A Surprise for the New Year: The Bride No One Expected
James, Oliver, and Edward had been inseparable since childhood. Though their careers and temperaments differed, their friendship had weathered the years. James was the first to marry—not out of grand passion, but because it “seemed the right thing to do.” Yet, over time, a quiet respect, even tenderness, grew between him and Emily.
Next came Oliver, whose love story was the stuff of fairy tales—bright, mutual, joyous. His wife, Charlotte, quickly bonded with Emily, and soon the couples spent their evenings together.
Edward, however, remained a bachelor. He brushed off questions with a laugh, claiming solitude suited him better. But this New Year’s Eve, he announced he wouldn’t be arriving alone—for the first time ever, he was bringing a girl. And not just any girl—the one he’d chosen to introduce to his oldest friends.
James’s home buzzed with preparations: the tree glimmered, the beef marinated, champagne chilled. Oliver and Charlotte arrived early with their young son, Thomas. A nervous energy filled the air. What was she like? This mysterious woman who’d won over Edward, always so discerning?
“Probably some high-powered businesswoman with a degree from Cambridge,” Oliver teased.
“Or a supermodel straight off a magazine cover,” James added.
“Honestly, you two,” Emily sighed. “Whoever she is, if she makes him happy, that’s all that matters.”
When the doorbell rang, James hurried to answer. There stood Edward… and Veronica.
Edward’s fiancée was not what anyone expected. Petite, voluptuous, clad in a shimmering mini-skirt, bold makeup, lashes like spider legs, and nails polished to perfection. Rainbow braids peeked from beneath her coat, and her top was leather.
“Hi, everyone! So lovely to meet you!” Veronica trilled, batting her lashes. “You must be Emily and Charlotte?”
The wives exchanged stiff smiles as they shook her hand. The room pulsed with awkwardness, though everyone fought to keep their composure.
In the kitchen, the women tried to include her. To their surprise, Veronica dove into chopping herbs, peeling vegetables, grating beetroot—fast, precise, unbothered. Emily and Charlotte shared a glance. They’d expected chaos and found a whirlwind of efficiency.
“So, what do you do?” Charlotte ventured.
“I’m a photographer,” Veronica beamed. “Magazines, mostly. Did a shoot at a children’s home last week—wanted those kids to have something beautiful to remember.”
Again, surprise. This didn’t fit the image at all. But what truly stunned them was how she melted around the children. She spent the evening playing with Thomas and James’s seven-year-old daughter, Lily.
When the gift exchange began (a long-standing tradition, unwrapped before midnight), Veronica’s presents were thoughtful, personal—each chosen with care.
The next morning, while the others still slept, Veronica was outside, building a snowman with the kids. The house smelled of coffee, and the kitchen cups sat neatly arranged.
“She’s brilliant,” James murmured to Edward. “Hold onto her.”
“You’re lucky,” Charlotte added, grateful for a night of uninterrupted rest.
Only then did they realize how wrong they’d been. Appearances deceive. Veronica was exactly what mattered—kind, genuine, steadfast. The sort a man dreams of, even if he doesn’t know it at first.
