Chapter 131 – Robbery
Max walked up to the register, dropped the bag onto the counter, and nodded toward it.
"Earl, listen."
She had already calmed down, her voice steady now.
"The guy in the coat is robbing the place. He wants everyone to throw their valuables into this bag."
Earl looked up at the man without the slightest emotional reaction and immediately began stuffing cash from the register into the bag with practiced efficiency.
"Max," he said while packing the money away, "I've got experience both robbing people and getting robbed."
"Going along with him is the smartest option."
"Noted, master of robbery survival," Max muttered.
She grabbed the bag and hurried into the kitchen.
Lowering her voice, she said, "Caroline, I need to tell you something. But I do not want you overreacting."
"I KNEW IT!"
Caroline exploded instantly.
"You're pregnant! Damn it, that means you wasted the pill!"
Max rolled her eyes so hard it practically hurt.
"Forget it."
Caroline's voice suddenly softened as she grabbed Max's hand.
"We can get through this together."
Then she froze.
"Wait—the baby's Ethan's? Because if it is, that's actually amazing news."
"No!"
Max yanked her hand free.
"Listen carefully. We're being robbed."
"The guy in the coat probably has a gun."
In the very next second, Caroline's expression transformed from future rich mother to Titanic is sinking.
Her mouth fell open.
Her eyes widened.
She looked one second away from screaming.
Max immediately grabbed her shoulders.
"Don't scream. Just do exactly what I say. Stay calm."
"He wants money, not bodies."
"I already tossed the check in there too. Whether he can actually cash it is the bank's problem."
"Now—"
She shoved the bag into Caroline's arms.
"Put your wallet, your jewelry, and anything else you think he'd get mad about if you didn't hand over."
Caroline frantically began stuffing things into the bag.
"I can't believe this…"
"I just managed to save two dollars…"
"I just got Ethan's gifts…"
"And now someone's stealing them!"
Her breathing became erratic as she rambled nonstop.
"Max, I can't die!"
"Even if I do die—I refuse to die wearing this ugly criminal-level waitress uniform!"
"You make it look good, but I—"
She suddenly froze.
Her body stiffened.
Eyes unfocused.
Mouth slightly open.
Then she slowly crouched downward a little.
Max's expression changed instantly.
"What's wrong? Are you having a heart attack?"
"I'm peeing," Caroline whispered.
"…What?"
The man in the coat had clearly run out of patience.
He glanced around nervously while approaching them, the object in his pocket aimed directly at the two women.
"Get out from behind the counter!"
Caroline stood rigidly in place, her voice trembling.
"Sorry, sir… I can't."
"Why not?" the man snapped.
"Because…"
She looked at Max helplessly.
"…I'm peeing."
"…"
The robber actually paused for a second.
At that exact moment, Oleg burst out of the kitchen holding a baseball bat.
"Girls, get back! Let me deal with this son of a—"
He barely made it beside Caroline before his foot slipped.
He crashed to the floor with a heavy thud and instantly stopped moving.
"Stay away from him!"
The robber looked even more panicked now, the gun jerking wildly inside his pocket.
"Miss, you better come out here right now—otherwise I'll—"
Caroline reacted on pure instinct.
She shoved Max forward and hid behind her.
"Take her as a hostage!"
"Don't take me!!"
Max stumbled to the front, eyes wide, completely dumbfounded.
"…Are you serious right now?!"
"What the hell is going on?"
Ethan's voice came from the other side of the diner.
He had just stepped out of the restroom—and walked straight into the bizarre scene.
"Ethan!"
Caroline sounded seconds away from tears.
"Someone's robbing the restaurant!!"
The man spun around instantly, aiming the object in his pocket directly at Ethan.
Bang!
The gunshot exploded through the diner.
The robber's head burst apart instantly.
Blood splattered across the wall as his body slammed heavily onto the floor.
The entire diner fell silent.
Another man had just stepped out of the restroom, a pistol still raised in his hand. After confirming the robber was down, he finally seemed to relax.
"No one hurt?"
The restaurant remained dead quiet.
Caroline slowly raised a hand.
"I… suffered a little psychological trauma."
"And I need new pants."
By the time the police finished arriving, questioning witnesses, and hauling the body away, the diner had finally begun settling down again.
Ethan was standing near the register talking quietly with Earl.
Max and Caroline sat together at one of the tables. Caroline had changed into a white shirt and a pair of shorts.
Max chewed gum while pulling the remaining items out of the robbery bag one by one.
She held up a wallet.
"Last one. This yours?"
Then she flipped the bag upside down and grinned.
"Sorry. Couldn't find your dignity in here."
"Max, stop," Caroline groaned.
She tugged at the oversized shirt she was wearing.
"Isn't it humiliating enough that I'm dressed in the dishwasher's emergency backup clothes?"
She lowered her head and sniffed cautiously.
"This thing smells like armpits, vomit, and regret blended together."
"Hey, look at this!"
Han was mopping the floor in rubber gloves when he lifted the mop and stared at the melted edge.
"The mop got corroded by some mysterious liquid."
He slowly turned toward Caroline.
"Judging by the evidence… I don't think bleach was the culprit."
He shook his head solemnly before delivering the killing blow.
"After such a legendary disgrace, how are you planning to continue living?"
"Do you know the guy who shot the robber?" Caroline immediately changed the subject.
"Nope," Max said. "But I've seen him here a few times."
She shrugged.
"Honestly, he didn't look like someone carrying a gun."
Earl and Ethan walked over.
"Good night, ladies," Earl said, adjusting his cap.
"Tonight, we were all very brave."
He glanced at Caroline.
"Some exceptions apply."
Then he walked away.
Caroline stared at his back in despair before finally exploding.
"YES, alright?!"
"I got traumatized and peed myself!"
"HAHAHA! Everybody laugh! Is that enough for you people?!"
"Yeah, you probably do need therapy," Max replied mercilessly.
"On my way to the support group for people who've been used as human shields, I can drop you off at a psychiatrist's office."
Caroline raised both hands dramatically.
"It's been forever already! When are you going to let this go?!"
"Forever?!"
Max nearly choked.
"That happened THIRTY MINUTES AGO!"
"Please, Max…"
Caroline's voice softened into genuine pleading.
"Can't you forgive me, considering I'm the only person here who actually paid a price tonight?"