Lia Sheren was playing at Ken Phillian's house when the plane crash occurred.
That day happened to be a Sunday, and no one went to work because it was a day off.
Rey Sheren still went to the office that day because he was a workaholic who loved his job more than anything.
Lia usually visited her boyfriend's house on her days off. She was set to marry Ken next year. They had already planned to get married on December 25th.
Why did Lia choose December 25th? There was a reason behind it.
December marked the month Lia began to fall in love with Ken, and the 25th represented the date Mio became her best friend.
Although Mio officially became her best friend on January 25th, Lia chose December 25th because it felt more meaningful.
She didn't remember the exact day she started liking Ken, only the month she began seeing him as more than a friend.
That's why she chose the 25th—it was the most beautiful date in her memory.
Lia was the same age as Mio, and she was only 22 this year.
She wanted to marry Ken when she turned 23.
Ken agreed to Lia's wishes. Lia meant everything to him, so he would never reject her decisions.
Lia, who was just living in the present, didn't know that December 25th of the following year would be the day she lost her only best friend.
(In a previous life)
In her previous life, Lia hadn't spent much time with Mio.
Six months before her wedding, Ken was killed by Lia's ex-boyfriend, who couldn't accept their happiness.
Mio's life became even more miserable during those six months leading to her death, as Claude started doing everything for Lily.
Claude was devastated after losing one of his best friends again.
Only Lily seemed to bring him happiness. He began to resent Mio, thinking she was the cause of his suffering.
Lia couldn't protect Mio because she was drowning in depression after losing Ken.
She felt guilty for never being able to fully express how much she loved Ken.
Her depression worsened when she learned about Mio's death. Lia couldn't accept the cruel reality.
She didn't just lose her boyfriend—she lost her only best friend.
Her anger intensified when she saw Claude at the hospital, standing beside Mio's lifeless body.
Lia blamed Claude and hit him as hard as she could.
But she knew it wouldn't bring Mio back.
Lia never allowed Claude to meet Mio or visit her grave.
She didn't get a happy ending either. Eight years after Mio's death, Lia was diagnosed with cancer.
She underwent chemotherapy, which only caused pain without improving her condition.
She survived for five years before passing away on the same day as Mio.
After Lia's death, her family was involved in an accident that claimed all of their lives.
None of them could go on living after losing Lia. Rey was especially devastated.
The news reported that the Sheren family had committed suicide, unable to bear the harsh reality.
It was said Rey crashed their car into a truck on purpose.
Police also found high levels of alcohol and poison in their bodies, which supported the suicide theory.
Claude was finally able to visit Mio's grave after Lia passed away.
Before her final breath, Lia had given him permission.
But the tragedy didn't end there. The Phillian family suddenly lost their only daughter shortly after the Sherens' deaths.
Yuuka was kidnapped, but the kidnapper made no demands.
Desperate to find her, the Phillian family was devastated when the kidnapper returned Yuuka's cold body.
The horror deepened—Yuuka's body had been mutilated, her brain separated from her head.
Forensic reports revealed that Yuuka had been raped multiple times, even post-mortem.
The Phillian family couldn't accept such a gruesome fate.
They lost all their beloved children one by one, and it shattered their lives.
It was a miracle they didn't lose their sanity.
Later, they adopted a boy from an orphanage and raised him as the successor to their family business.
He was devoted to them and cared for them until they peacefully passed away at 70.
Mr. and Mrs. Phillian even lived to see their adopted son's wedding and meet their twin grandchildren.
Only the families of Key and Len were spared from tragedy.
Though they lost their sons, they eventually moved on with life.
(Back to the present)
Lia stepped out of her bedroom after finishing her light makeup.
She was much more cheerful now that she could openly love Ken.
She saw her family gathered in the dining room.
"Good morning, Lia," Rey greeted first.
As a caring older brother, Rey pulled out a chair for her and pushed it in once she sat.
Mrs. Sheren handed Lia her breakfast.
Lia loved having a sandwich in the morning with a glass of milk.
Mr. Sheren poured the milk himself, and Rey helped garnish her sandwich with lots of chili sauce.
Lia loved spicy food the most but also adored sweet desserts.
She was truly like a princess—doted on by her whole family.
"Good morning, Mom, Dad, and Brother Rey," Lia greeted them with a smile.
"Why are you so happy today?" Mrs. Sheren asked with a teasing smile.
"I can't accept this," Mr. Sheren said with mock sorrow in his eyes.
"What's wrong, Dad?" Lia looked confused.
"Lia, you know he's acting like this because you're getting married soon," Rey rolled his eyes at their father.
"You don't understand, Rey. You don't have a daughter," Mr. Sheren snapped, more emotional than angry.
"Rey, don't tease your Dad too much. You know how much he loves your little sister," Mrs. Sheren stepped in.
"You're the only one who truly understands me, my dear wife," Mr. Sheren said with a soft smile.
Lia was getting married next year, and her father still couldn't come to terms with it.
"Dad, I'm only getting married—not disappearing. You have to let me go someday.
I won't always be your little girl.
You can flirt with Mom all you want, but I don't want to be single forever.
Mom told me you married her when she was just twenty. Grandpa let her go to find happiness.
Don't you want that for me too?
I know you don't want me to be sad," Lia explained patiently.
She had to repeat this almost every morning, as her father always looked gloomy about her upcoming wedding.
Mr. Sheren had no response. He simply looked sulky at the dining table.
"Lia, where's Mio? I haven't seen her lately," Mrs. Sheren asked, trying to shift the topic before her husband started crying.
"I don't know, Mom. I called her several times, but she didn't answer," Lia replied with mild worry.
But she also knew Mio liked being alone sometimes.
When Mio needed space, she didn't talk to anyone.
Later, Mio would contact Lia herself to say she was okay.
"Is Mio in one of her quiet moods again?" Mr. Sheren asked. Lia simply nodded.
He also knew about Mio's habit of needing solitude.
"I'll try to reach her again after I come back from Ken's house," Lia said with a smile to her mother.
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