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."

Leopold Cliburn's voice came through the phone. "Really, Rhea?! I never stopped looking for you. Your father was useless—if he hadn't ditched your mother, we wouldn't have lost all those years. I've heard everything. With your talent, carrying on the Cliburn legacy will be easy."

Rhea dropped the photo of her and Eddie into the trash, laughing bitterly.

"Yeah. Thanks, Grandpa."

Three years ago, she was the prodigy everyone talked about.

Every stage, every spotlight—she owned it.

Then a single crash wrecked everything—took her hearing, killed her shot at the life she'd trained for.

The competition was the very next day.

Two years of grinding, prepping, aiming for that one title—top-ranked pianist in the country —just vanished.

Leopold kept going. "In seven days, I'll send someone to bring you home. We'll handle your name change and everything else."

"Okay, Grandpa. Got it."

Seven days. Just seven more days and she'd be gone. From Eddie. From this whole version of herself.

Her phone buzzed—a pic.

Eddie and Glenna. Twisted up in bed, arms all over each other.

Yeah, no mystery who sent it.

[Miss Smith, Eddie was wasted last night, so I brought him home. He kept me up for hours... said we're going to Bali for our wedding.]

Rhea saved the pic and the text, then typed back.

[Congrats. You finally got what you wanted.]

She spent the whole afternoon packing.

Everything that screamed them hit the trash.

The apartment? Her mom's gift. Small, but prime location. Agents had been circling for years.

She never budged—too many memories of her and Eddie tucked in the walls.

Now? She called the agency herself.

They moved fast. Someone came to check it out the next day.

Once the price was set, Rhea personally walked them out.

She stepped outside—and bam, Eddie's car rolled up.

Window down. He spotted the group, frowning. "Who are they?"

One of the agents jumped in, "Ah! You must be Miss Smith's boyfriend—"

Rhea cut him off. "Nothing. Water heater broke. Just repair guys."

The agent blinked, confused, but backed off under her stare.

Inside, Eddie paused. The apartment felt... wrong. Too empty.

He signed, [Why does it feel so empty all of a sudden?]

She signed back, cool as ice. [Just tossed some useless stuff.]

Her face gave nothing away. Eddie didn't press.

He pulled her in, sat down like nothing happened.

[I drank too much, crashed somewhere. You didn't wait up, did you? Work's been insane lately. Company celebration's tomorrow. Wanna come?]

She didn't say no.

Every second looking at him now—every fake smile, every touch—made her stomach turn.

But with six days left, she couldn't risk blowing it.

She just needed out.

Three years of lies—about to be over.

At the Bowie Group celebration, Eddie showed up with Rhea on his arm.

Heads turned. Some stared, others snickered.

"So that's Eddie's girl? Deaf and basic. What's he even see in her? He brought her here?"

"So what? She met him when he was a wreck. Just dumb luck."

"Luck? Please. Glenna's the one with the ring—and a Bali wedding locked in."

Rhea didn't flinch. Played it like she couldn't hear a thing.

Eddie's frown twitched—he totally caught the whispers.

Didn't say a thing. Just steered her to a corner seat.

[Gotta talk to some people. Chill here. Grab food if you want.]

He signed that, then dipped into the crowd.

People swarmed him fast, but his eyes kept darting to the entrance.

Then boom—doors opened. Glenna stepped in, dripping in couture.

She and Eddie locked eyes, smiling like they owned the place.

They looked perfect together.

Compliments flew. Glenna soaked it all in, glowing like she lived for it.

Then her eyes found Rhea. Quiet. Alone.

She walked over, hand out.

"Hi, you must be Rhea Smith? I'm Glenna Digger. Hope we get along from now on."

Rhea shot her a glance but stayed still.

First time face-to-face, but Glenna's hate had always been loud.

When Rhea didn't budge, Glenna turned to Eddie, all faux-upset.

"Eddie, Miss Smith, she..."

He gave Rhea a look—half annoyed.

"She can't hear."

Glenna nodded, then leaned in, all sweet and smug.

"Eddie, I heard she used to be this rising piano star. Think she can play with me tonight? It's my first show since I got back, and I really want it to be perfect."

Rhea stiffened. She hadn't touched a piano in forever.

After the crash, just seeing one made her chest tighten.

The memories hit too hard. Too sharp.

Eddie knew that.

Still, she heard him say, "Alright."

Rhea bit her lip, blinking back the burn behind her eyes.

Of course it was always Glenna. She was the one Eddie really gave a damn about.

Even the crash—what Rhea once thought was some twisted rescue—that was part of the setup.

All so his girl could snag that win.

Didn't matter if it wrecked Rhea's future.

Nothing's changed.

Her pride, her past, her whole name—meant zero to him.

Eddie glanced at her, caught the way her face had gone ghost-pale.

Guilt flickered, but it was weak.

He hesitated, then started to sign—[Glenna wants to do a duet with you...]

Rhea cut in, voice steady.

"Fine. I'll play."

Eddie froze. Started signing again—[Rhea, I know you don't want to, but it's Glenna's first performance since coming back...]

Rhea stood and headed straight for center stage.

Eddie watched her, uneasy creeping in despite her calm face.

He reached out, signing, [After this, let's go home. Got a gift for you.]

She turned around. No words. No glance.

They sat at the piano. Rhea took a breath, turned to Glenna.

"Let's begin, Miss Digger."

Glenna lifted her hands, all elegance. The melody floated out smooth.

Rhea tried to sync with her, but the past hit hard.

The keys looked white—she saw blood.

In her head: 'Sorry, Miss Smith. Your hearing may never return.'

Her timing slipped. Whispers rose.

"She won awards? Doesn't even play well enough to teach."

"She's deaf. What'd you expect? Glenna's wasting her talent up there."

The piece ended. Glenna stood, bowed like a queen.

Eddie handed her flowers, smiling. "Beautiful, just like before."

Rhea met his eyes. He flinched like her stare burned.

[Rhea, tonight was Glenna's show. That's why the flowers were for her. I'll make it up to you.]

Make it up? CEO of Bowie Group couldn't find a spare bouquet in ten minutes?

He didn't even fake it.

"No need."

Even she was surprised by how raw her voice sounded.

She just wanted out.

This place wasn't hers.

To them, she was just the side act—the joke.

Applause echoed like thunder, but none of it hit her.

Only the mockery did.

She stood to go.

Glenna grabbed her arm.