14

After experiencing a series of thrilling crises and suspicions, the relationship between Paul and Beatrice subtly began to change amidst the storm.

Paul had initially stepped into this life full of intrigue with trepidation and greed, while Beatrice, though suspicious of "Crook's" unusual behavior at first, found herself drawn to certain qualities Paul unintentionally revealed as they spent more time together.

The morning sunlight gently poured into the bedroom of the luxurious villa. Beatrice slowly woke up, with Paul still asleep beside her. She turned her head to gaze at him, her thoughts drifting far away.

Once, she had been filled with doubt and unease about this "Crook," who suddenly seemed somewhat unfamiliar. But during their recent time together, she noticed a tenderness and thoughtfulness in him that was different from before.

She quietly wondered to herself, "What's behind his recent changes? Has work pressure altered him, or is there some other reason? Still, I can feel his care for me seems more genuine."

Paul slowly opened his eyes, and the sight of Beatrice's beautiful, slightly pensive face stirred a complex emotion within him.

He had originally played the role of Crook for wealth and status, but now, his feelings for Beatrice had taken root and sprouted without him realizing it.

Looking at Beatrice, he thought silently, "I know I shouldn't let myself truly care for her, but her kindness and warmth make it impossible for me to resist. What should I do?"

"Morning, darling," Paul said softly, his voice carrying a hint of laziness from just waking up.

Beatrice gave a slight smile. "Any plans for today?"

Paul stretched, sat up, and after a moment's thought, said, "How about we go to the beach? Just the two of us, enjoying some quality time."

Beatrice's eyes lit up, and she happily agreed, "Sounds great! It's been ages since we relaxed by the sea."

They arrived at the beach together, where the golden sand shimmered under the sunlight, and the waves rolled in, creating a soothing sound.

Paul rented a parasol and two lounge chairs, thoughtfully preparing Beatrice's favorite juice. They lay on the chairs, basking in the sea breeze.

Beatrice turned to Paul and said, "You know, you've been different lately. It feels like you care about me more."

Paul's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly smiled and said, "Darling, I was too busy before and neglected you. Now I want to make it up to you."

Inside, he thought, "I can't let her discover my secret. I want to keep her happy forever."

Beatrice gently held his hand and said, "No matter what, as long as you're by my side, that's enough."

Paul looked at her, a warmth surging in his heart. He stood up, took her hand, and said, "Let's walk along the shore."

They strolled along the coastline, with waves occasionally washing over their feet. Beatrice ran playfully toward the waves, while Paul followed closely behind, worried she might fall.

"Careful, darling!" Paul called out. Beatrice turned back, laughing, "Come on, look how beautiful these waves are!"

Watching Beatrice's childlike joy, Paul's lips curved into a smile. He thought to himself, "If only it could always be like this."

Back at the villa, Paul personally cooked a lavish dinner for Beatrice.

Though his cooking skills were modest, he followed the recipe diligently for her sake.

Beatrice walked into the kitchen, seeing Paul bustling about in an apron, her heart filled with warmth. "What made you want to cook?" she asked.

Paul smiled and said, "I wanted to do something for you, to make you happy."

In his heart, he thought, "I want to love her in my own way, even if it's only for this short time."

During dinner, Paul poured red wine for Beatrice, and they clinked glasses. Beatrice tasted his cooking, and though the flavors were uneven, she found it utterly delicious.

"Darling, this is the best meal I've ever had," Beatrice said.

Paul gazed at her, his eyes full of love. "As long as you like it, I'll cook for you often."

That night, they cuddled on the sofa, watching a romantic movie.

Beatrice nestled in Paul's arms, feeling his warmth. Paul gently stroked her hair, and in that moment, time seemed to stand still as they immersed themselves in the cozy atmosphere.

However, their happiness didn't last long.

Townsend learned that Paul and Beatrice were growing closer, worrying that this could lead to flaws in their plan. After all, Beatrice had spent so much time with the real Crook, and no matter how well Paul disguised himself, prolonged intimacy might expose more issues.

In a dimly lit room, Townsend sat, his fingers rhythmically tapping the desk, his eyes cold and calculating. He knew Paul and Beatrice's deepening bond could jeopardize the entire plan and decided they must be separated.

He began devising a meticulous plan to drive them apart, thinking, "That fool Crook actually fell for her. Doesn't he know this could ruin everything? I need to snap him out of it."

Townsend's first move was to create a misunderstanding. He had his men spread rumors near Beatrice's usual salon, claiming "Crook" was seen being intimate with a mysterious woman.

To make the rumors more convincing, he had blurry photos fabricated, showing a man resembling Paul's Crook from behind, with a woman whose face was unclear, leaving room for imagination.

While at the salon for a treatment, Beatrice overheard these rumors, her heart filling with doubt. She thought, "Could he really betray me? But he's been so good to me lately. Is it all a lie?"

Back at the villa, she couldn't hold back and confronted Paul, "I heard some bad rumors today about you being with another woman. What's going on?"

Paul, caught off guard, hurriedly explained, "Darling, those are absolutely lies. You're the only one in my heart. How could I be with someone else?"

Inside, he thought, "This must be Townsend's doing. How can I make her believe me?"

Beatrice looked at him, her doubts not fully dispelled, but she chose to trust him for now, saying, "I hope you're telling the truth. I don't want to lose you."

Seeing the rumors didn't fully achieve his goal, Townsend escalated his efforts. He staged an "encounter."

He arranged for a woman to act familiar with Paul at the upscale restaurant they frequented, deliberately appearing intimate.

As Beatrice and Paul entered the restaurant, the woman eagerly approached, linking arms with Paul, saying, "Crook, long time no see! How've you been?"

Paul, horrified, tried to pull away, only to see Beatrice standing behind them, her face dark with anger.

"Who is she?" Beatrice asked coldly.

Paul quickly explained, "Darling, I don't know her. She must have mistaken me for someone else."

The woman, feigning hurt, said, "Crook, how could you say that? We were together before…"

Before she could finish, Paul shouted, "You're talking nonsense!"

Beatrice, witnessing the scene, felt her anger ignite. She turned and ran out of the restaurant, tears welling in her eyes, thinking, "I knew it. He's been lying to me. I was such a fool."

Paul chased after her, grabbing her hand on the street, saying, "Darling, please listen. This is all a setup. My feelings for you are real. You have to believe me."

Beatrice, tears streaming down her face, said, "I gave you a chance to explain, but you keep lying. I don't want to see you anymore."

With that, she broke free, got into a cab, and left. Paul watched her go, shouting in pain, "Darling, please listen!"

His heart ached with helplessness, thinking, "Townsend, why did you do this? You've ruined everything."

Back at her place, Beatrice couldn't calm down.

She recalled the happy times with Paul, wavering, unsure if she had misunderstood him. She thought, "Was his kindness all an act? But those memories feel so real. What should I do?"

Yet the images of those "intimate" moments kept replaying in her mind, causing her unbearable pain.

Townsend didn't stop there. He continued pressuring Paul, warning him to end things with Beatrice completely, or the entire plan would unravel, with dire consequences for them both.

Townsend snarled at Paul, "If you don't break up with her, we're both done for, got it? Stop letting your emotions cloud your judgment!"

Paul was torn. He deeply loved Beatrice and didn't want to lose her.

But he also feared Townsend's retaliation and the fallout if the plan collapsed.

He wrestled with himself, thinking, "I can't lose Beatrice, but I can't let Townsend's plan fail. What should I choose?"

In his painful struggle, Paul decided to try once more to win Beatrice back.

He searched for her everywhere, sending flowers and writing love letters to express his devotion and loyalty.

In one letter, he wrote, "Darling, you're the light of my life. Without you, my world would be dark. Please believe me, those were misunderstandings. I'll spend my life proving my love for you."

He also reached out to Beatrice's friends, hoping they'd convey his sincerity and persuade her to give him another chance.

Seeing Paul's persistence, Beatrice's friends began urging her to reconsider, suggesting he might have been framed.

One friend said to Beatrice, "I don't think Paul's the type to betray you. Look at how hard he's trying to win you back. Maybe it really was a misunderstanding."

Under her friends' advice, Beatrice's defenses slowly softened.

She recalled Paul's kindness, the tender moments and loving gestures, making her feel she might owe him one more chance.

She thought, "Maybe I should give him another chance. We were so happy together."

Just as Beatrice was about to forgive Paul, Townsend played his cruelest card.

He had a tiny recording device secretly planted in Beatrice's car, then arranged for Paul to meet at a specific location.

During the meeting, Townsend used a hidden microphone to steer Paul into saying ambiguous, easily misinterpreted things, all recorded by the device.

Later, Townsend's men retrieved the device, edited the recording, and anonymously sent it to Beatrice.

When Beatrice heard it, the spark of hope she'd just felt was snuffed out. She felt betrayed by Paul again, and this time, she was utterly heartbroken, deciding to cut him off for good.

Angrily deleting the recording, she thought, "I'll never trust him again. He's been toying with my feelings."

Unaware of the recording, Paul still hoped for Beatrice's response.

But what came was her cold rejection and resolute stance.

Paul was devastated, knowing he'd truly lost her this time.

He sat in his room, broken, murmuring, "I've lost her for good. It's all my fault. I never should've gotten tangled in this plot."

Townsend, seeing his plan succeed, gloated inwardly. He knew a rift had formed, and now only the final step remained!

Get rid of Beatrice, eliminating any factors that could expose their scheme.

That day, at Townsend's invitation, Paul visited the opulent office building.

Townsend sat behind a massive, pristine desk, with priceless paintings on the walls. He dangled a tempting plan, claiming it could free Paul from the crisis.

Intrigued, Paul eagerly pressed Townsend to reveal the details.