Page 319 of Scarbound

“It was a pleasure seeing you. These are invitations to the exhibition Ji-Woo and I are hosting. I’d be happy if you could come.”

“Absolutely,” Jun said.

Noeul turned specifically to him. “And… thank you for your help that day, Mr. Han.”

“You never need to thank me for that.”

Noeul bowed anyway, then straightened.

He didn’t look at Chung-Hee.

“Lee Chung-Hee.”

Chung-Hee went still.

“You still have my ID and passport. Please leave them with the concierge.”

He continued before the man could answer. “I also need the money I had saved for Ji-Woo’s tuition. Leave the card with my documents or send me the account information so I can transfer it myself.”

“Noeul.”

“No.”

The word came quietly.

Noeul finally looked at him.

“I don’t want to discuss anything else with you.”

Chung-Hee stared at him. Tears gathered in his eyes, but Noeul forced himself not to respond to them.

“My passport and ID,” Noeul repeated. “And my money. That’s all.”

Then he turned away.

Duri fell into step beside him. Ji-Woo followed on the other side.

Noeul walked toward the gallery coordinator without looking back.

CHAPTER 64

“You’re a real asshole. You know that?”

Chung-Hee’s words cut through the strained silence of his apartment.

Jun stood near the window, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Kija sat rigid on the couch, his expression dark as a brewing storm. Chung-Hee stood in the center of the room, his jaw clenched, a glass of whiskey forgotten in his hand.

They had barely spoken since returning from the gallery.

Kija turned sharply toward him. “How dare you insult me like that?”

“After everything I told you, after I trusted you with my deepest secrets, you of all people should know better than to flirt with Noeul.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kija shot back, anger flashing in his eyes. “All I did was look at him. Are we not even allowed that anymore without triggering your irrational jealousy?”

“You think I’m stupid?” Chung-Hee growled. “I saw the way you looked at him.”

“Yes, I looked at him,” Kija snapped. “He’s beautiful. That doesn’t make him mine.”