Novels by Sally

Evelyn's POVClara is standing at the center of my kitchen, humming a soft tune as she stirs something in a pot. Her blonde hair is pulled into a high ponytail. She's wearing a casual purple jogger and a black tank top and she moves with this ease and familiarity that makes my stomach twist. Like she belongs here. Like she owns this space.I clear my throat. “What are you doing here, Clara?”She doesn’t jump or look startled. Instead, she turns her head slowly, a small, almost triumphant smile curling her lips. “Oh, Evelyn. You’re home already. I didn't hear you come in. I was just making Leonard his favorite soup. You know how much he loves it.” The way she grins and the casual way says his name, the intimate tone she uses—it grates against my nerves. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to keep calm.“I wasn’t aware that Leonard asked you to cook for him. Or that you even had the right to walk into someone else’s kitchen uninvited. How did you get in?” I ask, folding my arms. The o

Evelyn’s POV“What will you be doing today?” Leonard asks during breakfast. I smile at him. “I will meet with Maya after which I'll go to the textile company and observe things” I tell him. “I've told you that it's time to give up this textile company. It doesn't suit my image. If you want to work, I'll consider creating something else for you. Something better off." “It's my family business we are talking about. My mom left that place for me before passing away, how can I just—”“Evelyn, you are my wife now. I expect you to do as I say since I'm your husband. Especially since we are no longer married under contract." I look at him and suck in a breath. Two years later after we got married, it felt like we could be a couple forever so when he asked me to leave if I wanted to—since our contract was due, I couldn't leave him—our marriage, I'd already fallen in love with him. So I stayed, deciding to love him forever and he in turn stayed as my husband. But what he's asking me to do

Evelyn's POVThe emerald green dress I’ve picked for tonight feels perfect. It hugs my body in all the right places, striking a delicate balance between elegance and allure. The mirror reflects a woman who looks calm and composed on the outside, but beneath the surface, my emotions are a tempest which began since I saw that lady. Tonight is our anniversary, and while Leonard might not have remembered it on his own, he did promise dinner. That has to mean something, right? That should mean that he feels bad for forgetting right?I run my fingers over the silver necklace draped across my collarbone. Leonard gave it to me two years ago for my birthday—a rare thoughtful gift from a man who’s often too buried in his work to notice such things. The memory brings a faint smile to my lips. Even though my marriage with Leonard started with a simple arrangement, I still fell in love with him and I wish he can see just how much I love him.As I adjust my hair, my phone vibrates on the vanity

Evelyn's POVMy grip on the box of cookies in front of me tightens as I stand and stare at Leonard and this blonde lady on top of his laps, legs straddling him like they belong there. Her hands are wrapped around his neck, fingers lazily playing with his tie. She leans in close, her lips near his ear, speaking in low tones that I can’t hear. Her long hair blows about her down to her waist. What she's saying is making Leonard laugh. Leonard, my husband of four years, is laughing. I've been married to Leonard for years now and the highest I've seen him do is smile. I've never seen him laugh this much. The annoying part is, I'm not the one making him laugh. They are so engrossed in their intense conversation that they don't notice that I'm standing in front of them. My eyes start getting watery, tears threaten to ruin all my makeup and I stand there contemplating what to do for seconds. My instinct tells me to leave but instead of leaving, I decide to call out his name. I should just

Evelyn's POV Today is my fourth-year marriage anniversary with my husband, Leonard, and for once, I want to make it special. In the past, our anniversaries were often overlooked or brushed aside. Work always came first—his meetings, his business trips, or his late nights at the office. There was always something. And also because Leonard and I have been distant for a while now. Not that we quarrel or anything. I have plans laid out for today, including an exclusive dinner I've planned with the help of Maya. She encouraged me to do this. This time, I’m determined to break that pattern. I want to show Leonard how much he means to me, even if he hasn’t quite reciprocated those feelings the way I want him to over the years. I've known Leonard to be a man of few words, not knowing how to show affection properly. But this is also one of the reasons I fell in love with him. But I've always thought that maybe if I try hard enough, he’ll see how much I care for him—how much I've fallen