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.

The next morning, Lina Jenkins received a call from the building manager, informing her that a Mr. Adams was waiting outside to see her. Lina had expected Carson Adams might try to contact her, but she hadn't thought he'd do it so soon. After all, it was a weekday, and taking time off work would mean losing pay—something Carson couldn't stand.

Still, Lina had no plans to meet with Carson. His mild-mannered appearance was just a front. The real Carson was temperamental and prone to anger, and Lina had no desire to risk putting herself in a dangerous situation.

"I don't know any Mr. Adams," she told the building manager smoothly. "With Thanksgiving coming up, there are a lot of scammers around. Please make sure no suspicious people get past the gate."

A few minutes later, her phone rang. It was Carson, his voice simmering with barely controlled anger.

"Lina Jenkins, don’t push it! Do you have any idea how much I spent on a plane ticket to come here? Over $1,200!

"You're just holding a grudge because I didn’t marry you, aren't you? If only you could have had a son, we wouldn’t be in this mess, would we?"

Carson Adams, a graduate from a prestigious university, knew that the sex of a baby was primarily influenced by the father’s genetics. Still, he used this as an excuse to belittle Lina Jenkins. Frustrated by his behavior, Lina ended the call abruptly and blocked his number.

She hoped that by ignoring him, Carson would eventually realize his efforts were pointless and give up. However, to her surprise, just thirty minutes later, she received a call from the local police station.

The officer asked if she knew a man named Carson Adams. "He’s filed a report alleging that you’ve kidnapped his daughter and insists you return the child," the officer explained.

Feeling anxious, Lina craved some comfort food. She whipped up a bowl of creamy ravioli and poured herself a steaming cup of coffee, hoping the warmth would soothe her nerves. With Thanksgiving around the corner, she found comfort in planning a cozy dinner with friends, picturing the table adorned with festive decorations and lively conversations over coffee, as opposed to the more traditional tea.

Still unsettled by the conversation, Lina grabbed her phone and opened WhatsApp to message her best friend, seeking some reassurance. They chatted about their upcoming trip to the Alps and discussed buying novels on Amazon for leisurely reading during the vacation.

Even though Carson’s accusations weighed heavily on her mind, Lina was determined to focus on the here and now and the joyful anticipation of the holiday season.