Forsaking All Others Read online

  Forsaking All Others

  A BWWM Romantic Thriller

  Emery C.F. Bryant

  ZachEvans Creative Publishing

  Contents

  Prologue

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Part II

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Part III

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  About the Author

  Also by Emery C.F. Bryant

  Publish With Us

  Special Thanks

  Prologue

  Four Years Ago

  Devon Winton sauntered through the crowd. He didn’t bother hiding the smug grin that came to his face as he soaked up the admiring glances of the women he passed by. Feigning boredom, he glanced at his watch while he located the group of men he had scheduled to meet. He offered them a smile and nod as they all fell into step, all well-dressed and successful individuals in their prime.

  Any woman would die to have me.

  The thought made Devon chuckle, but he immediately became grim as he thought of her.

  Alicia.

  She had shown so much promise and grace. He had honestly believed she would have been able to keep his attention, even long after he had finally settled down with a wife. At thirty, it was high time he did so, and it was something his mother never allowed him to forget.

  Alicia had been bright and starry-eyed. Obedient to a fault. No family, no friends. She had known her place and had been content in it. She’d been almost perfect.

  However, she’d transformed into a demanding, insolent, and childlike in what had seemed like the blink of an eye. Where she had once shown grace had been replaced by scorn and disdain. And he had tried his best to contain her, held out as long as he could. But when she demanded marriage and commitment, when she’d tried to give him an ultimatum, Devon knew then he’d had to get rid of her.

  He mentally sighed and dutifully laughed at one of his colleague’s jokes. Then, his mind drifted once again.

  He could still feel the silk of her skin in his large palm as his hand had closed around Alicia’s slender throat. The creamy alabaster had quickly reddened under the pressure. Fueled by rage, he had continued to squeeze, watching the fright build her eyes when she finally realized, he would not let go. Not this time.

  A shiver ran through Devon’s body when he recalled the way she had clawed at his hand, gagged for him to stop. A deep thrill coursed through him when he remembered how it had looked, the life draining from her eyes.

  Devon rounded a corner and adjusted his blazer when his eyes fell on her—petite with wide, almond-shaped brown eyes. Long, straight, dark brown hair. Smooth, delicate brown skin.

  Perfect.

  She locked eyes with him with a smile—bright, yet shy—before she looked away. What she didn’t notice was that he’d caught her glancing back at him.

  Her lithe brown legs were on full display in a pair of linen shorts with a tank top and a pair of shades atop her head.

  Ignoring his colleagues, Devon stepped away and approached her, his hand already extended. It was time to meet his future wife.

  Part I

  “The caged bird sings

  with a fearful trill

  of things unknown

  but longed for still

  and his tune is heard

  on the distant hill

  for the caged bird

  sings of freedom.”

  Maya Angelou

  1

  Julianna Winton stared at herself in the wood-trimmed bathroom mirror and scoffed. She ran her hand along her torso, barely registering a glance to the black lace covering her flat abdomen. She didn’t know where she’d gotten the bright idea to surprise her husband, Devon, tonight, but it sure had turned out to be a foolish plan.

  She remembered how she’d stood there in her black lace lingerie. She’d even worn a wig to hide her short-cropped hair. Devon liked long hair. A pair of sky-high red pumps complemented the look and added length to her short frame.

  The plan had been simple, really. Devon would arrive home after a long, tiring day, to meet her standing in the doorway, scantily clad, lips painted a fiery red, desire evident. Surely, that would have enticed him.

  When he’d walked through the door, he looked her up and down, and placed a chaste kiss on her lips while continuing to walk past her, uninterested. Julianna had stood frozen, with the beginning of the smile she’d practiced in the mirror quivering on her lips. Nothing had prepared her for the shame she’d felt knowing she could no longer entice her husband.

  Julianna closed her eyes, and an exasperated sigh escaped her lips. It was as if all the love and affection Devon had shown her over the last four years had disappeared overnight. She thought about the day that changed her life.

  She had been a student pursuing her MBA when the tall, handsome, smooth brown skin and assertive brown eyes had approached her. Devon had swept her off her feet—it wasn’t only because of the expensive vacations and gifts that made her fall. It had also been his undying love and affection. As if her would love her through it all. They’d had a whirlwind relationship and a beautiful marriage. Until now.

  She removed the wig from her head and studied it as she turned it over in her hands. Its long, black, wavy hair was something she was sure Devon would like. He’d always fawned over her previously long tresses. Yet, he hadn’t even given the wig a second glance. She tossed it onto her vanity.

  She examined at herself in the mirror again and studied her own hair. It had been an impulse decision, and the lady at the salon had told her she looked nice. She’d even agreed; it accentuated her high cheekbones and made her dark eyes pop against her deep brown skin. But when she’d arrived home that evening, eager to show Devon her bold new look, all he’d told her was that he “thought it was cool.”

  A sigh escaped her throat when she thought about those words. She’d known Devon for four years, knew “cool” meant bland. He hated it.

  Julianna moved to the tub and sat on the edge, defeated. She studied the light gray tile flooring, her mind adrift. She couldn’t recall just when things started to go south with her marriage, but it was happening. She could no longer deny it. In the beginning, there’d been romance and passion, and Devon had looked at her with a gleam in his eye that made her feel confident, loved. She longed for him to look at her like that again, even if just once, to remind her that the love was still there.

  A silent tear trailed down her cheek as she mulled over what Devon thought about her now. It seemed as if the only thing that worked for them was to be apart. They constantly argued, and everything she said put him on edge.

  She straightened and hastily wiped her eyes when she heard the bathroom door open, the heavy wooden door swinging open to bring Devon into view. She pulled an oversized shirt over her head, and walked out of the bathroom, not missing how Devon stepped far to the side to avoid touchin
g her, while his eyes looked straight past her. God, what was happening to her marriage, and how could she fix it?

  The sun was shining brightly on the hot Saturday afternoon as Julianna straightened her dress and smoothed her hair. Devon’s parents were having a barbecue, and everyone in the family had been invited to the Saturday event. She stood on the deck with a soda in her hand and looked out at the laughing and smiling faces of her in-laws. She sighed inwardly, remembering Devon’s icy rejection the night before, but decided it was best to put it out of her mind. He hadn’t brought it up again, and neither would she.

  She smiled as her sister-in-law, Victoria, squealed and ran over.

  “Oh, my goodness, girl, it’s so bold!” Victoria said. “I never would have been able to pull that look off.” Victoria fingered her thick, black hair. “I bet it’s so easy getting ready now, huh? Does Devon like it?”

  At the mention of her husband’s name, Julianna scanned the sea of faces in search of his. When she found him, he locked eyes with her. She sent a small smile his way he returned with a wink. He was standing around the grill talking with his father and his younger brother, Darius, who had returned home for the weekend from university.

  He hates it. In fact, he told me I had no business cutting off my hair when I knew he liked women with long hair.

  Julianna bit her lip and shrugged. “Um, well, he said he liked it, but you know how men are… we never really know what they’re thinking,” she jokingly offered. “The most important thing is that I like it.”

  She finished with a cocky tilt of the head. She almost believed herself.

  Victoria broke out into a fit of laughter, her round belly moving up and down. She was six months pregnant with her and Derek, Devon’s older brother’s, child. This would make number two for them. Devon never let her forget it.

  “Oh, don’t I know it. I swear I still can’t figure Derek out!” She chuckled. “But that’s the great thing about these Winton men. It adds a little mystery.”

  Julianna stole another glance at her husband; sadness crept into her body. It was only a good thing when a woman was sure her husband loved her. Julianna wasn’t sure anymore.

  She slowly sipped her drink and watched him. He was so relaxed, so carefree—the perfect man with everyone else. People continuously praised her for having such an amazing man for a husband, but that man now eluded her. A man who barely said anything to her, except to criticize had replaced him. As if her thoughts had brought him into existence, Devon appeared at her side and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

  “Baby, did you know this is baby number two for Derek and Victoria? I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked me when we’re going to start with our one.”

  He smiled playfully, wrapped his arms around her and winked at his sister-in-law.

  “It’s not as if we haven’t been practicing,” he offered slowly, placing a gentle kiss on Julianna’s lips.

  He ended the kiss, sent Julianna a smoldering look, and walked off. As he walked away, Julianna tried to control the hammering inside her chest. It was times like these when she felt like the old Devon was still there, and that he still loved her. It was times like these that she still had hope. Despite her thoughts, she stood there, frozen.

  Victoria nudged her in the side. “Julianna, you are so lucky. That man loves you so much. When are you two going to get that family started?” She rubbed her round belly and grinned with mischief.

  Julianna forced a smile and waved her hand in the air. If Victoria only knew she had to beg Devon to touch her.

  “Who knows? Maybe tonight?” She sent Victoria a wicked grin. They doubled over in laughter.

  Victoria was the first family member she’d met when she’d started dating Devon, and the two had become fast friends. It was good to know she could still joke around with her all of these years later.

  Derek came over to the pair and encircled his arms around his wife. Victoria giggled as Derek placed a kiss on her neck and Julianna couldn’t hide the jealousy that surged through her gut. She and Devon used to look like that. Their love used to be genuine, not scripted for everyone else.

  Just as she was walking away, Devon was back at her side, but this time, he was the Devon from the night before. He grabbed her hand.

  “Julianna, what is wrong with you?” His voice came like a small hiss from behind a plastic smile he’d plastered on his face. “Is it so hard to just show up here and act like you’re happy?”

  He shook his head as he muttered under his breath, annoyed.

  Julianna firmly removed her hand from his grasp, irritated. “I don’t know, Devon. Maybe it wouldn’t kill you to try, either. And I don’t mean only in front of your family.”

  She opened her mouth to say more, thought against it, and walked off to join his mother in the kitchen.

  The rest of the evening was going by smoothly, Devon’s affection on full display, barely allowing Julianna out of his sight. Now, he was casually leading her outside of his parents’ home for a walk. The minute they were out of earshot, the broad grin disappeared, replaced by a deep scowl.

  “Julianna.” Devon sighed and rubbed his temples. He then crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared down at her. “What the hell was that I overheard in there?”

  Julianna wrinkled her brow and heaved a sigh. There was always something wrong she had or hadn’t said or done. There was just no making him happy anymore.

  “What?” Julianna’s voice was soft, defeated, as she returned his glare.

  “That shit you were telling Victoria? About how the house can feel so ‘lonely’? What the fuck was that?!”

  Although his voice was low and even, his anger was palpable as he glowered down at her.

  Julianna shook her head and turned away to admire the stars. It didn’t matter if she remained silent or speak. She couldn’t ever get it right with Devon anymore.

  She finally released a sigh. “It’s the truth. What’s wrong with that?”

  “You sound like a whiny brat.” Before Julianna could respond, he spoke again. “Maybe the house wouldn’t seem so ‘lonely’ if you would just get pregnant. We’ve been married two whole years. That’s plenty of time.”

  Julianna bristled in irritation, but it was the hurt that overwhelmed her. She’d been trying so hard to get pregnant, but it wasn’t happening. It hurt her, and he knew it.

  “Devon, that’s not fair. You know hurts me,” she choked out.

  She shook her head and hugged herself and shivered in the damp of the night. When he failed to respond, she faced him with an expectant expression as she searched for the compassion in his eyes. Instead of appearing apologetic, he was staring at her with an odd look on his face. He stood perfectly still, almost as if he had stopped breathing. Finally, he scoffed.

  “Please. You’re doing this shit on purpose.” He leaned forward to level with her eyes. “Let me find out you’re taking birth control or some shit. You’ll regret it.”

  As if to prove his point, Devon reached out and gripped her arm. When he pulled her close, his voice was a tight whisper.

  “You’re not, are you?”

  Julianna tried to pull her hand away, but his hand was a vice, even as she shook her head.

  “Say it.”

  “Devon, you’re holding me too tight.”

  She tried to wrench her hand free, but Devon’s grip didn’t waver.

  “Say it.”

  Julianna lowered her head. When he got like this, there was no other option.

  “I’m not taking any birth control, Devon.”

  His dark brown eyes pierced hers. He searched them as if trying to catch her in a lie. He finally straightened and pulled her into an embrace when his brother, Derek, came out to find them. Devon lovingly stroked Julianna’s hair and grinned at his older brother who was calling them back for dessert.

  He leaned down and placed a quick peck on her cheek before he whispered, “You better not be.”

  He walk
ed behind his brother, tugging her along. In the darkness, Julianna felt her heart sink.

  She focused on Devon’s back as they walked. At first, her marriage had seemed like a fairy tale. Now, it was a living nightmare. The constant fights, accusations, and disdain were becoming too much to handle. As much as she wanted to save her marriage, she had to ask herself if there was anything to save. Where had the charming and sweet man she’d met four years ago gone?

  2

  It was late on a Friday evening. This office meeting, although impromptu, had been a necessity. He’d immediately called Julianna and told her to be ready when he picked her up that night. Their presence couldn’t be missed. Not with this many business partners to rub elbows with.

  Devon sipped the dark liquid in his glass and enjoyed the burn in his throat as it went down. Tonight, Julianna was wearing a snug dress that was making his dick ache to be inside her. He watched her cross the room, enjoying the way her legs looked in the heels she had on. A lazy smile crossed his face. Desire mixed with the buzz he was getting from the drink. It had been far too long since they’d last made love. Tonight, he would make sure that changed.

  He gladly accepted a refill and continued to watch her. Definitely tonight.