Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 73

The makeup artist exchanged a quick glance with the stylist, then nodded. "Certo," she said, and within moments, they had gathered their tools and stepped out, quietly closing the door behind them.

Now that we were alone in the room, I stepped closer and lowered my voice. "좋아, 다 갔네. 말해 봐. 진짜 무슨 일이야? 몸 안 좋아? 옷차림이나 촬영 때문에 뭔가 불편한 거 있어? (Okay, they're gone. Tell me—what's really going on? Are you feeling unwell? Is there something about the outfit, the shoot—anything that's making you uncomfortable?)"

Arc leaned back in the chair, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. His posture loosened just a bit, but his gaze was unreadable.

"촬영을 즐기고 있는 것 같군요(You seemed to be enjoying the shoot)," he said instead, not answering my question.

"네, 세트가 너무 아름답고 사람들도 너무 친절해요. 특히 로베르토는 정말 좋은 사람이에요
(Yes, the set is so beautiful and the people are really kind. Especially Roberto—he's such a nice guy.)," I said with a smile, then softened my tone. "하지만 나에 대해서는 떠나세요. 당신에게 불편한 것이 무엇인지 말하세요(But let's not talk about me. Tell me what's bothering you)", I inquired.

Arc stood up suddenly, catching me off guard. He began walking toward me, slowly and deliberately. Instinctively, I took a step back, then another, until my back hit the wall. But he didn't stop.

He closed the distance until his body was just inches from mine, his presence towering, his arms rising to rest on either side of my head, trapping me gently. The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. He leaned in until our faces were level, eye to eye.

His voice was low, nearly a whisper. "당신이 다른 사람과 함께 웃는 것을 보는 것, 당신이 나 외의 다른 사람과 그렇게 가까이 있는 것을 보는 것, 그것이 불편한 거예요. (Watching you laugh with someone else... seeing you so close to someone other than me—that's what's uncomfortable.)"

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my voice calm. "Are you jealous?"

I fully expected him to scoff or brush it off—but he didn't. Instead, his eyes softened, and his voice dropped even lower.

"Yes," he admitted. "I am jealous. No one else is supposed to be that close to my Lila."

His admission made my heart skip a beat. I never expected him to just say it—that he was jealous. Or that he'd call me his.

Our relationship had always been... different. Never quite like the typical ones I saw around me. There had always been this subtle imbalance between us—whether it was in looks, status, or popularity. Sometimes, it felt like we lived in two different worlds.

I couldn't quite wrap my head around the fact that the man hailed by the media as one of the world's most handsome man, was standing in front of me, acting possessive over someone as ordinary as me,A plain Jane.

"Roberto is just being nice," I said quietly, trying to ease the tension.

Arc's jaw tightened. "I can be nice too. He doesn't need to be nice to you."

I let out a breath, my voice calm but firm. "로베르토를 질투할 필요 없어. 나한테 관심도 없잖아. 매일 유명인이랑 모델들하고 일하잖아. 난 그들에 비하면 아무것도 아니야. (You don't have to be jealous of Roberto. He's not even interested in me. He works with celebrities and models every day. I'm nothing compared to them.)"

Arc shook his head slowly, his eyes not leaving mine.

"당신이 얼마나 놀라운지 알아차리지 못하는 남자는 바보입니다. (Any man who can't see how incredible you are is a fool)," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "그리고 나는 누구도 당신이 얼마나 아름다운지 깨닫기에 충분히 가까이 다가가지 못하게 할 것입니다. (And I'm not going to let anyone get close enough to realize how beautiful you are—inside and out)"