All Chapters of A Sonata for the Scarred: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"If this deaf girl finds out you're engaged to Glenna, and that you trashed her hearing just so Glenna could win—think she'd still be playing the obedient girlfriend?"Rhea Smith froze, birthday gift still in her hands.Today was Eddie Bowie's birthday. She'd planned a surprise. Instead, his friend's voice cracked everything wide open.Three years ago, a crash stole her hearing.Eddie learned sign language for her.He became her whole world.Now her hearing was back—and everything felt fake."Keep it down..." someone muttered.Eddie pulled her in. "She can't hear."Rick Hedd didn't bother lowering his voice. "Exactly. She's deaf. I get it if you're just messing around. Even if Glenna bailed on you before, she came crawling back. You two are engaged now. Time to drop the deaf girl."Eddie paused. "She'll never find out. Not if I don't want her to."Rick blinked. "Wait, seriously? You still wanna be with her? Don't tell me you actually fell for her."Eddie gave him a look. "R

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

Glenna yanked out her phone and flashed a message at Rhea.[You probably don't know the car crash was Eddie's doing, huh? All for me. Even pretending to care after—that was just to make sure your hearing was wrecked for good. Those meds for your ears? I had him give them to you. You might've had a shot, but not after that. And you really thought you could compete with me?]Rhea's fists curled tight, nails cutting into her palms. The pain snapped her awake.She'd taken those meds for a whole year.Back then, Eddie had quit Bowie Group. He was broke, barely scraping by, but still dropped money on her treatment.She'd been so moved. Took every dose on time. He even drove her to every checkup.In the end, she gave in—convinced her ears were done for.Started easing off the meds.Whenever Eddie asked, she'd just hold up the leftovers like everything was fine.She just hadn't wanted to be a burden.Funny how that choice ended up saving her.If she'd kept taking those pills, how wo

Over the next three days, Eddie popped up now and then—usually on his way to see Glenna. Rhea was just a detour.The hospital buzzed about how the Bowie CEO was babying his fiancée. Glenna got a tiny scratch, and Eddie freaked—demanded a trauma specialist on standby 24/7.Rhea couldn't care less. Even seeing him didn't faze her anymore.He thought she was just being dramatic. Figured once he patched things up with Glenna, he could sweet-talk Rhea back like always.But this time? She was out. Whatever shred of hope she had died the night he didn't come home.While a nurse changed her bandages, Glenna waltzed in like she owned the place. Glowing. Clearly Eddie was spoiling her.Rhea didn't even blink. Eyes stayed glued to her phone.Her grandpa had already handled everything—her stuff moved.The apartment? It had been sold and signed over to the new owner.It was time to go.Glenna stepped closer, smug grin locked in place."Still chasing Eddie, huh? God, you're stubborn. We'r

Eddie glanced at Glenna, sighed."Yeah, I was a jerk earlier. You're still hurt. Go lie down."Glenna gave a teary nod, flashing him a sad little look.Right as she turned, he added,"This time... it's on Rhea. When we find her, I'll make her apologize."Glenna's smile slid back in place. That nervous twist in her chest? Gone.Eddie still had her back. Sure, maybe a piece of him was still stuck on Rhea, but whatever.Once Rhea showed up, she'd make sure that piece got ripped out for good.***Eddie didn't sleep. Just stared at his phone.At dawn, his assistant finally called.He snatched it up. "Is she okay? Is she hurt? Let me talk to her."Silence. Then a tight voice:"Mr. Bowie... we can't find her. I've checked every lead. It's like she disappeared. No socials, no hotel check-ins, nothing. All her accounts are wiped."Eddie just froze.Rhea was... gone?He sat there, blank, thoughts spinning and hitting dead ends. Where the hell would she even go?She hadn't had an