Betrayed By The Billionaire Playboy

ach knotting tighter with every meter we covered. Beyond the gates, manicured gardens stretched out like a perfectly crafted painting, the sprawling mansion at the center radiating a cold, intim

r than felt comfortable. "You've kept her a secret long enough," she said, her tone light but loaded. An older man, tall and imposing, stepped forward next. His sharp eyes assessed me like I was a stock market figure rather than a person. "Why the sudden decision to settle down, Armando?" he asked gruffly. "When you know, you know," Armando replied with a shrug, his tone disarming but firm. The response earned a few raised eyebrows, but no one pressed further. At least, not yet. The hours that followed were a blur of introductions and scrutiny. Every smile felt like a test, every question a trap. Armando's mother was particularly intense, her piercing gaze never wavering as she asked about my upbringing, my education, my values. "You've done well for yourself," she said finally, her tone bordering on condescending. "But what makes you think you're ready for a life like this?" I hesitated, the weight of her question sinking in. What made me think I was ready for this? I wasn't. Not even close. Before I could answer, Armando interjected. "She doesn't need to prove herself," he said, his voice firm. "She's with me. That's all that matters." The room fell silent, tension thick in the air. Armando's words were definitive, leaving no room for argument. But his mother's eyes lingered on me a moment longer, a challenge unspoken. Later that evening, I found myself on the terrace, overlooking the sprawling gardens. The cool night air was a welcome reprieve from the suffocating formality of the day. "You survived," Armando said, his voice breaking the silence. I turned to see him leaning against the doorway, his jacket off, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up. He looked different in this light-less guarded, almost human. "Barely," I replied, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. He stepped closer, his gaze steady. "You did well. Better than I expected." "Thanks for the glowing review," I said dryly, earning a faint smirk from him. For a moment, we stood in silence, the distance between us shrinking. "Why me, Armando?" I asked final