Carson Adams had always held himself in high regard. From a young age, he excelled academically, relying on his dedication to gain admission to a prestigious university, land a good job, and eventually buy a house and a car, carving out a life for himself in the city. Among his peers, he was considered one of the most accomplished.

However, the divide between him and Lina Jenkins wasn't something he could overcome with hard work alone. Take, for instance, Lina's family estate in the suburbs. Even though it wasn't in the most prime location, the property values easily soared into the millions. For Carson, with his income, affording something like that would be out of reach for a lifetime.

This wasn't just about money; it was a reality check that Lina intended to deliver to Carson, making him keenly aware of the vast gulf separating their worlds.

That evening, Carson called Lina again. His tone was much more subdued and approachable. After assessing the local housing market, it seemed he had reconsidered her value, leading him to adopt a more conciliatory attitude.

"Lina, I've given it some thought. We both made errors; we were too hasty," he began. "But, regardless of all that, you shouldn't have left with our daughter without saying anything. My mom's been crying repeatedly, longing to see the child."

"Let's get together and discuss this properly," he continued, trying to sound reasonable. However, the reality was starkly different. When they first found out the baby was a girl, Carson and his mother had quickly formed a united front.

"I'm the only son, and the Adams family can't end with me," he had insisted. "If you're not willing to end the pregnancy, then just let it go on. But as long as it's not a son, don't expect to be embraced by my family."

Recently, Carson Adams seemed to have developed some sort of selective memory, conveniently forgetting the promises he once made. With a self-righteous tone, he asserted, "What good is all your money? The most important role in a family is the father's. A father's love can't be replaced by any amount of cash."

Lina Jenkins couldn't help but chuckle.

"Oh, really? Then I guess I should hurry and find a new dad for the kid."

"Thanks for the tip. I'll sign up on a dating app right away."

Carson scoffed, "A woman with a child? You think anyone would want you?"

Lina laughed even harder.

"They might not care about me, but they'll definitely care about the money, right? Whoever marries me gets two houses and a car. Who in their right mind would ever say no to that?"

With that, she ignored his enraged shouting on the other end and hung up the phone. Lina thought to herself, Carson probably wouldn’t get a wink of sleep tonight.