CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: SELF-DIRECTED AND SELF-ACTED

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A series of intense knocks echoed through the room, but Quinn Lockwood, wearing headphones and engrossed in watching videos to study acting techniques, didn’t hear them.

This is interesting; the woman dares to pretend she didn’t hear anything. Elias Sinclair, standing at the door, was so enraged his face was almost contorted. He knew she was in the room, but now she seemed afraid.

"Beep, beep..."

Elias directly dialed Quinn’s phone number, not believing she could ignore him like this.

The sudden ringing startled Quinn, particularly since she was wearing headphones, making the sound even more jarring.

The screen on her phone clearly displayed the name Elias Sinclair. Previously, she had saved it as "Dear Husband" under Savannah Lowell’s contact list, but Quinn had decisively changed it.

Quinn rolled her eyes immediately. He’s just next door; is it really necessary to call? Ridiculous.

Choosing not to pay attention, she resumed her studies. Just in case, she pulled out her headphones this time.

"Savannah Lowell!"

Outside, Elias was furious, clenching his teeth as he spoke. This woman, how dare she hang up on him. She really has some nerve.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The violent knocking returned, making Quinn realize she had locked the door from the inside.

Originally, it was to avoid being disturbed during her study sessions and not to disturb others, but evidently, things weren’t going as she had expected.

Opening the door with reluctance, Quinn first poked her head out slightly, only to meet Elias’s eyes filled with suppressed anger, staring at her as if she were prey.

"What do you want?"

His gaze made Quinn feel a sting in her eyes, and she quickly looked away, feeling that if they continued staring at each other, Elias might just strangle her.

"Stop pretending."

Leaning against the doorframe, Elias looked at her through the crack with disdain.

Quinn felt unnerved under his gaze, blinking innocently and shaking her head, genuinely clueless about what he was talking about.

He always claimed she was pretending, yet he viewed her with preconceptions about Savannah Lowell. She truly didn’t know how to respond.

"Don’t tell me you don’t know the news has been exposed again."

Here it comes again. Elias found the woman before him utterly revolting. She wouldn’t admit to what she had done, and beyond just denying it, she played the part of the clueless innocent. Who was she fooling?

Didn’t she realize that every time he saw her act like this, it made him want to puke?

"Exposed again?"

Quinn frowned, feeling a bad premonition growing within her.

She had been holed up in her room studying, living in near seclusion, watching online courses late into the night without time to follow the news. Could something have happened again?

"See for yourself."

Yanking Quinn out into the hallway, Elias threw a phone at her, displaying the news he had just opened.

Since she claimed she was unaware, he wanted her to see it in person, to see how she would deny it now.

Quinn first gave Elias a puzzled look, then was shocked by the headline highlighted in red on the page.

Wasn’t this the same news that had falsely accused her before? How could it have resurfaced with even more evidence this time?

Not only were there previous pictures of her leaving a hotel and getting cornered in a hospital by Elias Sinclair, but now there were many more close-up shots.

Accusing her of exploiting opportunities, getting pregnant out of wedlock, her silence being taken as consent—public opinion was directly targeting Quinn Lockwood.

How could this be? Hadn’t she clarified this before? It was all false, so why was this topic still getting attention?

"No, it’s impossible, I clearly clarified this before, how could it..."

Quinn clenched her fists helplessly, her brows furrowed. It was unimaginable that this issue had escalated again so soon.

"Yeah, I remember someone saying they’d release a statement."

Elias remained unmoved, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe with a sarcastic tone.

If he recalled correctly, Quinn had assured the cameras and the media that she’d release a statement to prove her innocence. Yet in the end, no statement was issued, and the situation only intensified.

"I told you before, the company didn’t agree to it, not that I was unwilling. This time, I will definitely explain everything clearly."

Quinn looked forward with determination, her tone resolute. She knew she couldn’t keep making mistakes; she couldn’t end up like Savannah Lowell.

Upon hearing this, Elias chuckled. He had seen such dramas plenty of times—was this woman brainless?

Even if she wanted to try new tactics, she couldn’t have gone from crying, whining, and threatening to actually putting on a show, refusing to admit anything, right?

"Clap, clap, clap."

Elias sarcastically applauded her, impressed by her acting skills.

"What are you doing?"

Quinn knew he wouldn’t believe her, but the extent of his sarcasm still surprised her.

She admitted that this situation affected him, and she was sorry for it, but it wasn’t intentional. She was doing her best to fix it.

With all the pressure from these past days—the acting pressure, the revenge pressure, the public pressure, and with Elias constantly mocking her—Quinn truly felt unlucky, of all people to be reincarnated into, it had to be Savannah Lowell.

"Applauding you,"

Elias leaned in close behind Quinn, whispering in her ear, "A brilliant self-directed drama."

"You."

Quinn found herself at a loss for words, pushing Elias away in a fit of anger.

"You can look down on me. You can call me dramatic, or accuse me of fabricating everything, but I’m telling you, from now on, I’m not the same Savannah Lowell, and I don’t love you anymore."

"Regarding the previous news, I’m sorry for the public scrutiny Mr. Sinclair had to endure, but please don’t scrutinize me with that self-righteous demeanor. And know this, I’ll explain everything myself. That’s all, goodbye!"

Having finished, Quinn slammed the door shut, leaning against it, gasping for air.

Hmph, if things were truly as she claimed, then why hasn’t she clarified everything? Why can’t she face him? Why must she avoid him? Elias shook his head obstinately.

But still—unsurprisingly, that woman holds onto hope, firmly declaring she’ll handle it. He’d love to see how her act plays out.

Hearing the footsteps outside gradually fade, Quinn finally breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes back on the news on the phone screen. She furrowed her brows, pondering her next move.

Approaching the company hadn’t worked before, so was this the kind of publicity they wanted? Did they understand that sometimes, public opinion alone could destroy someone?

More importantly, she didn’t want Elias Sinclair to look down on her.