Page 329 of Scarbound

Ms. Lee’s face crumpled. “Forgiveness for what?”

Noeul looked down. “Is three years of misery enough?”

She stared at him, horrified by the question.

“Noeul, look at me.”

Slowly, he did.

“I don’t blame you for my son’s death.”

Noeul’s lips parted.

“You do not need my forgiveness for something you did not do.”

His eyes filled again.

“If anyone should apologize here, it’s me.” She hesitated. “For what I believed about you. For the things I said to you.” Her voice weakened. “And for my older son.”

Noeul stiffened. Ms. Lee noticed immediately.

“Chung-Hee never told me exactly what happened between you,” she said carefully. “Jun didn’t either.”

Noeul said nothing.

“But he hurt you, didn’t he?”

Silence.

His fingers curled against his trousers. Ms. Lee watched the movement.

“I see.”

Noeul still couldn’t look at her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Please don’t apologize for him.”

Ms. Lee went still. Noeul finally lifted his gaze.

“What Chung-Hee did was his choice.”

Ms. Lee nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

“Thank you,” Noeul said with a fragile smile. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I’m not going to ask you to forgive him.”

Noeul looked at her.

“And I’m not going to ask you to go back to him.”

His shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.

“I know my son loves you,” she continued, her voice breaking. “Or at least, he believes what he feels is love. But whatever he feels does not excuse what he did.”

Noeul stared into his glass. “He wants what I can’t give him,” he said eventually. “We can’t be together, Ms. Lee. We tried. I tried.”