Go Deeper

As time passed, I began investing all my time and energy into these "business opportunities." Every project James Bennett gave me seemed full of hope, as if each opportunity was opening a door to a future full of possibilities. I believed in them so wholeheartedly that I poured all my savings into them, completely abandoning my previous passion for technology in favor of chasing these seemingly glamorous business opportunities. Whenever I saw the returns gradually materializing, the passion and excitement that I had once felt began to return. I truly saw the rewards of my investments, and the returns were far beyond any technical achievements I had ever encountered before.

At first, everything seemed perfect. Every time I received a return, my confidence grew. James Bennett seemed to know everything and guided me effortlessly toward even greater success. His words felt like prophecies of the future, and I began to stop doubting them. That feeling of success gradually pulled me away from my dependence on technology, and I threw myself into the tempting world of business. Every investment return felt like a shot of adrenaline, filling me with boundless confidence for the future, as if each project ahead held endless possibilities.

However, as the returns increased, I began to notice some unusual signs. James Bennett seemed to be asking me to invest more and more frequently. Initially, he only suggested increasing my investment to seize more opportunities, but gradually, he became more insistent, even recommending that I borrow money to invest. He told me this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something I couldn't afford to miss. Every time I showed any hesitation, he patiently persuaded me, saying, "This is just a temporary difficulty, and once it's over, you'll see the returns."

Whenever I began to feel doubtful, James Bennett would always respond with a calm and assured attitude. His every word carried an irresistible confidence, making it impossible not to believe him. It felt as though he had paved every step of my journey to success, and all I had to do was follow his lead. "Trust me, Geneway Zane," he would often say, "Everything will go smoothly, just keep investing and wait for the rewards. You'll never regret it." His words were like a spell, making me ignore my inner doubts over and over again. Whenever I felt nervous or uneasy, he would remind me, "Don't forget, business is like this—success requires risk, and rewards need patience. What you see as difficulties now are just preludes to success."

What he said made sense. Every time I had doubts, he could always use clever rhetoric to convince me. The returns seemed to come without interruption, and every investment seemed to bring bigger rewards. Though there were occasional fluctuations, James Bennett always reassured me, saying they were normal and not to worry. Under his guidance, I began to believe these issues were merely small bumps in the process, and all the returns would eventually accumulate into vast wealth. I became increasingly reliant on his words, and sometimes, I could no longer distinguish my intuition and judgment clearly.

However, over time, I started to feel an inexplicable anxiety deep inside. Although everything on the outside appeared as bright as he had described, I began to neglect my own judgment. Whenever I reflected late at night, a voice in my mind would remind me: Was this speed, this growth, really too fast? Was this accumulation of wealth truly stable? During those quiet, late-night moments, I started to wonder if I had already fallen into an invisible trap. Yet, whenever these doubts arose, James Bennett's voice was like a soothing balm, "What you can't see is just a temporary difficulty; there will always be bumps on the road to investment and success. Trust me, once it's over, you'll see it was all worth it."

I began to fall into a near-blind trust. That beautiful vision of the future pushed me further away from my original self. I stopped questioning and simply relied on his every word, every piece of advice. Every time I thought about slowing down or stopping, James Bennett's voice would ring in my ears again, telling me this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if I missed it, I would truly miss everything. My mind was completely controlled by his words, and my view of wealth gradually shifted. I no longer cared about technological achievements; I began to believe that commercial success was the only true goal. After all, James Bennett was right—"Only this way can you truly realize the value of life."

In his eyes, nothing seemed more important than the success I was experiencing now. The growing temptation gradually made me abandon my original intentions. Every increase in returns made me more certain of my choices, while every additional investment made me drift further away from my initial passion. My thoughts became encased in layers of commercial bubbles, and the heart that once pursued technology was slowly consumed by the desire for virtual wealth.

However, as the money continued to flow in, the rate of return seemed to slow down. I didn't notice this immediately, until one day when the return didn't come as expected. I began to feel uneasy, as if I had walked into an invisible dead-end. But even then, James Bennett remained confident. He told me, "This is just a temporary market adjustment. Don't panic; investment returns won't be affected by a small fluctuation." His eyes were still full of trust, and I chose to believe him.

However, in those moments when the returns began to slow down, I finally realized that I was gradually drifting away from my former self, away from the technical challenges and achievements that once excited me. The person I was now was no longer the dreamer and passionate tech enthusiast I had once been, but a person whose eyes were blinded by business and wealth. And all of this seemed to be controlled by a web carefully woven by James Bennett. I began to feel that I was standing on the edge of danger. Although I couldn't clearly pinpoint the source of the problem, a voice deep within me kept reminding me that everything might not be as simple as it seemed.