped.

The air vanished from his lungs.

He stood several meters away in his usual tailored gray suit, immaculate as ever, beside Jun and Kija. They were speaking with one of the gallery coordinators.

Chung-Hee hadn’t seen him yet.

For one terrible second, Noeul could only stare.

Then Chung-Hee turned.

Noeul wanted to shout, to demand answers, to ask him how love had turned into something so cruel. Instead, he exhaled.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

For one terrible second, Noeul felt himself back inside that apartment.

Then Duri shifted beside him.

Ji-Woo was there too.

Noeul breathed.