Lina Jenkins phoned her parents to let them know that her baby had arrived ahead of schedule and she had given birth to a daughter. Her parents were stunned by the news and immediately started making plans to travel from London to visit her.

Lina, nevertheless, got straight to the heart of the matter. "Mom, Dad, I've split up with Carson," she admitted. "I intend to raise the baby by myself. I apologize for making this choice without consulting you first."

Lina had reached this decision some time ago, but she had kept it to herself to prevent causing her parents undue concern.

Her mother, Carolina, felt a wave of anxiety. "Lina, are you going through something tough?" she asked, pushing her coffee cup to the side.

Her father, Hayes, came to a conclusion quickly. "If you're separating, then that's that. It's not the end of the world," he said. "The child can have our last name and be part of our family."

Under the strong insistence of her parents, a few days later, Lina Jenkins returned home with her caregiver and midwife, Nayeli Spencer, accompanying her. She briefly recounted the actions of her husband, Carson Adams, to them.

Carolina Gray, her mother, gripped Lina's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face from sheer heartache. "No wonder you've lost so much weight. You've been through so much!" she exclaimed.

Lina replied with a touch of frustration, "How could you tell I've lost weight?" Even during her pregnancy, she never neglected her health. With the professional care of her nutritionist, Zainab Chapman, and her postnatal recovery specialist, Charli Wells, Lina's complexion was now better than before she had given birth.

Hayes Carpenter, her father, spoke with deep regret, "It's my fault for not seeing his true nature and allowing you to end up with someone like Carson."

Lina gently shook her head, "It's not your fault. He put on a very convincing act."

Over coffee in the cozy, Victorian-styled living room, they continued discussing the situation. Lina fondly recalled the Thanksgiving dinner they had all shared the previous year, filled with laughter and warmth—a stark contrast to her current situation. She cherished the memory of the spiced honey cake her mother had baked, a comforting thought amidst the turmoil.

"At least we have each other," Carolina said, trying to lighten the mood, "and we should plan another family gathering soon. Let's forget about the pulled pork sandwiches and focus on being grateful for what we have."

Lina nodded, appreciating the gentle attempt at optimism. She offered a smile, knowing that these moments together would help her face the challenges that lay ahead.

Carson Adams was seen as a promising match on the dating site. With a master's degree, a car, and a house, he was making over five figures a month, and with his good looks and confident demeanor, his profile stood out. However, once Lina Jenkins got involved with him, the glamour quickly faded away.

Carson was raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family when Carson was just a child, running off with another woman. His sister, Riley Chapman, dropped out of school for an early marriage and had just given birth to her third child, leaving her home life in chaos. His mother, Cecilia Williamson, struggled with chronic illness and needed monthly medication.

Carson's salary was stretched thin, between buying medicine for his mother, supporting his sister and her family, and covering his mortgage and car payments. It was no surprise that he was almost always short on cash. But despite knowing all this, Lina hadn’t been concerned. Why fuss over money when family is involved? As long as their love was genuine, she didn’t mind supporting him financially. For Lina, money was never an issue.

What she never anticipated, though, was Carson's talent for deception. He targeted her because she was an only child from New York City, pretending to be caring and attentive to make her fall hard for him. He thought that having a child together would ensure she remained by his side, but he had overestimated his significance. Lina had the resources to protect her own future. She was not reliant on him.