I’m Always His Second Priority Novel

The night before our son Jason Campbell's birthday celebration , I found a prenatal exam report on Lucas Campbell's phone . A woman had sent it , along with a tearful voice message . Every month , she would drain half his income . Instead of overlooking it , I put the phone in front of him and asked for an explanation . Lucas sat in the study all night . At dawn , he came out and told me , " I admit I owe her , but there's nothing going on between us . " I'll take care of it after Jason's birthday celebration . Don't make a scene in front of our guests .

" From college till now , we'd been together for a decade . He was a top criminal defense lawyer while I was a forensic doctor . To everyone else , we were the perfect match . I couldn't give up our family just because of a baby that wasn't even his . So I put on my dress , and the celebration went on as planned . Halfway through , however , one of Lucas ' friends burst into the hall with a blood - smeared incubator . His face was pale as he shouted , " Luke ! Bella miscarried after she found out about the party ! The baby's gone !

" The wineglass in Lucas ' hand slipped and shattered on the floor . Face blanched , he ran for the door. Through tears , I shouted after him , " If you walk out that door today , you're no longer Jason's dad ! " He froze for a second , then dashed out without looking back . I stood there , holding our sleeping son , who had no idea his father had just walked away . The music stopped . And the guests fell silent . 0.00 % 11:00 Even the emcee stood frozen on stage with the microphone in hand , not knowing what to say . Caleb Campbell and Clara Campbell - Lucas ' parents - walked up to me .

Caleb snarled with a scowl , " Julia , I'll break that jerk's legs ! " I shook my head and handed Jason to the nanny . " Caleb , Clara , just let him be . " My parents rushed over , too . " How could he do this at his own child's celebration ! He's turning our entire family into a joke ! " my mom snapped , tears welling up in her eyes . I stepped down from the stage and said , " I'll take you home first . " The banquet was in chaos . Zachary Buckner , Lucas ' friend who had barged in , looked guilty . " I'm sorry , Julia . Things got out of hand . Her condition was critical ...

The baby was already formed ... " I stared at him in silence . Zachary had grown up with Lucas , so he also knew about the case three years ago . Lucas ' only client to ever lose a case was a man named Oliver Mendoza , who died in prison soon after . And that " Bella " was Oliver's sister , Isabelle Mendoza . When Lucas said he owed her , he meant he had to take care of her for Oliver's sake . But that didn't mean Zachary could just crash our baby boy's celebration , holding a dead fetus like some tragic offering . I picked up my bag and walked out of that farce .

My phone buzzed inside my purse again and again , but I ignored it . I knew it was Lucas . He would explain himself and say sorry , telling me Isabelle was dying and that he had to be there . I used to believe that . 30.10 % 11:00 But tonight , I finally understood that such care had long since crossed the line . When I got home , I changed out of my gown and slipped into casual clothes . Then , I drove straight to the hospital . As a forensic doctor , I needed to know the truth about this " miscarriage . " Outside the ob - gyn's ER , Lucas was slumped against the wall .

His suit was wrinkled , his hair disheveled , his eyes bloodshot . Isabelle lay unconscious on the hospital bed as they wheeled her out . An IV needle was taped to her wrist ; her face drained of all color . Lucas immediately followed , holding her hand . I walked over . He straightened up when he saw me , guilt clouding his eyes . " Julia , you came . I'm sorry about today- " " How is she ? " I cut him off , looking at Isabelle on the bed . " The doctor said she lost a lot of blood . The baby's gone , but her life's not in danger . Her emotions are unstable , though . " I nodded .

" Glad to know she's okay , " I said softly . Then , I turned around , ready to leave . Lucas grabbed my wrist . " Julia , come on . I lost Oliver's case . I owe them . I can't just abandon her . She's lost her last bit of hope . " Just then , Isabelle opened her eyes . Tears streamed down her face as soon as she saw me . " Juliana , I'm sorry . It's all my fault . I didn't mean to ruin the big day . I just saw the pictures from your baby's celebration and thought about Ollie ... " " 1 Her sobs came in gasps . 60.28 % 11:00 " I just lost it . I'm sorry about the party .

" Lucas immediately sat back down beside her , his voice soft and careful . " It's okay . Don't think about it anymore . It's over . Just focus on getting better . " Then he turned to me , eyes full of reproach . " Can't you see how pitiful she is ? Can't you show a little understanding ? " I pulled my hand free . " The doctor said her life's not in danger , " I snapped , meeting his eyes . " And that child isn't yours . " When I walked out of the hospital , the cold wind hit my face . That was when I realized my hands were shaking . 88.55 %