717 Call Me Uncle

Since Twain had told many people about his marriage to Shania, he certainly did not think about hiding it from the news media. He did not specifically inform the press about it, because he knew that the reporters had their own means and channels to find out.

As expected, the next day, the news of Twain sending invitation cards everywhere appeared in a number of British newspapers and media.

The press was caught off guard somewhat by the sudden announcement of their marriage, just as Shania had hoped.

The media knew that Twain and Shania were in love, but they did not expect the two to make known their relationship at the beginning of the year, and announce their marriage in the middle of the year...

"It looks like Tony Twain plans to walk hand in hand with Shania into a church," said a reporter on the BBC. It's said that they've invited a lot of famous people to the wedding. I guess Tony Twain is probably the only manager who would have a wedding like a star player's, right?"

"...I was surprised at the news. I can't believe it..." said an actress who was eager to have a one-night stand with Twain, covering her mouth.

The gay magazines announced that even Tony Twain's marriage would not damage his status in the eyes of the gay community.

Shania's official website was deliberately attacked by unidentified hackers after the news broke. The home page of the website was modified, with the color changed to black and a line of words running repeatedly across the screen: "You have become the bride, but the groom is not me."

After the site was restored, heartbroken and inconsolable fans around the world confessed their love for Shania and their own grief on the message board. Some fans even lambasted Tony Twain, the old bastard, for snatching their sweetheart. Among them, there was no shortage of malicious speculation and slander. There were also people who indulged in histrionics, lamenting the fact that the two could still get married despite their 22-year age difference. "Public morals are degenerating with each passing day, and people's hearts are not what they used to be…"

The fashion magazines also expressed concern about Shania's wedding. Most people were puzzled by Shania's decision—for models, 18 years old was the height of their career. Choosing to get married at this time would affect her work. These magazine editors could not understand why Shania would choose to lose her career for the sake of love.

Only her friend, Mr. Armani, came forward to support Shania's move. He said, "She's not like the average model, so she considers things differently. Perhaps in Shania's view, the glamor of being a model is far less important than enjoying her time with Tony..."

In short, no matter what the outside world thought of these two people's May-December romance, Twain and Shania were simply immersed in their sweet two-person world.

They openly walked down the street hand in hand, kissing in public and acting as if they were alone. They did not pay any mind to the reporters who followed them around. Nottingham was a small city, and people were extremely tolerant of Tony Twain (who had brought numerous honors to the city), and they wished him well. So, Twain and Shania did not have to worry about being harassed on the streets by anyone but the reporters.

When they were back at their villa in Mapperley Park with the curtains pulled, no one would know what they did inside.

What was even more heartbreaking for Shania's fans was the thought of their idol and sweetheart being crushed under an old man's body, gasping and moaning. Therefore, there was a new rumor—that although Tony Twain was already 40 years old and had had a heart attack, he was still a man with a strong libido. They would make love many times a day and never use protection. Some members of the media began to speculate about when Shania would become pregnant. Once she became pregnant, no matter how much her career was thriving, she would be set aside for the time being. Some of the press even thought the reason Shania and Twain were getting married so soon was that Shania was already pregnant...

"For a 40-year-old man to still have such vigor, his nuclear-powered pacemaker must be really brilliant," wrote a certain unknown gossip editor in the sports section of a well-known web portal in China. "With a healthy sex life, the beautiful young girl, Shania, will have no other desires, even at the expense of her own modeling career. It really makes one think about love, and how it grips one in the throes of passion...Of course, disregard Shania's cool expression on the runways. In fact, deep down, she's a young lady with a longing for a man's caresses, and emerging stirrings of love... It can even be said that a 40-year-old man is like a tiger, and a young girl who yearns for love seduces him; spring in its full bloom cannot be inhibited, like a spray of blossoms bursting forth…"

※※※

After a day's rest in Nottingham, Twain flew with Shania to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Shania's parents had prepared everything for the wedding. Their big day was set for May 31st. The league tournament only ended on May 24th, so time was a bit tight, but there was no other way. According to Brazilian tradition, May was the season for marriage. It was known as "Bride's Month." Hence, the wedding was set on the last day of the month, which meant they could catch the tail end of "Bride's Month."

After meeting Shania's parents again in Brazil, Twain had lost the discomfort and restraint of their last meeting. This time he was here to openly and honorably marry Shania, and did not have to be self-conscious.

The wedding had not yet begun, and Twain's invited guests and friends had arrived in succession. The crowd from Nottingham Forest naturally needed no introduction. Giorgio Armani came personally and attracted a lot of media attention. In addition, Tom Cruise and some of the celebrity friends Shania had met during her time in Hollywood were there. David and Victoria Beckham also came. Those who could not come also sent their gifts. For example, Ferguson, Wenger, Keane and Twain's other friends in the coaching world, as well as John Motson, Martin Tayler, Gary Lineker, and other famous people of the television world all sent wedding presents.

The eyes of the reporters who gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were momentarily dazzled.

Just as Twain had hoped, his wedding to Shania caught the world's attention. Before the wedding, everyone knew that Twain was going to marry Shania. The age difference of 22 years was no longer an issue. There were many cases of older husbands with much younger wives in the modeling world, not to mention that Shania and Twain's love story had already been publicized by the media to the point of becoming a household matter. Everyone knew that when Shania was not yet a model, and Tony Twain was still just an unknown small-time manager, the two people already knew each other. It was gratifying to people that they were able to come so far.

※※※

George Wood came to Brazil with his mother. He said that they were here to attend Twain's wedding, but in fact, there was another reason. He wanted to take his mother on trips everywhere in the world, and have a good time while her health was still well enough to do so. Brazil was a good place.

Despite Twain's promise to cover the return air tickets, and arrange accommodations for the players who came to Brazil, the players had money and did not want to trouble Twain. They wanted an excuse to travel to Brazil, so they all came one by one. Wood was the same way.

When Twain saw Sophia again, the frail and sickly woman looked worse than she had before. He could even see through her body, and it was as though he could glimpse the weak fire of life flickering in the wind. A thought suddenly came to his mind—this admirable mother was running out of time...

Was George mentally prepared? Twain glanced at Wood, who was holding his mother.

"Mr. Twain, you're so busy. You really didn't have to come pick us up." Sophia smiled and whispered, "It's fine with George around."

Twain shook his head and said as he opened the door for her, "That won't do. You are the guests I invited; I can't leave you at the airport." He motioned to Wood to let go of his hand, and he went to help Sophia get into the car.

The two people's skin touched, and their movements were natural, as if each had a kind of tacit understanding of the other's heart.

Twain had always known Sophia was interested in him, but he could not accept her affection. It was not due to George Wood. He might have been confused about the feelings between him and Shania before. But he was clear on his feelings between him and Sophia—he did not love this woman.

He did not love her, not because Sophia was once a prostitute, which could give rise to disdain or even contempt. On the contrary, the result was that he had developed a kind of heartfelt respect for her, an indelible admiration and tenderness. Twain was certain he also had a deep affection for Sophia. If time were to be turned back and the circumstances were right, he would even be delighted to have a physical relationship with Sophia.

But that would not be love.

Although he knew that the woman was pitiful, sympathy could not make up for a lack of love.

While he held Sophia, Twain could touch the woman's thin, petite body through the thin clothing. Her condition had never really improved...Had this poor woman ever gotten a love of her own during her lifetime?

George got into the car from the other side, and Sophia reached out to sweep his hair out of his forehead, revealing his bright eyes. When Twain saw this scene from the rearview mirror, he thought that this mother might have already poured all her love into her child.

Suddenly he felt that the atmosphere inside the car was a little depressing, so Twain decided to find some topics to chat about to distract everyone. He said, "George, you'd better find a girlfriend...Look, I'm getting married."

"I'm not interested." Wood made a face.

"Don't be so headstrong. Your mother must also want to see you have your own relationship. Don't you think so, ma'am?"

Sophia smiled and looked at her son. "I've urged him many times, he just won't agree..."

Wood did not speak. He just looked out the window at the Brazilian street view.

The atmosphere became cold again. Twain felt that with George next to him, there would be no need for air conditioning even in the hot summer. This kid...I don't know what's on his mind!

Sophia also seemed to find the atmosphere a little depressing, so she took the initiative to ask, "Mr. Twain. Where's Miss Shania?"

"Ah, she's staying at her parents' house. She said that she will only see me at the wedding."

"So, during this period, you..."

"I have been staying in a hotel, ha!"

Sophia lightly chuckled. "You poor groom..."

※※※

After sending Wood and Sophia to the hotel they had booked, Twain received a call from Dunn. He was delighted to hear the message that his parents had also arrived.

When he rushed over to Dunn's hotel, he found his parents in the lobby at a glance.

He strode over and held the two elders' hands. He called out to them intimately in his hometown accent, "Papa, Mama, you're here!" Although a foreigner calling the old Chinese people "Papa and Mama" might seem preposterous to people, it was a lot more natural than making him called Shania's parents "mom and dad," in Twain's mind.

Because the two old people in front of him were his authentic birth parents.

"I was still worried that you wouldn't come." He smiled until his eyes became narrow slits, because he was really happy. The wish he had not completed in his previous life was being completed in this life.

"He he, my own child is getting married, of course we must come," his father said in Sichuanese as he held and patted Twain's hand. Twain and Dunn had always been together, and had had a good, almost brotherly relationship all these years. Naturally, his parents also regarded Twain as their own child.

Dunn stood at the side and said to Twain, "I did tell you that when their own child got married, they would come no matter how far it was."

Twain looked around and did not see any luggage. He asked, "Did you just arrive? Was the journey tiring? Are you finding everything okay here?"

"Ah, he's never seen so many foreigners... So delighted and excited, how can he be tired?" His mother rebuked her husband beside her. "You haven't seen the world before?"

It seemed like they had adjusted pretty well. With a digital camera in hand and dressed trendily, they even had specially dyed their white hair to black for their trip abroad. Overall, they looked much younger than their actual ages. In recent years, his parents had also changed, and were no longer as "old-fashioned" as he remembered. This was very good. His parents had worked hard for decades. Now that their son had grown up and could earn money to support his family, they should put their minds at ease, travel around, and enjoy life in comfort. There should be nothing in the world that they needed to worry about...

Well, maybe there was one more matter. Twain glanced at Dunn.

That would Dunn's marriage. He did not know how he was doing in his relationship with Tang Jing, the beautiful reporter. Had their relationship improved during these five months?

He needed to grill him when he had the chance to grab hold of him.

After he enquired solicitously about his parents' well-being, Twain took the two elders and Dunn for a Brazilian dinner. He had wanted to accompany the elders on a sightseeing tour, but the old people's energy was not up to it. On top of the tiring journey, the day had just turned to dusk, so they were exhausted. He could only send them back to the hotel to rest. Twain and Dunn chatted for a while in Dunn's room, before he left for the day and went back.

In the days that followed, Twain's time was spent in hosting various guests who had come to attend the wedding, and sightseeing with his parents, as well as taking time out to have long chats with Shania on the phone.

Until the wedding day.

※※※

Although many people were invited, the wedding process was very simple, and did not cost much. It was also impossible for the expenses to look as intimidating as the list of guests invited for the wedding. After all, Shania was just a model, and was not considered the world's most popular model. And not to mention, Tony Twain had little status in high society. The people who could come to the wedding were really good friends. Nor were they owners with huge amount of assets to spend. Every pound had been earned by their own hard work. Twain was the first to refuse to waste money on a large scale. In today's depressed global economic environment, they had no right to be extravagant and ostentatious. According to traditional Brazilian customs, all the expenses and preparations for the wedding should be taken care of by the bride's family. The groom's side was more relaxed, and only needed to bring the wedding rings and attend the wedding. Wealthy brides' families would often give new houses as gifts. But for Twain, Shania's family was his own. He would still feel the pinch for the money spent.

The wedding ceremony was held in a 100-year-old church near Shania's home.

A hundred guests gathered to celebrate, and were tightly packed into the small church. Many members of the media waited outside. They could capture the arrival of the guests in their limousines, but they could not shoot inside. The right to shoot inside had only been given to Lisa Aria.

When Miss Aria pushed her way through with her BBC television crew, who were carrying the film equipment, she was enormously proud of her success as she feasted her eyes on the scene. Incidentally, she had taken the opportunity given by Twain as "a token of allegiance," using it to officially join the BBC.

As the groom, Twain had to receive the guests. The hardest part for Twain was the kissing—the Brazilians were used to greeting each other with one kiss each the left and right cheeks. After he had greeted all the bride's relatives and friends, he felt his cheeks were swollen ...

After the guests were seated, the main event began.

Twain wore a dark blue suit designed by Mr. Giorgio Armani himself, a snow-white shirt, and a dark red tie as he stood in front of the priest. Behind him were seated the many guests who had come. It was quiet in the cavernous church. Even the live band, which had been playing music before, had stopped.

He suddenly felt a little nervous.

Dunn, who stood next to him, smiled and observed with interest the change in Twain's expression.

Twain looked back at the church door as he anxiously anticipated the familiar figure to appear at the door, come in from the light, and gradually enter his field of vision.

When Shania finally appeared at the door wearing her white wedding gown, accompanied by her bridesmaid Clarice Gloria and holding onto her father, there was the sound of a small commotion from then on, and the live band played "The Wedding March." Everyone gasped in admiration at the bride's youth and beauty. The wedding dress, also from Armani, was beautiful on her model's figure, and she was the object of envy and admiration in the eyes of the female guests present.

Shania held a bouquet of flowers. Against the light, Twain was finally able to see her face clearly. The little fairy gazed at her husband with a smile on her face as she slowly made her way over to him.

This is my wife...Twain sighed in his heart. But he did not think he was dreaming anymore.

He stepped forward and held out his hand. Shania also reached her hand out and tightly intertwined it with Twain's.

Mr. Bruce Tenório looked at the happy couple and said to Twain with a smile, "Tony. I'm giving my daughter to you. Please make her happy."

Twain gazed fondly at the bashful Shania and softly said, "I'll make her happy for the rest of my life."

Hearing the answer, Tenório felt reassured enough to let go of his daughter's hand and retreat.

After they said their vows and promised to love each other for the rest of their lives in front of the priest, it was time to exchange the rings.

Dunn handed over the ring box, and Twain took the wedding ring out of it to carefully put it on Shania's finger. Holding Shania's soft little hand, he felt nothing but joy: from this moment on, the little fairy belongs to me! No one can take her away!

Although there might be things to spoil the joy ahead, he really thought so at that moment...

After exchanging the rings, it was time for the bride and groom to exchange a deep kiss.

They were both accustomed to kissing. But kissing at a wedding held another layer of meaning.

Shania looked up and gazed at the face she had been infatuated and in love with for six years. Her cheeks flushed and her lips parted slightly as she breathed, "Tony..."

Twain lowered his head and said, "Call me Uncle!"

Shania rolled her eyes, but she listened anyway and called out in a low voice, "Uncle Tony..."

Tony Twain looked at the dainty, still young face. When he heard her call out in a low moan, he suddenly felt aroused...Eh, no, he felt an enormous swelling of love. Reaching around Shania's slender waist, he held her close to him, snuggled up to her, leaned down, and kissed her hard.

They kissed as if no one else was around and only the two of them were left in the world, ignoring the applause and cheers of the guests, and ignoring the band's performance. They continued to kiss. For how long? Who knew? Nobody cared! They only felt that they were the happiest people in the world.

It was a true kiss, full of deep love.