HIS ACCIDENTAL BRIDE

Shanghai, China Pudong International Airport 8:15 A.M. The rain had stopped only minutes earlier. Beyond the towering glass walls of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the city was waking beneath a pale morning sky. Rainwater shimmered across the roads, reflecting the headlights of passing cars as travelers streamed through the terminal. Announcements echoed overhead. Suitcase wheels rolled across polished marble. People hurried toward flights, taxis, business meetings, reunions, and new beginnings. For most of them, it was simply another morning. For Naomi Williams, it was the beginning of a life she had spent years working toward. She stepped through the arrival gate, pulling a navy-blue suitcase behind her. At twenty-seven, Naomi had the kind of beauty that didn't demand attention but somehow received it anyway. Her long dark-brown hair fell loosely over her shoulders, framing warm brown eyes and delicate features. She wore a simple cream blouse beneath a fitted dark jacket, black trousers, and comfortable heels—professional enough for business, practical enough for travel. She stopped. For several seconds, she simply stared through the enormous glass windows. Shanghai. The city seemed endless. Buildings disappeared into the morning mist. Roads stretched between towering structures. Signs she couldn't read flashed above the crowds. A small smile appeared on her lips. "So this is Shanghai..." Her phone vibrated. She pulled it from her handbag. Mum ❤️ Naomi smiled before answering. "Hi, Mum." "Please tell me you've landed safely." Grace Williams sounded relieved. "I have." "Are you sure? You sound too cheerful." Naomi laughed. "Because I'm happy." A second voice suddenly joined the call. "Forget all that! Did you remember my gift?" Naomi recognized Emma immediately. She laughed. "Emma, I've been in China for less than five minutes." "So?" "You've already started." "I'm your sister. I'm allowed." Michael's deeper voice came from somewhere in the background. "Leave her alone. She has a competition to prepare for." "Thank you, Michael." "You're welcome." Grace laughed softly. For a moment, the noise of the airport seemed to disappear. Naomi missed them already. She reached into her handbag and touched the silver pendant resting against her chest. Her father's pendant. The only personal thing she had kept from him. Grace's voice suddenly became quieter. "You know..." Naomi knew exactly what she was about to say. "Your father would have been so proud to see you standing there." Naomi's fingers closed around the pendant. Her smile faded slightly. "I know." "You worked so hard for this." "I'll make him proud." "You already have." Naomi swallowed the emotion rising in her throat. She didn't want to cry in the middle of an airport. Not today. Today was supposed to be a beginning. After saying goodbye, she ended the call. She looked at the invitation tucked safely inside her handbag. ZHAO GLOBAL HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION FINAL PRESENTATION — THREE DAYS REMAINING Three days. Three days to prove that she belonged among some of the most talented architects in the world. The competition could change everything. If she won, her career would move to another level. She straightened her shoulders. "Three days," she whispered. Then she pulled her suitcase toward the baggage carousel. She had no idea that someone had already noticed her. The Man Everyone Moved For Several floors above the main terminal, the atmosphere was completely different. A private elevator opened. Security personnel immediately positioned themselves around the entrance. Airport officials waited nearby. A convoy of black luxury vehicles stood outside the private terminal. Whispers spread among the staff. "Who's arriving?" "I heard it's Zhao Global." "Which Zhao?" The older businessman beside them gave a knowing look. "There's only one person who receives this much security." The doors opened. A tall man stepped out. Dominic Alexander Zhao. At thirty-one, Dominic was already one of the most powerful young businessmen in Asia. He stood at six feet two, with broad shoulders, black hair kept neatly styled, and dark eyes that rarely revealed what he was thinking. His charcoal suit was perfectly tailored. His expression was colder than the morning rain. He didn't need to announce himself. People simply moved. Dominic was the heir to Zhao Global Holdings, a multinational business empire with interests spanning finance, technology, luxury development, real estate, and international infrastructure. He had grown up surrounded by wealth. But wealth had never impressed him. Control did. And lately, he had begun losing control of something far more important than money. His confidential business files. Oliver Reed walked beside him. At thirty-five, Oliver was Dominic's trusted assistant and head of security, a position he had held for years. He was tall, athletic, and observant, with short dark-brown hair and sharp grey eyes that seemed to notice everything around him. "The board meeting has been moved to six," Oliver said. Dominic continued walking. "The European investors confirmed." "Yes." "Munich?" "Confirmed." Dominic nodded. Oliver hesitated. "There is one more issue." Dominic stopped. "What?" "The leak." Dominic's eyes hardened. "How much?" "We don't know yet. Someone accessed confidential project files last night." "Which files?" "The Shanghai development proposal." Silence. Dominic's expression changed almost imperceptibly. That project was worth billions. "Who had access?" "Four executives." "Then start with four." "We're already checking them." Dominic resumed walking. "Find the person responsible." Oliver nodded. "I will." Dominic had dealt with betrayal before. But this felt different. Someone wasn't simply stealing information. Someone was testing the security surrounding him. And Dominic hated being tested. The Collision Naomi's suitcase finally appeared. "There you are." She reached for it. The moment she pulled the handle, one of the wheels caught awkwardly. The suitcase tipped. Naomi tried to grab it. Too late. It rolled away. "Oh!" The navy-blue suitcase picked up speed. Straight toward a man walking through the terminal. Naomi's eyes widened. "Watch out!" A few people turned. The suitcase was seconds from hitting him. Then a hand reached out. The man caught the handle effortlessly. The suitcase stopped. Naomi hurried toward him. "I'm so sorry!" The man turned. Dark eyes met hers. For one strange second, the noise of the airport seemed to fade. Dominic looked at her. Naomi looked back. Neither spoke. Then Dominic handed her the suitcase. "Are you alright?" His voice was deep and controlled. Naomi nodded quickly. "Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean—" "It's fine." Their fingers briefly touched when she took the handle. Naomi immediately pulled her hand back. "Thank you." Dominic gave a small nod. Then he walked away. Naomi watched him disappear among the security officers. Something about him was intimidating. Yet strangely familiar. She couldn't explain why. A woman standing nearby glanced at her. "You were lucky." Naomi looked confused. "Lucky?" The woman smiled. "That was Dominic Zhao." Naomi's eyes widened. "The Dominic Zhao?" "The one and only." Naomi looked toward the entrance. He was already gone. She glanced down at her invitation. Zhao Global Holdings. Her stomach suddenly tightened. Wait. The man who had just caught her suitcase was the man whose company was hosting her competition. "Oh, no." She covered her face briefly. "Please tell me I didn't just throw my suitcase at the CEO." The woman laughed. Naomi didn't. Because somehow, she had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time she saw him. A Photograph Outside, Dominic entered his waiting car. Oliver closed the door. But before the driver pulled away, Dominic glanced back toward the terminal. He didn't know why. He simply looked. Through the glass doors, he caught one final glimpse of the young woman with the navy-blue suitcase. Naomi. He didn't know her name. Didn't know why she was in Shanghai. Didn't know that she had an invitation from his company. Yet something about that brief encounter remained in his mind. His phone rang. Dominic looked at the screen. The board. He answered. "Yes?" As he began discussing the business leak, the convoy pulled away. Inside the airport, Naomi disappeared into the crowd. Neither of them noticed the man standing behind the darkened glass on the upper floor. He lowered his camera. Two photographs appeared on the screen. The first showed Dominic Zhao. The second showed Naomi Williams. The man placed them side by side. His expression was unreadable. Another voice came from behind him. "Are you certain she's the one?" The photographer looked at Naomi's picture. "Yes." "Does Dominic know?" "No." "Then why bring them together?" A faint smile appeared. "Because he doesn't know what she's carrying." The other person hesitated. "And if they become close?" The photographer looked at the photographs again. "Then everything becomes easier." He placed the images into a folder. On the front were only two names. DOMINIC ZHAO NAOMI WILLIAMS He closed the folder. "Don't interfere yet." "Why?" His answer was quiet. "Let them meet again." A pause. "Once Dominic learns who she is, the real game begins." The folder disappeared into a black briefcase. Outside, the city continued moving. Naomi had arrived in Shanghai believing she was here to compete for an architectural opportunity. Dominic believed he was here to deal with a business leak. Neither knew that someone had deliberately placed them on the same path. And neither knew that their lives had already been connected long before they ever met. The first move had been made.