Page 323 of Scarbound

“Do you?”

Jun looked at him.

“If I tell Noeul, he may refuse to come.”

“He has the right to refuse.”

“He does,” he said quietly.

“Then what exactly are you trying to accomplish?”

Jun took a long breath. “I want her to see him.”

Kija frowned.

“Not the version of Noeul she built in her grief. Not Gong’s twin. Not the person she blamed for Haneul’s death. Him.” Jun looked back toward the building towering behind them. “And I want Chung-Hee to finally understand that Haneul cannot keep being used as justification for what they’ve done to that man.”

Kija remained silent.

“I don’t know if it will work,” Jun admitted. “Maybe I’m making a mistake.”

“Maybe you are.”

“I know.”

Kija sighed and pulled his car keys from his pocket. “I’ll change my return flight to the U.S. and invite a few friends to the exhibition.”

He started toward his car, then stopped.

“But if this turns against him, Jun, we stop it. Immediately.”

Jun nodded. “Agreed.”

Kija walked away. Jun remained on the sidewalk for a moment, staring up at the illuminated windows of Chung-Hee’s penthouse.

Somewhere above him, his best friend was drinking alone, still clinging to a man who had finally begun learning how to let go.

Jun hailed a taxi and made his way home.

But even after he closed his eyes that night, one thought refused to leave him.

He had set something in motion.

Now he could only hope Noeul wouldn’t be the one forced to pay for it.

CHAPTER 65

By the night of their exhibition, the two brothers had planned every detail with meticulous care. Noeul had taken it upon himself to exceed expectations, transforming the exhibition into a memorable experience for every visitor. One table offered carefully selected food and drinks, while another displayed complimentary prints of Ji-Woo’s paintings for guests to take home.

The gallery walls displayed a wide range of Ji-Woo’s work: abstract landscapes washed in shades of blue and green, portraits that seemed to whisper secrets, and still lifes that captured the essence of everyday objects with astonishing precision.

Only one wall had been dedicated to Noeul’s paintings, just as he had requested. It was lined with portraits of his twin brother and his closest friend, each canvas telling a different story, each revealing a different emotion. Gong laughing. Haneul lost in thought. The two of them together. Moments preserved in paint that no longer existed anywhere else.

The gallery buzzed with admiration as visitors found themselves drawn to the bold brushstrokes, intricate details, and raw emotion in both brothers’ work.

“Good evening, everyone, and thank you all for being here tonight. My brother and I are truly honored that you’ve joined us for the opening of our first exhibition.”

Ji-Woo’s voice carried through the gallery as he welcomed the guests and introduced his work.