CHAPTER 34
His mother stood only a few steps away.
For several seconds, nobody moved. Ms. Lee stared at Noeul as though she were looking at someone who should not exist in front of her. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible.
“Noeul… what are you doing here?”
Noeul heard her. He simply couldn’t answer. Memories came faster than thought. She had once treated him like family. Then Haneul died, and it was as if she had buried whatever love she had for Noeul beside him.
“Mother,” Chung-Hee said, his usual strictness returning, “let’s go upstairs. We shouldn’t have this conversation here.”
He reached for Noeul’s hand. Noeul should have pulled away. He knew that. Instead, his body followed before his mind caught up.
The elevator ride passed without a word. Only when the penthouse door closed behind them did Noeul seem to return to himself. He immediately pulled his hand free.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I think I should go.”
He bowed slightly and turned toward the door, but Ms. Lee moved in front of him.
“No. Not until you explain what’s going on.” Her eyes moved between the two men. “What are you doing here?”
Noeul pushed his hands deep into his coat pockets. “I really need to leave.”
“Chung-Hee.” Her voice sharpened. “Speak.”
Chung-Hee moved to Noeul’s side. “It’s simple. I invited him.”
Ms. Lee stared at her son. “Why?”
Chung-Hee didn’t answer immediately.
Her expression changed. “No.”
The word came out almost as a whisper. Then, louder, “No.”
Noeul’s stomach tightened as Ms. Lee stepped closer to Chung-Hee.
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Mother.”
“Tell me!”
Chung-Hee’s jaw tightened. “We’re not doing anything wrong.”
Her face drained of color. Noeul lowered his gaze.
Ms. Lee gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “Are you insane?”
Chung-Hee’s eyes hardened. “Excuse me?”
“He murdered your brother.”
Noeul flinched.
Ms. Lee turned on him. “And you. After everything that happened to my son, you come here?”
Noeul’s throat tightened. “Ms. Lee, I…”
“You dare stand beside his brother?”
“Mother, enough.”
“No! I buried my son!”
The room went silent. Her chest rose and fell unevenly.
“I buried Haneul while your family continued living.”
Noeul’s eyes filled.
Ms. Lee looked back at Chung-Hee. “Is this why you ran to New York? Why you barely stay at your company anymore? Is this what has been destroying you?” Her gaze shifted to Noeul. “Him?”
Chung-Hee’s calm began to crack. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know exactly what I’m looking at.” She pointed toward Noeul. “You’re falling in love with the person who destroyed our family.”
Noeul went still. Chung-Hee stared at her.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why? Because it’s true?”
“It isn’t.”
“Then what is this?” Ms. Lee’s voice rose. “You think loving him doesn’t betray Haneul?”
Chung-Hee stepped forward. “Noeul did not kill my brother.”
Noeul slowly looked at Chung-Hee.
Ms. Lee’s expression twisted. “Have you forgotten everything?”
“No.” Chung-Hee’s voice was low. “I remember everything.”
“Then how can you stand there defending him?” Her eyes filled. “Or do you want to end up like Haneul too?”
Noeul shuddered. “Do you really think I would destroy his life?” His voice came out more firmly than he expected.
Ms. Lee turned toward him. “Yes. That’s exactly what I think.”
For a moment, the old instinct returned. Apologize. Accept it. Let her say whatever she needed to say. But another voice surfaced beneath it. You became the person she blamed. That is not the same thing.
Noeul swallowed. “I wouldn’t.”
Ms. Lee stared at him.
Noeul’s eyes were wet now, but he didn’t look away. “I loved Haneul. I know what Gong did was wrong. I know there are things I should have seen sooner.” His voice began to tremble. “But I didn’t kill him.”
Ms. Lee’s breath caught.
Noeul continued before fear could stop him. “And I won’t let you keep calling me his murderer.”
For one brief second, something in her face cracked. Not anger. Pain. Then it disappeared beneath fury.
“How dare you?” She crossed the distance between them. “You stand in my son’s home and tell me what I’m allowed to call you?”
Her hands closed around Noeul’s shoulders. “You think because years have passed, you get to move on?”
She shook him. “My son doesn’t get to move on!”
“Mother!” Chung-Hee snapped.
But she didn’t hear him.
“How are you still here?” Her voice broke. “How are you still alive when Haneul is dead?”
Noeul’s face crumpled. Ms. Lee struck his chest with the heel of her hand, once, then again.
“Why did your family get to keep their sons?” Another blow. “Why did I have to bury mine?”
Noeul stumbled backward. Chung-Hee caught her wrist.
“Stop.”
She tore free. “You chose your brother over him!”
Noeul flinched as though she had struck somewhere deeper.
Ms. Lee’s tears were falling freely now. “And now you’re taking Chung-Hee too?”
“No,” Noeul whispered.
“You seduced him.”
“I didn’t.”
“You came into this family once already and destroyed it!”
“I didn’t!”
Ms. Lee froze. Noeul stood trembling before her, his cheeks wet with tears.
“I didn’t kill Haneul!” His chest heaved. “I loved him!”
The words echoed through the room.
Ms. Lee stared at him. For a few seconds, none of them moved. Then her face collapsed.
“I loved him too.” The words came out broken. Noeul’s anger disappeared.
Ms. Lee pressed both hands over her mouth. She turned away. Chung-Hee watched her shoulders begin to shake.
“Mother…”
“Don’t.” She raised one hand without looking back. “Don’t follow me.”
She walked quickly toward the door. Before leaving, she stopped, and for the briefest moment, her eyes found Noeul’s.
They held none of the warmth he remembered. Only grief.
Then she disappeared. The door closed behind her.