Claude, Key, and Len built Jean Entertainment together, and they decided on Claude as the CEO. After all, Claude held more shares than both Key and Len. Since none of them were the firstborn in their families, they disliked bearing the full responsibility of being the CEO of a company.
Claude had a terrible relationship with his parents because of Mio. He decided to stand on his own feet without relying on them. Claude wanted to prove that even without their help, he could still live well.
Later, Claude realized that power, wealth, and money are useless when you've already lost the most precious thing in your life—something no amount of money can ever buy. Sometimes, it's hard to distinguish between love and hate. The line dividing them is thin, and you may never know which emotion truly rules your heart.
Love can turn into hate, and hate can also turn into love. When your heart is filled with hatred, love becomes invisible—until you lose what you once had. By the time you awaken to your mistake, there may be no second chance left.
On the other hand, when your heart is full of love but your feelings go unreciprocated, that love can eventually turn into hate. Sometimes, if you still hate someone, it means you still care. A person consumed by hatred can no longer tell the difference between love and hate.
Key and Len had business outside of Rain City, so they needed to take a plane. Rain City is the national capital of the Sunny Country. Key, a movie director, had the responsibility of producing a successful romance drama that year.
Key's new drama was set in Winter City, renowned as the most beautiful and romantic city in Sunny Country. That was why Key had to fly there. But Key and Len never imagined it would be the last time they'd see the sun.
Initially, Key and Len didn't believe Claude when he confessed about his past life and reincarnation. Still, they didn't want to take any chances. After much discussion, they decided to delay their departure.
They cleared their schedules that day to stay home and watch the news for any updates on the airplane. Though they hadn't taken Claude's warning completely to heart, they hoped nothing would go wrong. But their hopes were shattered when they saw the breaking news on TV.
They had been waiting for the plane to take off from Rain City to Winter City. When they saw the news about the crash—confirming that the aircraft heading to Winter City had suffered a tragic accident—their eyes widened in shock. Neither of them could find the words to speak.
Len's body trembled in fear. The usually talkative Len, who often teased everyone around him—especially Claude Lockheart—was suddenly speechless. His jokes, though meaningless, were always lighthearted and warm. But now, he couldn't utter a single word.
Both Key and Len trembled in fear, their legs going weak. They felt a strange mixture of relief and sorrow—grateful to be alive, yet devastated for the lives lost. They hoped someone might have survived, but that hope was in vain.
The airplane had exploded mid-air just before it crashed into the ocean. No one survived. Key and Len couldn't move or speak. Len, overwhelmed, suffered a mental breakdown and turned eerily quiet, unlike his usual outgoing self.
Key forced himself to call Claude. He needed to talk to someone—anyone—to anchor his spiraling emotions. He picked up his phone with great effort and dialed Claude's number, four hours after the news broke.
He didn't even care that Claude sounded annoyed to be disturbed.
"The airplane crashed. No one survived," Key said calmly, but Claude could detect the anxiety behind his words.
Claude didn't know how to comfort people. That function seemed absent from his system. He wasn't a robot, but people often called him the robotic CEO—cold, emotionless, and heartless.
"I don't know what to say right now," Claude replied quietly, unsure if warning his friends had been a blessing or a curse.
After Mio's suicide, his relationship with her had grown worse than ever. Claude couldn't understand why misfortune seemed to follow him. People around him were leaving—one by one. He never believed in luck, but Mio's death had left him feeling truly cursed.
His friends, too, were vanishing from his life—forever. As he stood alone at the peak of wealth, crowned the richest man in Sunny Country, the emptiness consumed him. His decision to choose Lily over Mio had only made things worse.
When Claude eventually learned the truth about Mio's death, he distanced himself from Lily and took revenge on her. Lily had been the reason Mio lost her life.
After breaking up with Lily, things started going right again. Claude reached the peak of success. But still, he was alone—lonelier than ever. He could never fall in love again. No woman wanted to date him. They were all afraid—of Mio.
Claude didn't believe in ghosts or the supernatural, but he had no choice. Every woman claimed a female ghost followed him wherever he went.
He had become the richest man in Sunny Country, yet it brought him no joy. Mio was gone. He used to think her jealousy was cute. Now he realized: he had been the reason she ended her life.
To live alone at the peak of success—it was torment, not triumph. Claude was snapped back to reality by Key's voice.
"Claude… did you really reincarnate?" Key asked softly, sensing Claude's silence was more than just shock.
Claude sighed and looked out the window of his bedroom.
"Yes. I was reborn. This is my second life. Maybe you don't understand, but in my past life, I was the richest man in the country—yet completely alone," Claude's voice was steady, like a still lake, but Key heard the sorrow in it.
Key couldn't imagine what had happened in that previous life to leave Claude so broken. Even if the idea of reincarnation was hard to believe, the plane crash was very real. Life suddenly seemed filled with the unexplainable.
"I don't know whether I should feel lucky or guilty. I feel sorry for those who didn't know what was coming. But… thank you for telling me," Key said quietly. "I know this isn't something we should discuss over the phone. Let's meet up later."
Key didn't push for more details. He sensed deep regret in Claude's tone. He couldn't imagine the weight Claude had carried—alone.
"I'll be there when you need me," Key added. "But right now, Len needs me more. He can't even speak, and I can barely talk myself. I only forced myself to call you because I needed someone… someone who could calm me down. I hope you understand. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."
Key hung up before Claude could reply. He knew Claude needed space. So did he.
As Key leaned back, trying to steady his trembling body, Ken, Rey, and Lia arrived at his house.
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