Chapter 47

Lawrence's case has kept Zoey from having a good night's sleep for a while.

She rarely slept on such a soft bed.

However, she had only been asleep for a short while when she started having a bad dream.

She dreamt of a morning when she was eighteen, walking for hours to the courthouse to submit an application to change her name. Her parents favored sons, and they named her Pat Brown. She disliked the name her parents had chosen for her.

It was a snowy winter day when Zoey stood at the clerk's window and declared with unwavering determination, "I want to change my name!"

The clerk looked at Zoey's frostbitten face and responded, "Follow me."

He led Zoey to the window where name changes were processed and then left.

Zoey confidently pushed her prepared documents towards the window. Before the clerk could ask what she needed, she said directly, "Name change."

The clerk took her documents, glanced at them, and then looked back at Zoey in surprise, saying, "You're the daughter of the Brown Family, right?"

In the dream, Pat took a serious look at the clerk.

Even though she had only seen the clerk once over the years, she still remembered her vividly. She said, "Holly, long time no see."

Holly Shaw, if not for the documents, might not have recognized her on the street.

Holly didn't expect Pat to recognize her so accurately and quickly. "You have a good memory. I didn't expect you to remember me." She smiled and asked casually, "What has your mom been up to lately?"

Pat said, "Nothing much."

Holly glanced around, "Did you come here alone?"

Pat nodded. "Yes."

Holly asked, "A little girl like you walking such a long way-aren't your parents worried about your safety?"

Pat said, "It's fine; I won't die."

Holly fell silent. She thought, 'What happened to Zoey?'

Pat really didn't want to waste any more time and repeated her request, "Holly, I'm here to change my name."

Holly asked, "Changing your name is not a problem, but do your parents know?"

If Holly were not acquainted with Pat's parents, this matter might have been resolved easily. However, Holly did know them and feared incurring their displeasure.

Pat said, "Holly, I'm an adult now. I have the right to change my name. It's allowed by law."

Holly glanced at the date on the ID again. Zoey had just turned eighteen today.

Pat was right; as a service worker, she should fulfill her request.

Holly didn't ask any more questions, opened her case on the computer, and asked, "What name do you want to change to? Have you decided?"

As Holly spoke, she typed Pat's last name, anticipating the name Pat would choose.

Pat said, "Change it to Zoey."

When Pat spoke, Holly's fingers froze on the keyboard.

"What?" She wasn't sure and asked again.

Pat patiently and seriously repeated her name, "Zoey. Is there anything else you're unclear about?"

Holly fell silent.

Seeing Holly stunned, not knowing where to start or what to say, Pat couldn't wait any longer. "Holly, I've made it so clear, and you still don't get it? Or can't you spell the name? How can you work here with such low efficiency?"

It was the first time someone had called Holly inefficient. Pat was still a child, and because of their family connection, she couldn't scold her.

She could only suppress her anger and ask, "Do your parents know you want to change your name?"

Pat didn't respond. Through the dirty window, they couldn't see each other's expressions clearly.

Holly continued to persuade, "I'm a woman too. When I was your age, I was also a girl. I understand your parents prefer boys and know you've had a tough time growing up. But Pat, I have to advise you. Your parents prefer boys, but your brother Derek Brown is innocent. As his sister, you should love and protect him. When your parents pass away, Derek will be the closest person to you in this world."

"If you change your name, aren't you afraid it will create a rift between you and your brother? Tell me, did you have a fight with Derek?"

"You're young and impulsive, but you can't change your name out of anger. You may regret it later. Even though you're legally an adult, you're still a child in our eyes. Don't make a decision you'll regret for the rest of your life. Pat, how about this? I'll call your parents to come and take you home."

Holly spoke in a tone of a well-meaning elder.

Pat took a barely noticeable deep breath, abandoning basic politeness. "Holly, I know you've worked here for for least ten years, right? How can you not know the regulations? The law clearly states that adults can make decisions for themselves! Neither you nor my parents have the right!"

Holly was taken aback. It was the first time her good intentions were met with such hostility.

Pat said with a cold voice, "If you don't help me change my name now, I'll file a complaint against you."

Holly fell silent. If she got a complaint, she'd lose her bonus for the year.

Holly was actually a distant relative of theirs, visiting each other's homes perhaps once a year or even less frequently. She had no means to oppose Pat's decision.

She could only follow Pat's request and change her name to Zoey.

Zoey happily went home.

As soon as she entered, Zoey knew Holly must have told her family about the name change. The atmosphere was tense.

Her parents and grandmother sat on the couch, looking at her with questioning faces. Her grandmother, Fiona Porter, was even wiping away tears, lamenting how much she had spoiled Zoey over the years and how ungrateful she was.

Zoey ignored the tense atmosphere and headed straight to her room.

Goden shouted, "Pat! You have some nerve! Get over here!"

Zoey was not afraid of her father Gordon Brown's anger. She calmly turned around and corrected Gordon's mistake, "My name is not Pat! I've already changed it and my new name is Zoey! Holly should have made it clear to you, right?"