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?"

Lina Jenkins and Carson Adams never officially tied the knot. When Lina first discovered she was pregnant, she suggested that they should get married soon. However, Carson always had one excuse or another to delay it.

"It's cold now. You should stay indoors more and focus on taking care of yourself," he'd say. "Why not wait until the baby arrives? It can be a celebration of both the birth and our marriage."

But when Carson found out the baby was a girl, his attitude shifted completely. "My mom insists we can only make it official if it's a boy. If you don't want to terminate the pregnancy, then we'll just keep things as they are."

Carson was sure that Lina would eventually cave in, thinking that the pressure and stigma of having a child out of wedlock would weigh heavier on her. However, he misjudged by overestimating his own significance in Lina's life.