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.

Lina Jenkins brought her trusted nanny and baby nurse back home with her, giving her parents some much-needed rest. The baby, Jazlyn Jenkins, lay swaddled, her tiny fingers waving as she cooed softly, her eyes sparkling.

Carolina Gray laughed, enchanted by the baby’s expressions. "Wow, she looks just like Lina did when she was a baby!" she chuckled.

Hayes Carpenter leaned in closer, nodding in agreement. "You're spot on! Especially those eyes, they're exactly the same!"

The household was filled with warmth and joy. They savored these cherished family moments over coffee and spiced honey cake, while Carson Adams was getting increasingly frustrated elsewhere.

During this time, Carson Adams hadn't reached out to Lina Jenkins. He was waiting, hoping she would be the one to yield first. In his mind, he pictured her tearfully acknowledging her mistake, handing over all her savings, and pleading for his forgiveness. But no matter how long he waited, there was no sign of her backing down.

Eventually, Carson couldn't restrain himself any longer and called her. "Lina Jenkins, aren't you tired of this yet?"

Lina chuckled. "Who's calling?"

Irritated, Carson responded, "I'm your husband! The father of your child!"

Lina, gently playing with her daughter Jazlyn, took her time to reply. "You can mess around with food, but not with words."

"I'm still single, so where's this husband you keep mentioning?"