A Sonata for the Scarred

Ten minutes later, a woman in heels and designer everything pushed open the door.

Rhea edged closer and peeked through the crack.

It was her—Glenna Digger. The name they'd dropped earlier. The girl from Eddie's photo album. Back when Rhea asked, he'd brushed it off with, "Just an old friend."

Glenna made a beeline for Eddie, slid in next to him, all smiles, and handed over a gift.

He took it, but her eyes locked on the brooch on his chest.

"Wow, Eddie. Your taste really changed. You used to hate these knockoffs."

She reached for it.

Eddie flinched and caught her hand.

Glenna blinked, then pouted. "Didn't realize it meant that much... Guess you won't like my gift either."

She opened the box.

Another brooch. Flashy. Expensive-looking. Nothing like the one Rhea gave.

Eddie's grip loosened.

He saw her eyes go glassy, sighed, then unclipped Rhea's brooch and swapped it for Glenna's.

Glenna lit up. "Knew you'd love it!"

She picked up Rhea's brooch, pretended to fumble, and let it fall.

Rhinestones scattered across the floor.

"Oh no! Total accident..." she said sweetly.

She gave him the sad eyes. Eddie barely glanced at the brooch before looking away.

"It's fine. Wasn't worth much anyway."

Glenna crouched, picked it up, and tossed it in the trash like it was nothing. "Guess it's broken. No point keeping it."

The rhinestones? Crushed under the feet of people who couldn’t care less.

Eddie didn't budge.

Rhea turned her face, pale and frozen. She was ready to run—then she heard it.

"Eddie, I've got a surprise for you tonight. Stay with me?"

"Sure."

The words cracked something deep.

She staggered home, totally out of it.

Three years ago, she found Eddie beat-up and bleeding.

Later, she found out the truth—he was the heir to the Bowie family, the ones behind Bowie Group, hiding out after getting framed and hunted.

At first, she helped out of duty, maybe.

But then he started showing her this softer side. One no one else got.

There was always something between them. Unspoken. Untouched.

Then came the crash.

Eddie didn't hesitate—he threw himself into the fire to save her.

She woke up deaf. First thing she saw? Eddie, covered in bandages.

He said, "If you can't hear, I'll be your ears."

For three years, she carried his pain, shared his fight, and helped rebuild his legacy.

She never thought the second he made it back, he'd put a ring on someone else.

Now she sat on her bed, staring at their old photo, eyes blank, heart wrecked, waiting for morning.

Then she grabbed her phone.

"Grandpa, I'm ready. I'm taking back the Cliburn name. And I'm entering the international piano competition as your heir."