Oriental Star Group was in a mess.
Still, their opponent was a powerful figure from South City, so what could they do?
“This is our family’s internal matter, and if anyone dares to butt in, the Lopez family from South City will show no mercy!” threatened Dustin before he left.
That frightened everyone even more.
In the end, Zoey was dragged back to the family’s home.
They forced Zoey to kneel in front of the Lopez family’s ancestral hall.
“Sir, we have talked to the related departments, and Zoey’s surname can be changed at any time.”
Upon hearing that report, Dustin turned to Zoey and scoffed, “Pick any other surname. You are not worthy to be called a Lopez.”
Zoey shook her head. “That will never happen! My name is Zoey Lopez, and I will not stand idly by even if you have the departments legally change my name. I will just change it back.”
Everyone was shocked by Zoey’s persistence.
“Damn you, Zoey Lopez. How dare you disregard the family rules?”
Dustin could feel his authority being challenged, and that infuriated him.
“Sir, that is how she has always been. She has never respected the Lopez family in North Hampton or in South City.”
Shaun and the others kept stoking the fire from the side.
“I will order you one last time. Change your freaking surname!”
Dustin growled as he forced his anger down.
Zoey remained stubborn and ignored her safety then.
“No freaking way! You can demand a hundred times, but my answer will remain the same.”
Dustin didn’t look angry. Instead, he laughed and commented, “Fine then, you’re being stubborn! Guys, prepare the whips in accordance with the family rules. I will hit her until she bows down!”
Dustin had just finished speaking when two of his subordinates approached with a long whip.
The more powerful a family was, the crazier and stricter their rules were.
Those in the family who disobeyed the rules would inevitably be whipped.
The whip would be so strong and harsh that its victim would need at least ten days of bed rest to recover.
Even Harry trembled at the sound of it.
He had seen the consequences of being whipped before.
One whip was sufficient to break its victim’s skin and tear its victim’s flesh.
Harry had seen a man suffer ten whips; he had taken a month to recover.
Harry never thought Dustin would do that to Zoey.
Zoey’s stubbornness had obviously triggered Dustin, and the latter said, “I will carry that punishment out!”
Dustin took the whip and grinned like a cruel demon when he turned to Zoey.
“Zoey Lopez, you are an unfilial member of the Lopez family and have ignored our rules. You even abandoned our ancestral teaching, and as such, you will be punished.”
“You will be removed from the family tree and will change your surname!” commanded Dustin cruelly.
“We will start with ten whips!”
Dustin could already see how horribly Zoey would bleed after being whipped.
Harry grew nervous then.
It didn’t matter how angry or disappointed he was at Zoey.
She was still his granddaughter, and he had seen just how terrible the whips were.
Zoey would have trouble surviving if she were to be whipped ten times!
“Hang on. Let me talk to her first.”
Harry then walked to Zoey and advised, “Zoey, listen to me. Just agree to his terms. It’s just a surname, isn’t it? It’s not a big deal. You won’t be able to handle the whips.”
Zoey’s expression remained dark, and she scoffed, “Thanks, grandpa, but I will never agree to it. Come at me! I’m not afraid.”
“Then so be it!”
Dustin was extremely furious as he lifted his whip to attack Zoey.
Harry was so scared that he closed his eyes.
Zoey closed her eyes too and felt hopeless as she readied to suffer through everything.
