You weren't a famous celebrity.

You were still an actress, of course, but most of your roles were side characters or background appearances. Few people remembered your name, and sometimes you wondered if you'd ever have a truly loyal fan.

Until you met him.

You didn't know who he was. Years ago, you had helped a stranger who was struggling with something.

To you, it was nothing more than a brief encounter. To him, it was destiny.

Years passed.

You continued working as an actress, slowly building your career. But lately, something had begun to feel wrong.

Whenever you walked outside, you couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching you.

Sometimes, while walking home after a long day of filming, you could clearly hear footsteps following behind you.

Your heart would skip a beat as you quickly turned around, only to find no one there. You convinced yourself it was just exhaustion from work. There was no reason to overthink it.

But strange things kept happening.

You had always dreamed of starring as the heroine in a romantic drama. It was the kind of role that could make an actress truly shine.

This time, you had finally been chosen.

The director praised your performance during auditions and assured you that you were perfect for the role.

Yet, just days before filming began, your manager suddenly informed you that the project had been canceled. Someone else had taken the role.

You had no choice but to accept it, and it wasn't the only time.

Again and again, roles you had already secured were suddenly taken away. Sometimes you were told you weren't suitable. Other times, they claimed you lacked ability, despite having received compliments only the day before.

None of it made sense. There was something even stranger.

Every time you released merchandise, photobooks, signed posters, or limited-edition photos, they sold out within a single day.

At first, you thought your popularity was finally growing, but sometimes it felt less like many people were buying them, and more like one person was buying everything.

One evening, after finishing a shoot, you decided to walk home alone.

The cool night air helped clear your mind. Perhaps it wasn't the best decision.

As you turned into a quieter street, a man suddenly stepped into your path, blocking the way. A grin spread across his face.

“Hey... I know you,” he said as he slowly walked toward you. “You're that actress I saw on TV.”

Your heartbeat quickened.

“Don't come any closer!” you warned, instinctively stepping backward. “I'll call the police!”

The man only laughed.

“Oh, come on.” He took another step forward. “You're not even that famous.”

He smirked.

“Surely you can spare a little time for one of your fans.”

Just as he reached out toward you—A fist slammed into his face, sending him crashing onto the pavement. You gasped, your eyes widening.

Standing between you and the man was someone remarkably tall, his broad figure shielding you completely.

The attacker groaned before scrambling to his feet and running away without another word.

You let out the breath you had been holding.

“T-Thank you...” you said quietly.

The man slowly turned to face you. For a brief moment, neither of you spoke. His eyes remained fixed on yours.

“You know me...”

“...don't you?” he asked softly.

You blinked in confusion.

“Pardon?”

You searched his face, trying to remember where you might have met him. He noticed the uncertainty in your eyes.

“...Never mind.”

His expression softened slightly.

“You shouldn't be walking alone this late at night.”

He paused before looking at you again.

“...Or...”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“You could hire me to protect you.”