The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 610: A Family's Moment of Peace

The curtains have fallen on the battle at Lion King Stadium. The smoke has cleared, and the Bat Army walks away in sorrow, their dreams shattered. Yet, the Lions remain on their path of glory, reigning supreme across Europe.

Spanish media have called Valencia's exit a heartbreaking tragedy.

1:0, 1:4. A 2:4 aggregate defeat.

But a glance at the scoreline cannot capture the drama that unfolded on the pitch.

Even at their counter-attacking best, Valencia could not stand in the way of the Lions' relentless march to further glory.

Fleet Street didn't overly celebrate Millwall's victory. Instead, they turned their attention to an even more sensational story.

"A Premier League Golden Era!"

After the quarterfinals, only one of the four English teams failed to reach the semifinals.

Leeds United secured a convincing 3-0 win at home against Deportivo La Coruña but nearly suffered a comeback in the return leg, advancing with a 3:2 aggregate. They now join Millwall in the semifinals, setting the stage for an all-English clash in the lower bracket.

Arsenal also progressed with a home victory and an away defeat.

The only disappointment was Manchester United, who were beaten by Bayern Munich in both legs. Had they overturned the odds against the German giants, the Champions League would have witnessed an unprecedented scenario: an all-English semifinal lineup.

In the end, they fell just one step short, leaving three English teams to challenge Bayern Munich.

After the Champions League matches, the team was given a day off.

Aldrich and Yvonne, accompanied by their two sons, visited Savile Row in London.

Savile Row is the sanctum of bespoke men's tailoring, home to numerous renowned, long-established clothing shops. Its hallmark is handcrafted tailoring of impeccable reputation and premium prices, attracting clientele ranging from royalty to global elites.

Since returning to London and beginning his coaching career seven years ago, Aldrich had become a regular patron of H. Huntsman & Sons.

In these seven years, he had only commissioned suits from this shop.

"Clothes make the man" is an old adage Aldrich took seriously. While he occasionally wore casual attire, formal occasions required him to look polished and distinguished. As a head coach commanding authority, accessories or flashy hairstyles were out of the question—too unconventional and likely to invite ridicule. His sole focus, naturally, was on his clothing.

This shop's suits rank among the most expensive on the entire street, with each of Aldrich's suits averaging over £5,000. Over time, he became a loyal customer, not seeking discounts but appreciating the personal service. Every suit was tailored from scratch rather than adjusted from existing patterns. Familiarity with the shop's tailors also meant fewer adjustments and a streamlined process when ordering new pieces.

Standing before the full-length mirror in the shop, Aldrich tried on his newly tailored suit as Yvonne evaluated it from different angles.

The head tailor, Payne, a nearly 60-year-old man with graying hair, dressed impeccably in a white shirt, blue vest, and tailored trousers. If he were thirty years younger and sporting a refined side part, one might mistake him for a banker or scholar. Now, however, age had caught up with him. His craft required sharp eyesight, so he wore glasses, a tape measure draped around his neck. As he smoothed the shoulder of Aldrich's suit, he smiled and said, "Your waistline is still in good shape—no signs of putting on weight."

Aldrich, still admiring himself in the mirror, smiled and replied, "I know my body better than anyone. My face may not show it, but I've definitely gained some weight."

Aldrich preferred slim-fit, streamlined suits to accentuate his tall and elegant figure. Even men can be vain, and Aldrich was no exception. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Payne, curious, asked, "Your physique stayed consistent for six years. What changed this year? Getting lazy?"

Aldrich burst out laughing. He had always been lean and fit. Before commissioning this new suit, he noticed some belly fat and weight gain. His old slim-fit suits had begun to feel tight, prompting the new order. While the changes weren't obvious to the naked eye, Payne's meticulous measurements revealed discrepancies invisible to most.

"Payne, you're a man of experience. Don't you understand the reason?"

Aldrich glanced at Payne with a knowing smile.

Payne looked toward Yvonne, realization dawning on him.

When a man has his own little paradise, how can he not let himself go a bit?

Yvonne rolled her eyes, stepping closer. Resting her chin on Aldrich's shoulder, she whispered, "Are you saying it's my fault?"

"Who else would I blame?" Aldrich laughed softly.

"Well,"She stepped back with a grin, her eyes flicking to his new suit in approval.

Aldrich sighed inwardly.

It wasn't laziness this year—it was the sheer lack of time. His dual role as national team head coach left no room for workouts. Even during off days, he had to analyze footage and monitor national team players in their club matches. Without the chance to watch games live, video analysis consumed countless hours. Whatever free time he managed to carve out was used for rest.

If it weren't for Yvonne's occasional reminders, Aldrich might have worked himself into exhaustion.

Having finished his fitting, Aldrich noticed Bert and Earl tugging at his trouser legs. They pointed and whispered animatedly about his suit.

Payne, ever patient, smiled warmly. "These little guys can't wait. It's almost their turn."

For some reason, Aldrich's sons seemed to have a fascination with his appearance in the newspapers, always dressed in tailored suits. Frustrated at not finding anything similar in their own wardrobe, they had demanded suits just like their father's.

It would have been easy to settle for off-the-rack children's suits, but Aldrich insisted on having bespoke suits made for his sons. It was an indulgence, yes, but he didn't mind. Even if they wore them for just one day, their happiness was worth every penny.

Before long, Payne led the boys out of the fitting room, dressed sharply in their new suits. Bert and Earl dashed to the mirror, striking poses and comparing themselves to their father, grinning from ear to ear in satisfaction.

As Aldrich prepared to leave, Payne couldn't resist his usual comment.

"Aldrich, don't you think your image is more suited for managing a West London team?"

Aldrich laughed, covering his ears with his hands as he exited the shop.

Payne, a devoted Chelsea fan, believed that Aldrich's true calling should be Stamford Bridge. Nestled in the prestigious, high-priced neighborhoods of West London, Stamford Bridge exuded sophistication and class—a far better match for Aldrich's image.

The Lion King Stadium in Millwall was indeed remarkable, but only as far as the club itself was concerned. To suggest that the multicultural, densely populated environment of East London could rival the affluence of North or West London? Even a beggar would scoff at the idea!

The Hall family had maintained investments in East London for years. However, investments are always tied to policy directions. Without the London city government's full commitment to improving the East End's environment, any money poured in by the Hall family would be little more than a waste. For now, their contributions served as a gesture of goodwill—a way to give back to their roots, win the approval of the local community, and generate some positive influence that could benefit Millwall Football Club as well.

If Millwall lacked anything compared to the giants of English football, it was the club's geographical surroundings. Crime rates, culture, commerce, and demographics all placed East London at a disadvantage. This wasn't something the club could change—it was unthinkable to move Millwall elsewhere. Doing so would betray its heritage, turning generations of loyal supporters from devoted fans into bitter enemies.

The only thing that could ever be different was the environment itself. Aldrich could take the club to new heights, and the Hall family could make a killing, but thinking they could change an entire part of London? That's just dreaming big—too big.

Summer was on the horizon, and Aldrich's holiday plans for the day revolved around taking Yvonne out for some shopping. As they strolled past a fancy eyewear store, Bert and Earl latched onto a pair of oversized sunglasses and wouldn't let go until Aldrich caved. He bought them each a pair, but when they put on the smallest size available, the glasses were hilariously big, almost like bug-eyed goggles that covered half their little faces.

Hand in hand with their parents, the two boys, dressed in miniature suits and sporting their new sunglasses, resembled pint-sized versions of the "Men in Black." It wasn't exactly fashionable, but it certainly made for an amusing sight.

Out of nowhere, a paparazzi photographer appeared, snapping pictures of the family before disappearing as quickly as he had come.

Aldrich and Yvonne exchanged a knowing smile. It wasn't unusual for them to encounter this sort of thing during their outings. The more discreet paparazzi would trail them from a distance, careful not to spoil the mood and lose their chance at better photos later. But the one today seemed new to the game, thrilled at the unexpected jackpot of catching Aldrich unguarded. Little did he realize that with enough patience, even Savile Row could yield photographs of celebrities or Middle Eastern royalty after a month of waiting.

Aldrich, accustomed to such antics, paid it little mind. He continued shopping with Yvonne, helping her pick out some breezy summer outfits before buying swimming gear for Bert and Earl. This year, he planned to stay home for the summer. Regardless of how the season ended for the club, the summer preparations would proceed methodically. Last year's Asian tour was exhausting, and with the World Cup coming next year, a quiet summer to recharge seemed the wisest choice.

After enjoying lunch at a two-star Michelin restaurant, Yvonne suggested they head home, preferring that Aldrich spend the rest of his day off resting.

Back at home, Bert and Earl soon grew tired of their little suits, complaining they were too restrictive. They swapped them for something more comfortable and immediately remembered the inflatable swim rings they'd bought earlier. Excitedly, they pleaded with Aldrich to take them swimming.

The backyard pool, though small, was inviting. It was only April, and the air was far from warm, but with the pool's heating system, the cold was no obstacle. Despite Yvonne's protests, Aldrich stood firm, changing into swim trunks and diving in with his sons. Teaching them to swim could wait for another day; today was about letting them have fun with their swim rings.

Yvonne couldn't stop them, so she prepared for the aftermath, fetching towels and blankets to keep the trio warm. She then grabbed a novel from the study and reclined on a chair by the pool. As she read, Aldrich played in the water with the boys, finding joy in this simple family time.

By the next day, all three had come down with colds.