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

The Tedd family estate had a west wing no one talked about.

Esther hadn't stepped foot there since she was twelve.Not since she heard screaming coming from behind the soundproofed walls.

Today, she stood outside its double-locked doors with a stolen master key.Her fingers trembled—but not from fear.

Dust. Mahogany. Secrets woven into the wallpaper.

Old bookshelves covered in cloth. A chessboard mid-game… pieces frozen in some long-forgotten battle.

And there—beneath a protective glass dome—was a journal.

She popped the case open, flipping past the first few pages until a phrase caught her eye:

"Project Umbra – Initiate via union."

Below it: dates, names, symbols she didn't recognize.

Her father. Younger. Standing next to four other men. One of them—

But the photo was dated 1989.

She sat down hard on the nearest chair.

Later – Back at the Penthouse

Shawn felt her energy the moment she stepped in.

It was different.Sharper. Focused.Not anger. Not even betrayal.

She tossed the journal on the table. "You want to explain this?"

"I told you, Esther. The truth would change everything."

"This is before I was born. You were in a photo from 1989."

Her voice rose. "That would make you what—fifty? Sixty?!"

He smiled faintly. "Chronologically? Maybe. But biologically? Still twenty."

She stared, trying to find the joke.

"Project Umbra," he said softly. "My initiation into the Circle came with… side effects. Time became flexible."

"Why me, Shawn? Why this marriage?"

His answer was so quiet she almost missed it.

"Because you were the variable. The one person no algorithm, no contract, no prophecy could predict."

Shawn walked over, placed a hand on the journal.

"But now that you know… everything changes."

He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"I still don't trust you.But I trust myself more now.And if my family's in this deep—I'm going to find out what else they've been hiding."

She turned and walked away, but this time—he followed her with a ghost of a smile.

The Heiress Awakens