The King's Disgraced Bride

The same day I won the Golden Muse, I was accused of sleeping with the heir to the Lockwood empire.

My rival, a rising starlet named Scarlett Hayes, posted the question for the whole world to see:

【What exactly were you trying to do, sneaking into my boyfriend’s room in the middle of the night?】
【Some people just don’t know their place!】

Her followers descended on me like wolves. Endorsement deals vanished overnight. I was, in the blunt and brutal language of the internet, canceled.

Later, Liam Lockwood—the so-called heir—would broadcast his engagement party to Scarlett, a lavish affair streamed live for millions. But the celebration couldn't begin.

It couldn't start because the true power of the Lockwood family, and the woman he worshiped, had not yet arrived.

1

#AudreyThorne: Homewrecker?#
#AudreyAndLiamLockwood#
#CancelAudreyThorne#

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes were the trending topics, glowing like poison on my phone screen. The second was the non-stop flood of calls from my agent.

My head was spinning. I had no idea what was happening. I clicked the top hashtag.

Dozens of gossip sites were circulating the same grainy photograph: me, alone, slipping into Liam Lockwood’s hotel room late last night.

The story was technically true, but stripped of all context. After my acceptance speech, the studio had called. Liam Lockwood, the family’s notorious playboy heir, wanted to discuss a collaboration. They gave me a room number.

On any other night, with any other man, I would have refused. A midnight meeting? Please.

But Liam was Arthur’s nephew. And Liam had a reputation for being erratic, for playing by his own rules. A spontaneous, late-night business discussion wasn’t entirely out of character for him.

When I got there, he claimed it was a mistake, that he’d been expecting someone else. I was in and out of that room in less than thirty seconds, utterly confused.

But according to the internet, I was a predator, sinking my claws into Scarlett Hayes’s man.

The worst part? I hadn't even gone alone. My agent, Dana, had been right beside me.

They’d just cropped her out of the picture.

I was about to type out a clarification when a new hashtag shot to number one.

It was Scarlett. She’d posted a new statement, aimed directly at me.

【What exactly were you trying to do, sneaking into my boyfriend’s room in the middle of the night?】
【Liam and I are rock solid. Some people should learn their place.】

Liam himself replied in the comments. I'll only ever love my baby girl. Sent her packing last night, btw. Tell me I'm a good boy

If there had been any doubt before, the golden boy of New York high society had just confirmed the narrative. The internet exploded.

【WHOA. I never would have guessed Audrey Thorne was that kind of person.】
【Always knew there was something off about her. So desperate. I bet she slept her way to that award, too.】
【My girl Scarlett is the real deal, the heir's actual girlfriend, and she never uses her connections to get ahead. She relies on talent. Audrey is just disgusting.】

I saw it clearly then. This wasn't just a misunderstanding.

This was a calculated hit, designed to use my new-found fame as a stepping stone for theirs.

Dana’s call finally broke through.

“Those little shits!” she screamed, her voice cracking with rage. “Scarlett Hayes doesn’t have the talent to win a goddamn raffle, so she pulls this? After you beat her for the Muse? This is capital-B Bullshit! Our people can’t even post a comment defending you. They’re being silenced, accounts suspended. The bots are working overtime. I’m going to kill someone!”

I started to speak, but a strong hand wrapped around my waist and gave me a playful squeeze.

“Don’t,” I mumbled.

There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line, followed by an even louder roar.

“Did you just tell me not to?! Audrey, have you SEEN what’s happening?!”

“Sorry, Dana. Not you,” I sighed.

I shot a glare at the man beside me, but he just nuzzled his face against my cheek, his morning stubble scratching gently.

“Morning, my love…”

His voice was a low, sleep-gravelly murmur, but it was close enough for the phone to pick it up. Before Dana could detonate, I ended the call.

I turned to face Arthur, who just grinned and planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Kisses, please…”

“Kisses, my ass! Look at what your wonderful nephew has done!”

I shoved my phone into his hands. Arthur took it, his smile fading as his eyes scanned the screen. The warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by a cold, quiet fury. His entire demeanor shifted.

“I will make him kneel and apologize to you.”

“Don't.” I let out a short, sharp laugh and held up a hand to stop him. “I’ll handle this myself.”

I looked at Arthur’s face, that handsome, infuriating face, and snapped a quick picture. Then I opened my social media.

【Not interested, already married, and way out of your league. My husband, for the record.】

2

Arthur Lockwood. The youngest son of the Lockwood patriarch, and the true, undisputed head of the family.

His father had sent him abroad for his education, and even after returning to the States, he rarely set foot in the family's ancestral Manhattan townhouse. The press knew the reclusive powerhouse was married, but no one knew what he or his wife looked like.

Even within the Lockwood clan, only the old man himself knew the truth.

The moment I posted that photo, the internet—and my agent—collectively lost their minds.

Dana showed up at my front door an hour later, radiating pure fury. She stormed into the foyer, ready for war, and then froze solid when she saw Arthur standing in the living room.

“Hello. I’m Arthur Lockwood,” he said, his voice calm and polite.

Even though she’d just seen his picture, the man in person was another story entirely. Dana’s jaw went slack.

“You… hi… hello,” she stammered, fumbling in her purse. “I’m, uh, Audrey’s agent. Dana. Here’s my card.”

She practically threw it at him. Then, her professional instincts kicked in.

“That face. You were born to be in front of a camera. Mr. Lockwood, have you ever considered acting? Give me a year—no, six months—and I’ll make you the biggest star on the planet.”

Arthur offered a gracious, small smile. “Thank you, but no.”

With that, he turned and headed for the kitchen. “My love, I’m making you breakfast.”

Dana’s attention snapped back to me. “What is going on?! When did you get married? Why didn’t I know about this?!”

“Well,” I said with a cough, “it’s been about three years.”

“Three years?!” Her voice climbed an octave. “THREE YEARS?! You kept this from me for three years! Oh my god!”

I tried to soothe her. “Look on the bright side. If you’d found out later, I would have kept it from you for even longer.”

Dana slapped her thigh in frustration.

I grabbed her arm, trying to calm her down. Once she’d caught her breath, she got back to business. “Do you have any idea how many sponsors have dropped you because of Liam’s little stunt? The studio wants to cut its losses. They’re planning to stick you and your… husband… on a reality show. One last paycheck before they terminate your contract.”

“Absolutely not.”

The refusal was automatic. I could go on a reality show. But putting Arthur in that kind of spotlight? Exposing him to that world? I’d have to be insane.

“If you refuse, the studio will sue you for breach of contract. The penalty clause will wipe out everything you’ve earned for the last decade.”

Dana looked at me, her expression a mix of pity and exasperation. I opened my mouth to argue, but Arthur re-emerged from the kitchen. “A reality show?” he said, a thoughtful look on his face. “Alright. It might be interesting to see what my wife’s work is actually like.”

Hearing his consent, Dana’s face split into a wide grin. “It’s settled, then!”

Before I could protest, she was already backing out the door. “No take-backs!” she yelled, then paused as if remembering something. “Oh, by the way. Scarlett Hayes and Liam Lockwood are going to be on it, too. Those two are snakes, and Liam has the family name behind him. You need to be careful, you hear me? Don’t pick a fight you can’t win.”

And with that, she was gone.

3

The news that I would be appearing on a reality show with Scarlett and Liam—and my mystery husband—sent the gossip blogs into a frenzy.

The comments were a special kind of brutal.

【Seriously? That train wreck is going on TV now? With her photoshopped husband? Does the network have zero consideration for its viewers?】
【That guy's photo is so obviously filtered. And even if he does look like that, why would he be with her?】
【You can say what you want about Audrey's character, but you can't deny she's beautiful…】
【Who cares if she’s beautiful? She’s a homewrecker! Besides, there's never been a single rumor about her being married. She probably just hired some actor to clean up her image.】
【Audrey’s always been a serious actress, not an influencer. It's not like she's obligated to announce a marriage to the public.】
【She’s not obligated to tell us, but she shouldn't lie! I don’t believe for a second that she’s married. A woman who chases after rich men like that would never tie herself down to just one.】

I still had a bad feeling about Arthur doing the show. It felt wrong. And seeing the vicious things people were writing about him online made my stomach turn.

He, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered. He leaned over my shoulder, reading the comments on my phone.

“What’s wrong?” he murmured, a teasing note in his voice. “Are you worried your husband won’t hold up in person?”

I just rolled my eyes at him.

4

Filming began three days later.

The second Arthur and I arrived on set, the director had a camera crew swarm us. The show was being live-streamed, with a massive screen nearby displaying the real-time comment feed for all the cast members to see.

As the camera zoomed in for a close-up on Arthur, he gave it a cool, indifferent glance.

Most of the audience had tuned in expecting a freak show, but the moment they saw Arthur’s face, the chat feed erupted.

【OMG OMG, he's actually that hot?! It's not a filter?! Where did Audrey find this guy? I want one!】
【Okay, he's definitely hotter than Liam Lockwood…】
【Audrey, move. It's my turn.】
【So what if he's hot? Scarlett's boyfriend is the heir to the Lockwood fortune! Does Audrey really think parading some hot guy around is going to make everyone forget what she did?】
【Pathetic. Just go away already!】

Arthur and I took our designated seats. Scarlett and Liam were already there.

Liam was dressed head-to-toe in bespoke designer clothes, a watch worth more than my first apartment strapped to his wrist. He shot us a look of pure disdain, his face a mask of cold arrogance. He was trying to intimidate us.

But whatever pressure he thought he was projecting, it dissolved the moment it met Arthur’s calm gaze. It was like watching a housecat try to stare down a panther.

After a few seconds, Liam’s composure cracked. He broke eye contact, his expression souring. The tight line of his mouth was a clear sign that the great Lockwood heir was annoyed.

Scarlett, nestled against his side, smiled sweetly. When she saw me, she stood up and waved. “Audrey! You made it! Come, sit.”

The live-feed comments scrolled by.

【Scarlett is just so kind and classy. Even after everything Audrey did, she's still so polite.】
【She’s just rising above it. She doesn't want to sink to that trashy woman's level.】

I ignored her. On camera, Scarlett didn’t let her smile falter. But as I sat down, she leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper in my ear.

“I have to hand it to you, I underestimated your nerve. Finding some pretty boy to play your husband just to save your career.” She looked Arthur up and down. “Mm, he is handsome. But these days, looks aren't enough. You need power, connections. I hope you two enjoy starving together.”

She pulled back just as quickly, her public smile snapping back into place. “We’re so happy you could join us.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Arthur put a hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer. “Audrey, my love,” he said, his voice carrying just enough for the microphones to pick it up. “Do you hear a dog barking?”

A smile touched my lips. “I do,” I replied. “A rabid one, it sounds like.”

Scarlett’s face hardened. She clearly hadn’t expected us to be so openly dismissive.

There were three couples on the show. Besides us and Scarlett and Liam, there was a popular starlet named Tinsley and a young actor from her studio, Jason. They weren't a real couple, just a work pairing.

Before Scarlett could retort, Tinsley jumped to her defense. “Audrey, that is so out of line! Scarlett is a respected artist! How dare you and your… kept man… insult her like that!”

Scarlett’s eyes welled up with crocodile tears. She tugged on Tinsley’s sleeve. “It’s okay, Tins. Audrey’s always had a bit of a temper. We all know that behind the scenes. Liam and I don’t mind.”

And there it was. Another label pinned on me: the angry, difficult diva.

Tinsley shot me a dirty look and put a protective arm around Scarlett. “Well, you and Mr. Lockwood are generous for putting up with her.”

Scarlett just smiled graciously.

Seeing his opening, the director hurried over to prevent me from speaking. “Alright, everyone! Let’s get the show started!”

5

The show was being filmed in a small, rustic village upstate.

The producers had originally booked a standard bus for transport, but with the arrival of Liam Lockwood, they’d upgraded to a fleet of luxury SUVs.

As soon as we settled into the plush leather seats, Tinsley sighed dramatically. “Oh, this is so much better. I’m a regular on this show, and let me tell you, the bus they usually give us is a nightmare. We have Scarlett and the Prince of New York to thank for this upgrade!”

She then shot a smug look at Arthur, who was sitting beside me. “I bet some people have never ridden in a car this nice in their entire lives.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. We haven’t.”

Not one this cheap, anyway.

I turned to Arthur, my expression full of mock sympathy. “You must be suffering.”

A slow smile spread across his face as he toyed with my fingers. “As long as I’m with my wife, I’m not suffering at all.”

Seeing us laughing together seemed to infuriate Tinsley, who was left sputtering, unable to think of a comeback.

Scarlett, meanwhile, rested her head on Liam’s shoulder. “Liam, honey. Audrey and her husband seem to get along so well.”

A smirk played on Liam’s lips. “She didn’t seem so happily married the other night.”

The comments on the live-feed went wild.

【LOL, Liam's burns are legendary! How does that feel, Audrey?】
【I wonder how much Audrey is paying that guy per day to be so cooperative.】
【Can I get his number? I'd book him for a month.】

Scarlett and Tinsley giggled, delighted by Liam’s jab. Scarlett gave Tinsley a subtle nod. Tinsley, ever the loyal attack dog, turned her attention back to me. “Audrey, the internet is blowing up with people calling you a shameless homewrecker for what you did. What are your thoughts on that?”

A cold smile touched my lips. “My thoughts? I think it’s fascinating to watch a pack of hyenas invent a narrative out of thin air. It’s like watching someone sprint to catch a turd someone else just dropped. You know why the delivery guy only ever brings you one package at a time?”

Tinsley instinctively asked, “Why?”

“Because you’re a single-use tool.”

“You—!”

It took her a second, but when it landed, she looked like she wanted to lunge at me.

Scarlett quickly grabbed her arm. “Audrey, you should really try to be more humble. I can forgive how you treat me, but we’re on a show right now. We all have to get along. Bullying Tinsley like this is just too much.”

Tinsley immediately started playing the victim, slumping against Scarlett with a pained expression.

【OMG, I am so mad right now I could literally slap that bitch through the screen!】
【My poor Tinsley was just telling the truth, and Audrey goes nuclear on her!】

I turned my gaze slowly to Scarlett. “You can forgive how I treat you? No matter what? Then kneel and kiss my feet. Let’s see how forgiving you are then.”

The color drained from Scarlett’s face, leaving it a blotchy mess of white and red.

Liam pulled her protectively into his arms, his eyes, dark and menacing, fixed on me. “Scarlett wanted to do this show, so I’m not going to shut it down. But once this is over, you will pay for every single word you’ve said today.”

Arthur’s hand tightened around mine. He met Liam’s glare with a look of utter calm. “We’ll be waiting.”

【Liam is so protective! A true Prince Charming!】
【Only our Scarlett could inspire that kind of devotion. She’s beautiful, kind, and patient, and she never wanted to stoop to Audrey's level. But that witch pushed her too far!】
【I bet we never see Audrey Thorne again after this show wraps.】
【Does anyone else feel like Audrey's husband is a little too calm? If it were me, I'd be terrified hearing that from the Lockwood heir.】
【It's called bluffing. A lot of guys do it. He's acting tough, but I bet he's pissing his pants right now.】

The director scurried over to me, his eyes wide with panic. He leaned in and hissed, “Audrey, you and your husband need to tone it down, right now! You can’t afford to offend Liam Lockwood and Scarlett Hayes. If you piss him off and he pulls out, ruining my show, I swear I will make your life a living hell.”

After his threat, he turned back to Liam and Scarlett, his face plastered with a sycophantic smile. “Mr. Lockwood, Scarlett! Shall we begin our first game?”

Liam just tilted his chin up, a gesture of royal assent.

6

The first game was “Truth or Dare” via a spinning wheel. If you couldn’t complete the task, you had to drink a glass of bitter melon juice.

The spinner landed on Liam first.

His lips curved into a smirk. “Truth.”

“I’ll ask! I’ll ask!” Tinsley’s hand shot up. “Mr. Lockwood, when are you planning to make our beautiful Scarlett an honest woman?”

Scarlett blushed on cue, the picture of shy delight.

The question sent a ripple through the live-stream audience. Scarlett’s fans immediately started cheering for a wedding, but some viewers were skeptical.

【A family like the Lockwoods… would they really let him marry an actress? Dating is one thing, but marriage…】
【That's true. I haven't heard anything about Scarlett coming from a powerful family…】
【What are you talking about? My girl Scarlett is beautiful and kind, why wouldn't he marry her?】
【She’s at the height of her career! She makes more money than all of you keyboard warriors combined! How dare you say she's not worthy? Are you?】
【Get real… no matter how famous Scarlett is, she's still an employee… Liam Lockwood is true capital. He's part of an empire.】

The debate raged in the comments until Liam spoke. “Scarlett is not beneath me,” he said, his voice laced with indignation. “Our families are of equal standing.”

His words silenced the chat for a beat, then caused a full-blown explosion.

【EQUAL STANDING?! OMG!】
【The only family on par with the Lockwoods right now is the Devonshire dynasty… Don't tell me Scarlett is… a Devonshire?!】
【NO WAY! Our girl never said a word about her family! She built her entire career on her own. She's a true inspiration!】

Tinsley had clearly put the pieces together. She gasped, looking at Scarlett with wide, envious eyes. “Scarlett, you’re the Devonshire heiress? Is Hayes your mother’s name?”

Scarlett looked down, the very image of humble modesty. “Yes…”

“I never would have guessed! You kept that hidden so well!”

I was taking a sip of water and choked, sputtering. Arthur gently patted my back, handing me a napkin to wipe my chin.

I shot him a look. Does my father have a secret daughter I don't know about?

Arthur gave a slight shake of his head, indicating he had no idea either.

As if to prove her claim, Scarlett announced, “Let me give my little brother a quick video call, see what he’s up to.”

She borrowed her phone from a producer and called a contact simply listed as ‘Leo.’ A few seconds later, Leo’s face appeared on the giant screen.

【OMG! That's Leo Devonshire! The Devonshire heir!】

Leo was clearly on a yacht somewhere, sun-drenched and carefree. “Hey, Scar. What’s up?” he asked.

Scarlett smiled warmly. “Nothing, just on set with Liam. Wanted to say hi and see what you were doing.”

Liam leaned into the frame and waved.

【Everyone knows the Devonshire family has two children. The son, Leo, is a total playboy and always in the tabloids. But the daughter is notoriously private, there’s almost no information about her online. I can't believe it's been our Scarlett this whole time!】
【This is the best surprise ever for us Scarlett fans!】

It was a big surprise for me, too.

So big my jaw nearly hit the floor.

Did my dad really have a secret family? And my brother knew about it?

My mind started racing, playing out a hundred different dramatic scenarios. My expression darkened. If my father had actually betrayed my mother…

“Alright, Scar, I gotta go. Talk later,” Leo said.

“Okay, Leo. Have fun!”

Scarlett ended the call. Leo Devonshire’s appearance had completely convinced the crew, the director, and the entire online audience.

The director, in particular, looked like he’d won the lottery. He thought he’d just landed the Lockwood heir, but now he had the mysterious Devonshire heiress, too. This was a ratings goldmine.

He immediately had his team create a new trending topic.

#DevonshireHeiressMakesHerDebut#

The show’s popularity surged. But the real bombshell was yet to come.

Liam cleared his throat, a smug look on his face.

“This Sunday is our engagement party,” he announced. “I’m having the entire event live-streamed, and you’re all invited to watch.

“Oh, and by the way,” he added casually, “my uncle will be there.”

A collective gasp went through the crew.

The live chat went into meltdown.

【His uncle? Does he mean THE Lockwood? The one who actually runs everything?!】
【Holy shit! That guy is the real deal. I heard that even though he's the uncle, he's only a couple of years older than Liam…】
【Two years older and he's already in charge of that entire empire? That's insane!】

Tinsley practically vibrated with excitement. “Scarlett, can I come, too?!”

“Of course,” Scarlett said magnanimously.

“YES!” Tinsley cheered.

I frowned and whispered to Arthur, “Are you going to that?”

He shook his head. “First I’m hearing of it.”

I just stared at him.

After the excitement died down, the game continued. The spinner landed on Jason, the quiet actor paired with Tinsley. Since Liam had picked truth, Jason had to take a dare: pinch his nose and spin in a circle ten times.

He did it quickly. On the third spin, the pointer landed on me.

I, too, had to choose truth.

This time, Scarlett asked the question.

“Audrey,” she said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. “Is the man sitting next to you really your husband?”

I laughed. “How many times do I have to say it? Are you having trouble processing?”

【God, Audrey is so infuriating. It's a game, and she's still lying! What's the point?】
【If you can't play, don't play. She picked truth and still tells a lie. Is it that hard to admit you hired an actor?】

The producers announced the fourth round, but Scarlett held up a hand. “This is boring. I’m done.”

Tinsley quickly chimed in. “Me too. What’s the point of playing a game if someone’s just going to cheat?”

The director shot me a death glare.

Just then, we arrived at the village. He ordered everyone out of the cars.

7

Once we were in the village, the director announced the first task.

We had to help the local farmers harvest corn. The team that harvested the most within the time limit would get first choice of the houses provided for our stay. There were three levels: excellent, good, and poor.

The moment the timer started, Arthur and I got to work. He tried to tell me to rest while he handled it, but I shook my head. This was a two-person challenge; I wasn’t going to let him do it alone.

【LOL, Audrey looks like a natural doing farm work. You can tell she didn't grow up with money.】
【Right? And she's so damn competitive. It's just a game. Why does she have to try so hard? She should be more relaxed like Scarlett and Liam.】

At that moment, Scarlett and Liam were lounging in patio chairs, sipping iced tea under the shade of a portable fan.

【Did Scarlett just give up on getting the good house?】
【They're royalty. They're obviously not going to do manual labor.】
【LOL, look at them just staring at the cornfield, they look so lost. It's adorable!】
【They're hilarious. Such a breath of fresh air.】

Time was up.

Scarlett and Liam hadn’t picked a single ear of corn.

Tinsley and Jason had been working, but Tinsley had put her harvest in a separate pile. Jason had filled two large sacks. Tinsley had only managed half a sack. Without even asking him, she dragged both of Jason’s sacks over and presented them to Scarlett and Liam.

Jason’s face fell, but he glanced at Liam, then at Scarlett, and said nothing.

Scarlett beamed. “Oh, Tinsley, thank you! How sweet of you.”

Then, she turned to me. “Audrey,” she said pointedly. “What about yours…?”

“Ours? We got first place.”

I smiled. Arthur and I had each filled two sacks.

Without another word, I walked over and claimed the key to the best house.

Scarlett’s smile vanished.

Liam stood up, his voice dripping with condescension. “Interesting. Some people really don’t know how to take a hint.”

“You’re right,” I shot back without missing a beat. “Some people are interesting. Do absolutely nothing and then expect a handout from others? Who died and made you king?”

The live chat froze, then exploded.

【WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?! IS AUDREY INSANE?】
【Did she just insult Liam Lockwood? TO HIS FACE?!】
【Who does she think she is?! He could end her with a single phone call!】
【Is this her new strategy? Playing the 'blunt' and 'outspoken' character? Trying to get famous by tearing down Scarlett and Liam?】

My words hit their mark. Liam shot up from his chair.

His face was thunderous, the air around him turning cold. “What did you just say to me?”

Arthur moved smoothly, stepping behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist. He gently pulled me behind him, shielding me. He was a full head taller than Liam, and as he looked down at his nephew, his face was calm, but his dark, deep-set eyes were anything but.

His voice was quiet, yet it carried a chilling weight.

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