SageKingAlpha

When Esther Tedd, heiress to the most powerful family in Nairobi, is forced by her late father’s will to marry before claiming her inheritance, she makes a bold, calculated move: propose a flash marriage to a complete stranger on a blind date.

That stranger is Shawn Williams—calm, mysterious, and seemingly unremarkable. He agrees to the deal with one condition: no love, no questions, no strings.

What Esther doesn’t know is that Shawn is far from ordinary.

Behind his quiet demeanor lies a man who secretly controls global markets, owns invisible empires, and carries the legacy of an ancient cultivation sect. He’s the richest man in the world—and he’s hiding from enemies that go far beyond the boardroom.

Bound by a contract but pulled together by fate, Esther and Shawn’s fake marriage starts unraveling secrets neither of them was ready for. She’s drawn to his silence. He’s intrigued by her fire. But in a world of hidden dynasties, spiritual power, and ruthless ambition, their deal may turn out to be anything but fake.

Because destiny has plans—and love might be the greatest secret of all.

Married to the Hidden Tycoon

In power, there are basically two kinds of rulers.

There are those who sit on the throne—and then there are those who built it without anyone knowing.

Esther Tedd was born with gold in her veins and diamonds in her shadow. As the heiress to the Tedd Dynasty—an empire built on banking, oil, and politics—her name carried weight in boardrooms she never even set foot in.

But even though everyone respected her last name, Esther was craving something deeper... something real. A life that wasn't just about her family's legacy or someone else's plans for her future.

Far away from the flashing cameras and perfectly crafted lives, another force was quietly making waves.

Shawn Williams, a name not known by many, but respected—and feared—by those who had too much knowledge. He was the last descendant of an ancient bloodline, hidden behind a billion-dollar maze of shell companies, cryptocurrency vaults, and untraceable names. His name might not be in Forbes, but everyone on that list owed him something.

He chose to live in silence. That was his decision, his strategy. He was being hunted by both cultivators and corporate giants.

They were never supposed to cross paths.

But fate, as it always does, had other plans.

Because when the crown meets the cultivator...

Legacies will burn. Dynasties will crash. And love? Love might just flip destiny on its head.

PROLOGUE