That night, Evan sat in front of his laptop, staring at the screen without actually reading the numbers on his work document. His mind wandered to the past—or more accurately, to the future he should've lived before the curse changed everything.
Suddenly, he remembered something.
A mutual fund for Raka.
In his previous life, he had opened a mutual fund account under Raka's name, as a gesture of care. It wasn't a huge amount, but it was meant for the long term.
Now, in this 2018 version of reality, Raka never existed.
But Sienna did. And she was the only one who remembered what happened before everything changed.
Evan opened the investment platform he usually used. His fingers typed swiftly, creating a new mutual fund. Beneficiary: Sennia Putri Wijaya.
As he hit the confirmation button, a question formed in his mind.
Why am I doing this?
Was it guilt? Or was he trying to make amends?
Or… did he just want to make sure Sienna stayed in his life?
—
After completing the mutual fund in Sienna's name, Evan still couldn't feel at ease. Something kept bothering him.
He opened his insurance account. Previously, the beneficiary on his policy was… who? Raka? Or maybe a family member?
But now, Raka didn't exist.
His fingers moved again. He changed the beneficiary to Sennia Putri Wijaya.
After hitting the save button, he stared at the screen for a long moment.
This was crazy.
Even he didn't know why he was doing all this.
But one thing was certain—if anything ever happened to him, Sienna would be the one to benefit.
Sienna… is this enough to repay what I've done to your father?
—
Once all the documents were completed, Evan placed them in a brown folder and brought them to the company's legal office.
Mr. Andre, the senior lawyer who had worked with his family for years, looked at Evan with a furrowed brow. "Are you sure about this, Evan?"
Evan simply nodded. "Please keep this file safe. If anything happens to me, make sure everything goes as written."
Mr. Andre opened the folder, skimming through the contents. His expression shifted as he came across a name that surprised him. "Sennia Putri Wijaya?"
Evan remained calm. "Yes. I want her to be the beneficiary."
Mr. Andre leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh. "Evan, I know you're a good kid, but… why her? As far as I know, during the acquisition, her father's company was taken over by Raymond's team."
"Yes," Evan folded his arms on the desk, "but still, my family profited from all of it."
Mr. Andre studied him carefully, trying to read the young man's expression. "Do you feel guilty?"
Evan offered a faint smile. "Maybe. Or maybe this is just something I feel I need to do."
Mr. Andre slowly closed the folder. "You're aware of the rumors out there, right? People are already saying you're after an underage girl."
Evan stiffened. He knew this conversation would come up sooner or later. "I don't care what people say."
Mr. Andre's gaze sharpened. "You really don't care? Or are you just trying to make up for something she never even asked for?"
Evan didn't answer. After a moment of silence, he simply said, "Just make sure the documents are safe, Mr. Andre."
The senior lawyer sighed quietly. "Alright. I'll keep them. But think carefully, Evan. Don't let this become something you regret."
Evan only nodded, then got up and left the room.
Outside, he took a deep breath.
He didn't care what people thought. He only knew this was something he had to do.
—
Vanessa arrived with her usual confidence, wearing a tight dress and high heels that clacked loudly with every step. They met at a luxurious café in a mall—Vanessa's choice for "privacy," though Evan knew it was really just an excuse for her to shop afterward.
As soon as she sat down, she crossed her legs and stared at Evan with a demanding look. "So, have you reconsidered the bag I wanted?"
Evan calmly sipped his coffee before replying, "Vanessa, we're done."
Vanessa blinked. "What?"
"We're over," Evan repeated, firmer this time.
For a moment, Vanessa just stared at him in confusion, then let out a fake laugh. "You're kidding, right? You wouldn't break up with me over some stupid rumor."
Evan shook his head. "It's not about that. I've just had enough."
Vanessa scoffed. "Oh, so now you're playing the saint? One or two gossip pieces and you freak out? I don't care if you mess around with high schoolers or whoever, as long as I still get what I want."
Evan stared at her sharply. "And that's the problem, Vanessa. I don't want to anymore."
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely stunned. "So you think I'm just some gold digger clinging to your money?"
"You're the one who always made this relationship about money," Evan replied flatly.
Vanessa gripped the edge of the table, her long nails digging into the wood. "You can't just walk away from me like this, Evan. After everything we've been through—"
"Everything?" Evan cut in coldly. "Fancy dinners? Overseas vacations? Expensive gifts? Vanessa, we never even had a real conversation about anything that mattered. I'm bored. And I'm done."
Vanessa's eyes shimmered—not with sadness, but with fury and bruised pride. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the storm inside.
"I'm not letting you go that easily," she whispered sharply. "You'll regret this, Evan."
Evan said nothing. He simply stood up, dropped a few bills on the table to cover their drinks, and walked away without looking back.
Vanessa sat there, fists clenched and jaw tight.
Their relationship might have ended today.
But she wasn't done with Evan.
—
Evan sighed deeply as he walked toward his car. One problem down, but somehow, he knew his life wouldn't be any quieter.
When he reached the parking lot, he froze. His brow furrowed at the long scratch on his car door.
His car was keyed!
Beside the car, a young woman stood, looking terrified. She was beautiful, her long hair cascading down her back, and her hands were trembling as she held her own car key. From the look in her eyes, Evan knew immediately—she did it.
The woman looked at him in panic. "I-I didn't mean to… I was parking, and then a motorbike suddenly passed by, I swerved, and… oh God, I'm so sorry!"
Evan rubbed his face with one hand, trying to stay calm. This was not a good day.
"Do you have insurance?" he asked, his voice more tired than angry.
The woman bit her lip. "U-um… I do, but I haven't sorted out the claim yet."
Evan sighed, trying to stay composed. "What's your name?"
"Fara," she replied quickly. "I'll take responsibility, I swear! I can pay… just not right now. Maybe in installments, if that's okay…"
Evan studied her. Not just the situation—but something about the whole thing felt off. Today had been… strange.
"Did you do this on purpose?" he suddenly asked.
Fara shook her head frantically. "No! It was really an accident!"
Evan watched her closely. There was no sign she was lying. But still, it all felt too coincidental.
He took a long breath. "Alright. Give me your number. We'll sort this out later."
Fara quickly pulled out her phone and called his number so he could save it. Then she looked at him hopefully. "I'm really sorry..."
Evan gave a small nod before finally getting into his car.
One problem solved.
Another one just began.
—
After the incident, Evan didn't think much of Fara. To him, she was just someone who'd had bad luck that day—just like him.
But that night, while lounging in his apartment with the TV playing in the background, Fara's face suddenly appeared on the screen.
"Fara Adinegara is back in the spotlight! The young actress was reportedly involved in an incident in a parking lot earlier today. Who was the man seen with her?"
Evan frowned. Actress?
He hadn't realized how far he'd drifted from the glamorous world he once knew. If this had happened to 2015 Evan, he would've recognized Fara immediately. Her name used to appear on VIP guest lists, elite parties, and celebrity gatherings.
But now?
His life was only work, office, and preparation for something that might vanish if this curse continued.
He had to be ready. If one day all his achievements disappeared, he still had to be capable of taking his father's place.
—
Evan ignored the news and went back to work. But the next day, when he arrived at the office, he noticed several colleagues whispering and glancing his way.
One of them, Rio, approached with a smug grin. "Van, you didn't tell us you're dating a celebrity?"
Evan sighed. "What are you talking about?"
Rio chuckled and showed him his phone. A headline blared across the screen:
"Fara Adinegara Spotted with Mystery Man! Who Is He?"
Evan just shook his head, uninterested. But Rio was more excited than ever. "Damn, first Vanessa, now Fara. You're leveling up, Van."
"It's nothing," Evan tried to end the conversation.
But even at home, his father brought it up during dinner.
"Van, I don't care who you're seeing, but try not to cause any trouble," his father said calmly but firmly.
Evan simply nodded. He knew his father didn't care about minor scandals. What mattered was that Evan remained capable of running the company.
And that was his focus now. Not Vanessa. Not Fara. No one.
—
Fara contacted him several times, but Evan only read her messages without replying.
Eventually, Fara sent a long text:
"Evan, I just want to meet briefly. I want to apologize in person. I can pay for the damage, but at least let me talk to you first. I feel uncomfortable settling this with just a bank transfer."
Evan sighed and typed a short reply:
"No need to meet. Here's the account number. You can transfer the repair cost."
Message sent. Done.
Not long after, a notification popped up: Transfer successful.
Evan tossed his phone onto the table. He wasn't interested in Fara. Celebrity or not, that world wasn't his anymore.
He just wanted a quiet life.
—
Once he received the transfer receipt, Evan stopped replying to Fara. Their business was done.
On the other hand, Fara kept staring at her phone. Normally, any man who got involved with her would find an excuse to keep talking—especially with her celebrity status. But Evan? No follow-up texts, no dinner invitations, not even a polite "thank you."
"He seriously just wanted his car fixed?" Fara muttered, still in disbelief.
Evan had already forgotten about the incident. When he got home, he took off his suit, flopped onto his bed, and switched his phone to airplane mode.
He had work tomorrow. He didn't want distractions.
—
Evan stepped out of the elevator casually, holding a cup of coffee from the downstairs café. His eyes were still drowsy from a late-night business trip. As he passed through the apartment lobby, his steps halted.
Near the lounge area, a woman stood busy with her phone. Her long hair fell perfectly down her back, and her familiar face instantly reminded Evan of the incident months ago.
Fara.
The actress who'd scratched his car. Their case was closed, but he hadn't expected to see her again… here.
Fara didn't seem to notice him right away. She was still typing something, occasionally biting her lip in focus.
Evan sipped his coffee slowly, debating whether to say hi—or pretend not to see her.
But before he could decide, Fara suddenly looked up and their eyes met. A brief awkward silence followed before Fara raised her brows.
"Evan?" she asked, half surprised.
Evan nodded casually. "Long time no see."
Fara gave him a curious look, then glanced around. "What are you doing here?"
Evan raised his coffee cup. "I live here."
Fara's eyes widened slightly. "Seriously? Same tower as me?"
Evan shrugged. "Seems like it."
Fara still looked a little shocked, then let out a small laugh. "Small world."
Evan gave a faint smile. He hadn't expected to see Fara again, especially not as a neighbor. And somehow, he sensed this wouldn't be their last encounter.
Before he could respond, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his waist from behind.
"Finally, we meet!" a woman's cheerful, almost flirty voice said.
Evan stiffened. He glanced sideways and immediately recognized the woman hugging him. Celline.
Her wavy hair smelled sweet, her face beautiful, and her wide smile matched her profile picture. They had been chatting for days, but this was their first face-to-face meeting.
Fara raised an eyebrow as she witnessed the scene. Her expression shifted. She said nothing, but Evan could clearly read the reaction in her eyes—mild surprise, maybe even slight judgment?
Evan gently removed Celline's arms without being rude. He turned back with a polite smile. "Celline, right?"
Celline nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Yup! You totally exceeded my expectations!"
Fara cleared her throat and crossed her arms. "Ah, so you're meeting someone. Sorry to intrude."
Her tone was light, but Evan sensed something hidden beneath it.
Celline finally noticed Fara. Her eyes widened and she grabbed Evan's arm. "Wait, is that… Fara the actress?" she whispered, excited.
Fara gave a polite smile, but her eyes briefly flicked toward Evan with a loaded look. "Alright then, Evan. See you around. Enjoy your day."
Evan didn't get a chance to respond before Fara walked away, leaving behind a strange tension.
—
Evan had hoped to avoid this situation, but Celline clung to him without giving him any space. In the end, half-reluctantly, he let her follow him up to his apartment.
As soon as the door opened, Celline walked in comfortably—like it wasn't her first time there. Evan sighed. The 2018 version of himself clearly had a very different dynamic with her, even though for Evan, this was their first real meeting.
Without hesitation, Celline dropped her jacket and sprawled across the bed. She looked up at him with a teasing smile.
"You're so quiet," she said, raising an eyebrow. "We've been chatting and calling all this time, but now you're acting stiff?"
Evan tried to stay composed. "Didn't expect you to be this bold."
Celline giggled. "That's why we need to meet more often—get used to each other." She patted the bed beside her. "Come here, let's talk."
...