Chapter 319: Philadelphia Trip and the Unexpected Event
Under the threat of violence, Ron retrieved the contents of his own account with almost no effort, and also emptied Todd's account, using physical persuasion.
The specific procedure was that Ron shoved a pistol into Todd's mouth, and Todd immediately said he would give Ron anything he wanted. Although there was a minor incident where Todd's father pulled out a shotgun and told Ron to get out of the house, after Ron shot the gun out of his hands, Todd's father immediately became warm and hospitable.
"Indeed, guns are an important tool for human communication," Ron concluded.
"Even though you helped me get back my equipment, especially my epic mount Shadowmere, I still have to remind you that your actions violated the Castle Doctrine, which allows for self-defense by residents..."
"Sheldon," Ron interrupted Sheldon's rambling, annoyed, "you just need to say thank you."
Sheldon froze, his face flushed, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a single word through gritted teeth: "Thank you."
"What did you just say? I didn't hear you, say it again." Ron cupped his hands to his ears.
"I said, thank you, Ron."
Ron pounced on Sheldon and hugged him tightly, giving him two heavy pats on the back as Sheldon looked at him with disgust and helplessness. "Good job, that's my good little brother. Sweet dreams~"
After saying that, Ron slipped into his apartment before Sheldon could say anything more. It was a rare opportunity to have Sheldon be so cooperative, so Ron slept even more soundly.
This relaxed state lasted until he arrived at Han's diner.
"Ron, our nanny has passed away," Caroline said as soon as Ron entered the door, as if she had been waiting for him, holding a newspaper with an obituary. "Antonia Florentino, 80 years old, passed away peacefully in her sleep."
"I remember her. I remember you spent most of your childhood under her care. I've even seen photos of the two of you." Ron recalled that Caroline had told him about the nanny.
Caroline threw herself into Ron's arms. "Yes, I loved her so much."
Caroline's mother had abandoned her and left the Channing family shortly after her birth because of a scandal. Caroline had grown up without a mother, and to her, the nanny was like a mother figure.
"It's so sad. I felt the same way about my old neighbor Carla. She didn't take care of me when I was little, but she let me into her house for a drink of cold water,"
Max said, trying to sound casual, but Ron saw a hint of sadness and envy in her eyes.
Ron understood perfectly well what she envied. Max had a mother, but a drug-addicted one was practically useless. In truth, Max was far more miserable than Caroline, because Caroline at least had a loving and wealthy father.
Max, on the other hand, had a mother who was constantly on drugs and a revolving door of deadbeat boyfriends. All things considered, Max's upbringing was far more difficult.
Ron simply moved Caroline slightly to the side and jokingly opened his other arm: "How about it? Want me to lend you a shoulder too?"
Max readily accepted.
"Caroline, I heard your nanny passed away? My condolences, sweetheart," Earl popped out from behind the cash register—or perhaps he'd always been there—"But nothing's better than a Black funeral. I'm still hungover from the drinks I had at my granddaddy's funeral in '84."
"Earl, my nanny was white."
Earl raised his glass in a toast. "Your nanny was white? Girl, your family was really rich back then."
"Earl, did you see Han just now? I think these two ladies might need to take a break to attend the funeral." Ron gently patted the two women on the back.
"I think I saw him just now, but then again, it could have just been a cat."
"Ron, are you really willing to take us to the funeral?" Caroline looked up, surprised.
"Of course," Ron nodded firmly. "In such a sad time, I should be there for you, to be your pillar of support."
"And to try our first Philly cheesesteak," Max added.
Just then, Han came out of the kitchen. Caroline quickly asked for leave: "Han, we both want to take tomorrow off. My nanny passed away; she was like a mother to me."
"But she's not your mother, and the restaurant's policy is that you can only take leave after an immediate family member's death."
"Don't be so heartless, Han. Don't forget, I helped you fool your mother last time. God knows, that was my first time going to a place like that. Don't you want to give me some compensation? Aren't you afraid I'll accidentally let it slip and everyone will know you used a stripper as a fake girlfriend to fool your mother?"
Ron looked down at Han with a smile. Han hurriedly gestured for Ron to be quiet, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay, I agree. You two go ahead, because in our culture, honoring elders is very important..."
The next day, Ron drove the two ladies to Philadelphia early in the morning.
"Ron, I believe my presence at this funeral will be meaningful to Antonia's family. Do you think I could read from your childhood diary besides the eulogy?"
"I don't think it's appropriate. Who keeps a diary? But you'll definitely read it anyway, right?" Ron saw Caroline's actions in the rearview mirror and said helplessly.
"On Christmas morning in 1997, Antonia woke me up with a cup of hot cocoa and my favorite candy canes, and then we started unwrapping presents."
"On Christmas morning in 1997, I splashed cold water on my mother's face, and on New Year's Day, she was still passed out." Max mimicked Caroline's tone, jokingly reciting her incredibly tragic childhood.
This reminded Ron of his own Christmases in Texas as a child. The Christmas tree he decorated, though not as tall as Caroline's, and the presents, limited by budget, were few and far between, but whenever he thought back, a warm feeling always flowed through his heart.
Every Christmas, the entire Cooper family would gather together, even Sheldon, who didn't believe in God, would succumb to the tradition and lecture under the Christmas tree about how Saturnalia had been turned into Christmas by Christians.
Compared to the little princess who only had a nanny, and Max who was raised by an addict, Ron suddenly felt incredibly fortunate.
"This is the only photo of us I've kept, the one Ron has seen," Caroline said, pulling a picture from her diary. In the photo, a kind-faced woman was holding young Caroline's hand, both smiling happily. "This was our first Halloween together. I was four. Look at the cute Halloween costume she dressed me in."
"I didn't have a Halloween costume. I just messed up my hair and went door to door telling everyone I was my mom," Max said, still smiling, but Ron felt it was time to steer the conversation away from the somber atmosphere.
"Hey, stop making me jealous, okay? At least you guys could go trick-or-treating on Halloween when you were kids, right?" Ron said, feigning envy. "Unlike me, I had to follow my brother around like a shadow every Halloween to prevent him from getting beaten up."
Ron's topic caught Max's attention: "Beaten up? Why would he get beaten up?"
"Because he dressed up as Marie Curie. You know, we're in Texas, can you imagine how many redneck kids would tease a boy wearing a dress on the street?"
"Hahaha~" Max laughed. "So what did you do?"
"So, I had to discipline my brother at home first and throw away his costume," Ron recalled his childhood, a smile playing on his lips. "Ladies, we've arrived at the church. You can get out of the car first, I'll be right there after I park."
Just as Ron was accompanying Caroline and the others to the funeral, Arthur, who was vacationing in Southeast Asia with his girlfriend, ran into trouble.
Ron's special operations team usually enjoys considerable freedom except when on missions. Just recently, Arthur successfully proposed to his girlfriend, and Ron generously granted him a month-long engagement leave.
However, as he and his girlfriend Gina were enjoying a romantic stroll on the island's beach, three speedboats suddenly rushed ashore, and a group of armed men with rifles surrounded them.
"Who are you?" Arthur asked warily, shielding his girlfriend behind him with one hand while his other hand stealthily reached for his knife. His eyes darted back and forth across the men's vital points, trying to figure out how to take them down quickly.
Unfortunately, despite a flurry of ideas flashing through his mind, he realized none of them could guarantee his girlfriend's safety.
"I advise you not to make any rash moves, Mr. Mechanic. We know your capabilities, which is why we were all extremely nervous when we came here," the bearded leader said warily, staring at Arthur's hands hidden behind his back. "If you're not careful and cause any misunderstanding with my men, I can't guarantee your girlfriend's safety. I bet you don't intend to do that, do you?"
Arthur clenched his fists. He knew the people in front of him were definitely not police officers, but he could only helplessly loosen them. The fact that they called him "Mechanic" meant they were after him specifically.
"I'll ask you one more time, who are you?"
"Who we are isn't important, what's important is that Mr. Roland wants to see you," the man pointed to his boat. "I suggest you come with us. Don't try anything funny. Charlie, take his woman to the other boat. If she sees anything happening here, kill her immediately."
One of his men reached for his girlfriend. Arthur was furious and about to react when a cold barrel pressed against his head. "Get on the boat now, if you don't want anything to happen to your woman."
Arthur reluctantly nodded to his girlfriend and boarded the boat...
"Look, this is Antonia. She looks really beautiful," after signing in, Caroline went to the photo display. Suddenly, a photo caught her attention: "Military uniform? I didn't know she was in the military. No wonder her bed was always made with hospital corners."
"Wait, didn't you know your nanny was in the Navy?" Max exclaimed in surprise. "That's terrible! If I were you, I'd say to everyone, 'Hey kid, give me all your lunch money, or my nanny will kick your ass!'"
"Look, these are her relatives, her sister, and her nephew..." Caroline looked around and finally realized something was wrong: "Wait, I'm not in any of these?!"
"No, my photo must be in the coffin, with the other VIPs."
"If you're a VIP, can we hit the open bar?"
"Of course."
Caroline was about to lead Max inside when a man in a black suit came out to greet them: "Ladies, I'm Anthony, Antonia's nephew. It's a sad day, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Caroline opened her arms and gave him a hug, but the man's hand quickly moved down her back to her shapely rear: "Now I don't seem so sad anymore."
But his wandering hand was immediately grabbed by another hand as strong as a vice, causing him pain.
"Ron? You're here?"
"Ah! Ah! Ah! Who are you?!" Anthony screamed in pain, but Ron had no intention of letting go. Instead, he increased his grip and twisted Anthony's arm behind his back, forcing him to his knees in front of Ron.
"Anthony, is it? Here's a friendly suggestion: before you grope a lady, it's best to check if she's with someone. What do you think of this suggestion? Are you willing to accept it?"
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Whatever you say! I accept it, I accept it all!" Anthony was in so much pain that tears streamed down his face. Caroline patted Ron's arm sympathetically: "Let him go. He's Antonia's nephew, probably a good person like Antonia. I think he must have been too emotional... Anyway, let him go, okay?"
Ron let go, but as soon as he released his grip, a vicious look appeared on Anthony's face. His uninjured hand reached into his pocket and suddenly pulled out a switchblade, aiming for Ron's abdomen.
"You dare put your hands on me? Die!"
But such a crude attack wouldn't work on Ron.
Ron didn't even bother to look at the knife. Amidst the two women's cries of "Watch out!", he sidestepped, causing the blade to miss its mark, while his other hand was already raised high.
"SMACK!" A resounding slap landed on Anthony's face.
(End of Chapter)