The Rise of Millwal

426  Bert and Earl

Even with a 3-0 lead in the first half, Aldrich's expression before the TV remained unchanged. But when Villa scored his first official goal in his professional career, Aldrich leapt up, celebrating with his fists raised, as if he were right there on the sidelines at the stadium.

As one of the first young stars brought into the club, Villa was the Prince of the Lions. If it weren't for the fact that Villa was younger than Ronaldinho, perhaps the outside world would have seen more of Aldrich's expectations for him. This wasn't just about talent or skill—it was a deep bond between a mentor and his protégé.

After finishing his celebration, Aldrich sat back down. He snatched a piece of fruit from the stunned Andrew and popped it into his mouth. His gaze softened as he looked at the TV, the focus locking onto Villa. Aldrich seemed to see that young boy he once trained alongside in the club community.

During halftime at Wembley, several players who had been substituted stood up and applauded for Villa's goal.

Nedved and Larsson smiled as they exchanged words, nodding frequently.

They were witnessing another young player from the club starting to shine, and it warmed their hearts for these "little guys" in their eyes.

In the past, these "little guys" had watched them with envious glances, sometimes sneaking into the first team's training to watch. Occasionally, they would even ask for autographs or pictures.

Now, they were playing together as teammates, and the club's long-standing commitment to youth training had created uniquely strong bonds between players of different ages. Figures like Nedved, Larsson, and Southgate naturally took on the role of mentors, guiding and helping younger players grow.

As the match neared its end, Beckham scored a free kick to help Manchester United pull one back, but there wasn't much time left. Ultimately, Millwall triumphed over Manchester United with a score of 4-2, lifting the Charity Shield and kicking off the new season on the right foot.

Two days later, media from both the football and entertainment worlds turned their attention to a hospital in Liverpool.

Aldrich stood outside the delivery room, arms crossed, silent as his family and Melanie's family gathered around. Some were praying, others whispered amongst themselves.

Suddenly, a figure walked in, dressed very differently from the formally attired guests. Aldrich turned in surprise and asked, "What are you doing here?"

It was none other than his player, Ronaldinho.

Dressed in a hip-hop style, complete with a cap, he might have thought he looked cool, but Aldrich found the outfit too outlandish.

Ronaldinho, usually laid-back and carefree, was a bit more reserved in the presence of the well-dressed crowd.

"Klinsmann gave me a day off, and since I had nothing to do, I heard the boss's son was born today, so I wanted to come and see. Congrats in advance!" he said, lowering his voice.

Aldrich sighed but smiled, "Thanks. But the day off was meant for you to rest, not to be running around."

"Hey, it's just a two-hour flight. I can sit quietly, watch, and be like air," Ronaldinho said, plopping down in a chair.

In the preseason preparations, Ronaldinho was getting special treatment. His training was arranged separately and was relatively relaxed. Plus, he had another day off today.

The reason? He hadn't had much rest over the summer. After the last season ended, he returned to Brazil to play with the national team in the Copa América. Although he didn't steal the spotlight from Ronaldo and Rivaldo, he helped Brazil lift the trophy with the famed '3R' combination. Shortly after, he participated in the Confederations Cup.

This year, European powerhouses were boycotting the tournament, with the newly crowned World Cup champions, France, not participating. Other teams had sent second or third squads, but Ronaldinho went as a key player and shined, earning the top scorer and best player awards and helping Brazil come back to clinch victory over the host country.

All summer long, there were rumors buzzing in Europe about Ronaldinho. Among the offers Millwall received, Real Madrid's bid reached a staggering £30 million.

 If Millwall were willing to sell Ronaldinho and negotiate with Real Madrid, they could likely raise the price by an extra £5 million. This would undoubtedly break the world transfer record set by Vieri's recent move to Inter Milan, which amounted to $50 million, or £34 million.

However, Aldrich firmly rejected all offers for Ronaldinho, and the player himself showed no interest in a transfer, even though Millwall hadn't offered him a new contract or a salary raise at the time.

Concerned that Ronaldinho might feel lonely in such an unfamiliar environment, Aldrich sat next to him and casually asked about his summer plans.

As they chatted, Ronaldinho suddenly turned serious and asked, "Boss, you're about to be a dad now. How does that feel?"

Aldrich instinctively glanced at the delivery room and softly replied, "It's a mix of joy contained, unshakeable anxiety, overwhelming nervousness, and a touch of emotion that's hard to describe."

"Sounds complicated."

"You'll understand someday."

Ronaldinho lifted an eyebrow but didn't say anything more.

It wasn't until later that evening that Melanie successfully gave birth to twins.

The hospital was filled with a joyous atmosphere. As Aldrich cradled the two squirming infants, his arms trembled with excitement...

"Uh, nurse, which one is the older brother? And which one is the younger brother?" With this question, everyone turned curiously towards a smiling young nurse.

"Mr. Hall, you're holding the elder brother in your left arm and the younger brother in your right."

Arthur leaned in closer, grinning as he looked at the baby Aldrich was holding. He gently poked the infant's forehead and cheerfully said, "So, you must be Bert."

Then, he turned to the younger brother and remarked, "And you must be Earl."

Aldrich handed the babies to the nurse, who would take them for their Apgar examination.

Instead of following the nurse, he stayed with Melanie.

Ronaldinho curiously followed the nurse, staring intently at the two rather unattractive little creatures.

Once Melanie regained her strength, she was eager to see the two little ones. After the check-up, the healthy twins were brought back, nestled securely in her arms, peacefully asleep.

Aldrich sat quietly at the bedside, tilting his head as he gazed at his two sons. Words failed him; all he felt was a lump in his throat.

Suddenly, Andrew walked in, waving Aldrich to step outside for a conversation. But Aldrich shook his head with a smile, saying, "Just say it here."

Andrew rolled his eyes and said, "Many media outlets have been calling me. They want to pay a fortune for the exclusive story. These two little guys just arrived and could make some money already."

Aldrich chuckled lightly, turning to Melanie for her opinion. She wearily replied, "If we don't let them take pictures, they'll follow us every day. It's better to give them a chance to lose interest soon."

Aldrich thought for a moment and agreed. In the UK, it's easy to guard against thieves, but defending against paparazzi is nearly impossible.

"Then let them come. Let them take pictures; I won't charge anything. I don't want to use my sons to make money."

"Don't you want to hear their offer?" Andrew's expression showed some reluctance.

"No, I'm not interested."

"Alright, then."

Andrew collected his phone and left the room.

The next day, the biggest headline in Britain broke out.

"Hall II Arrives!"

"The Heroic and Honorable Leader! Bert and Earl: Future Lions' Commanders Born?"

Fleet Street, ever the sensationalist, loved to blow things out of proportion.

They dissected the meanings behind Alderich's choice of names for his sons.

Bert meant hero and glory, while Earl indicated noble leader.

Combined, it became the front-page headline for the Daily Star.

The Times took a more subtle approach, featuring a photo of Aldrich, one son in each arm, beaming with joy. Below, they juxtaposed it with an old article showing him lifting a trophy.

As one of the most talked-about public figures in Britain, Aldrich could be seen holding a trophy, radiating ambition and vigor, while the picture of him cradling his sons clearly depicted a man enveloped in happiness, his expression soft and tender, as if he had transformed from a brash youth into a mature man.

On Aldrich's last day in Liverpool, he stayed home all day, hardly leaving Melanie's side as they cared for the two babies. Even while the twins slept, Aldrich and Melanie watched over them without blinking.

As night fell, Aldrich packed his bags to return to London. The opening match of the new season in the Premier League was in three days, and he must head back.

For over two months, Aldrich and Melanie enjoyed what might have been the most peaceful and serene days since they met. This was also their most tranquil and content time.

But before this farewell, Melanie fell into a long silence.

She helped Aldrich adjust his suit and tidy up the suitcase. When Aldrich came downstairs after kissing the twins, and was putting on his shoes by the door, Melanie suddenly couldn't contain her emotions any longer and rushed from behind to embrace him.

"Aldrich, can't we just keep going like this?" Aldrich didn't turn around, lowering his head with a sigh. "The past two months have been the life I've aspired to. Being with you felt like a real family, but now, those times won't come back. You have your career, and I have mine."

"Can't you accommodate me just this once? Just this once!"

"But how long will this once last? How long should I wait for you?"

"Ten years? No, five years. I really don't want to give up; I truly don't."

"I know, and that's why I'm letting go. I'm sorry. Please forgive my selfishness; I'm unwilling to wait for others."

Melanie suddenly broke down in tears, pressing her cheek against Aldrich's back as she kept asking why. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

From her perspective, being in a relationship with Aldrich that would never end seemed enough. But Aldrich didn't want it to go that way.

Holding her hand gently, Aldrich spoke softly, "My name is Aldrich Hall. I'm a football manager. Five years ago, I traveled across Europe, seeking talent. I gave more than three hundred percent of my sincerity, practically begging people with humility. Over the past five years, some people have left, some have joined, some betrayed me, and some remained loyal. I'm just an ordinary man. I can't resist the temptations of fame or overcome vanity. But today, I don't need anyone's approval, and I won't rely on others for my success. If people want to leave, let them go. If they want to stay, let them stay. Rather than sorrow over those who leave, I'd rather be more sincere to those who stay. The world won't change for me, but I want to shake it in my own simple way. From now on, my world's center must be me. Yes, it's selfish, even arrogant, but I want to keep going crazy. Maybe I just want to prove that those who leave will regret it. My world won't crumble just because someone's missing. I, Aldrich Hall, want to live freely and with power. Melanie, my career will continue to shine, and we will both have our own happiness. But the one making sacrifices won't be me. I'm sorry."

Aldrich let go of her hand, picked up his luggage, and walked out the door.