Chapter 48

Zoey looked at Gordon, who was extremely infurious. She calmly said, "Mom and Dad, you need to remember that my new name is Zoey."

She completely ignored Gordon's trembling body and turned to the crying Fiona. "And Grandma, you're old, your hearing isn't good, and your memory isn't great either. I should repeat it a few more times for you, Zoey, Zoey, Zoey."

Fiona clutched her chest, almost fainting from anger. "How did our family end up with such an ungrateful child like you?"

Seeing Fiona almost faint from Zoey's words, Gordon raised his hand and slapped Zoey hard across the face.

She didn't dodge; her eyes were extremely calm. Such an indifferent expression shouldn't appear on an eighteen-year-old girl. But it did.

Gordon, being a man, hit her with such force that Zoey's body swayed, and she stumbled a step forward before quickly regaining her balance.

She didn't cry at all; instead, she looked at Gordon with disdain. "You hit pretty hard. I guess this name really bothers you. I have to go to school this afternoon. If anyone asks why my face is swollen, I'll definitely tell the truth."

Gordon's molars seemed about to shatter, and the veins on his cheeks were visibly bulging. He snarled, "You've grown quite bold, daring to threaten me!"

Zoey said nothing but smiled.

Seeing her smile, Gordon's anger flared up again, and he raised his hand to hit Zoey once more!

Lena Marie stepped forward to stop Gordon. She wasn't speaking up for eighteen-year-old Zoey but was concerned about their own reputation. She said, "Still hitting? Don't you know what Pat is like? I'm the one going to the parent-teacher conference this afternoon, not you. I don't want to explain this to everyone. Enough."

With Lena's persuasion, Gordon finally lowered his hand.

But his gaze at Zoey was still filled with malice and hatred. "If she doesn't change her name back, does she still want to go to school?" He glanced irritably at Lena. "School isn't important. Go, change her name back! Both of you, go together!"

Before Lena could speak, Zoey stepped forward. "No way. I make my own decisions. I won't change it!"

Hearing this, Lena's face turned ugly. "No, we raised you all these years, and you just want to change your name? Is this how you repay your parents?"

"Yes, I am here to repay you. In the eighteen years you raised me, I never ate at the table and enjoyed the rights I should have. I ate your leftovers at every meal. You call me your daughter, but to put it bluntly, my existence is like a pet."

"How can you say that?" Lena couldn't take it anymore and slapped Zoey.

Clearly, Lena's strength was no match for Gordon's; the sound of her slap was noticeably less forceful than before.

Zoey didn't feel much. The previous slap didn't hurt, and this one didn't either.

Lena started to mimic Fiona's act. "How did I raise such a beast?" She cursed while clutching her heart, as if she might faint any second.

Seeing Lena fail, Fiona hobbled over to Zoey with her cane.

She poked Zoey's forehead with her wrinkled hand. "Didn't I say it? A daughter is useless from the moment she's born! She hasn't even married yet and is already defying her parents! If she gets married, won't she cut ties with our family? Though she was young, she actually has such a malicious intention! Gordon, didn't I tell you before? A daughter is not as good as a son! Do you believe me now?"

Zoey looked at the elders who despised her and found it laughable.

If she were younger, she might have broken down and cried because of their words. She had become numb after hearing many similar words.

Zoey looked at her parents and Fiona and genuinely laughed.

"Yes, whatever you say I am, I am. Anyway, I was born inherently flawed. So what?" She then looked at Fiona. "Among the three of you, you're the most right. I'm useless. According to your thinking, my going to school is a waste, right? I should have been serving this family from the moment I could walk and talk, being your servant. But unfortunately, I'm smarter than your grandson Derek. So, you changed your mind and let me go to school because I have a much higher chance of making big money than he does, so I can support Derek in the future, right?"

Zoey continued, "Too bad, you are not smart either. I saw through your plan right away. Since everyone is here today, let me tell you something to crush your hopes. I will never support him in my life! Give up on that idea!"

The hatred and determination in Zoey's eyes were not just words.

They were very serious!

Fiona's blood pressure shot up. "You... you! You're going to drive me to death. Gordon's father, can you come back and see me? She's bullying me too much! I've done everything for the Brown Family; what did I do wrong for God to give me such an ungrateful granddaughter."

Zoey said calmly, "Then let him take you away quickly. I might even pay my respects to you."

Fiona immediately fainted.

"Mom! Mom!"

The house was in chaos.

Gordon and Lena rushed to support Fiona, laying her on the sofa to calm her down.

After Lena took care of Fiona, she went to find Zoey to change her name, but she couldn't find Zoey anywhere in the house.

She checked the time; it was still early for school.

Lena guessed Zoey had left and returned to the sofa to check on Fiona.

Lena asked, "Mom, Pat is gone. How are you feeling now?"

Fiona groaned on the sofa, "Look at the Pat you raised! She actually defied her family and cursed me to die early!"